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How
many of you lost sleep last night wrestling with this
question? Don’t be shy, it is OK to admit it. How many
of you haven’t bought tickets for the spaghetti dinner
next week because you were sure if the meatballs are
being made from meet that was offered up to idols? I
have assurance from Jack Perry that the meatballs and
sausage for next Saturday night’s spaghetti dinner have
not been offered to any idols.
If
you are thinking that this morning's scripture seems
pretty foolish. Let me say welcome to the club. If I
hadn’t made a commitment to use the scripture text as
outlined in this year’s lectionary I would not be
preaching on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Trust me several
times this week I was tempted to scrap the text and
choose another. However, as I wrestled with this text I
began to see that there were some contemporary analogies
that could be made.
For
example the movie “Foot Loose.” The issue in this movie
is should Christians dance? It was a story about an
urban teen who was transplanted to a small Midwestern
town where dancing was outlawed. This new kid’s big city
ways clashed with the old fashion beliefs of a town
where dancing and music are forbidden. His open
rebellion made him an outcast until he decided to help
change the town’s beliefs. The situation became even
more complicated when he falls for the daughter of the
local minister, the man who put the ban in place. His
struggle to change a town’s attitude turned him into a
hero and his quest helped both young and old appreciate
that music and dancing are part of a happy life and
should be enjoyed.
There
are many other contemporary analogies.
Should
Christians by involved in the Masons or other such
brotherhoods that have distinct non-Christian religious
rituals in spite of the fact these organizations do
tremendous good with many charitable and humanitarian
activities.
Should
Protestants be allowed to participate in the Eucharist
of the Roman Catholic Church for the sake of ecumenism
in spite of the fact that we hold different theological
understanding?
Should
Christians participate in yoga because the original
centering prayers/meditations were focused to pagan gods
in spite of the fact that is a perfect exercise for
toning muscles, building strength, losing weight and
increasing overall health?
Should
we allow our children to play such games as dungeons and
dragons or read Harry Potter books which glamorize
witchcraft and wizardry?
We may not be faced with the question
“Should you attend meals where meat
that has been offered up to an idol is served?”
We
are faced with similar morally neutral issues.
Ban
on many morally neutral issues were once believed to be
Biblically based. For example the American evangelicals
have a real discomfort for alcohol. Where in the Bible
does it say Thou shall not drink. In the Soviet Union it
is scandalous for a Christian woman to wear make up and
jewelry. Where in the Bible does it forbid the wearing
of jewelry? In parts South Africa and India it is a sin
for a preacher to appear in church without a white shirt
and tie. Where in the Bible does it condemn a man for
entering church without a white shirt and tie?
Paul
said,
“All
things are permissible,
but not all things are benefical.”
Some
actions may be perfectly right for us to do, but may
harm a believer who is still young in their faith and
just learning what the Christian life is all about.
Think of it this way. If you had a friend who was a
recovering alcoholic would you invite him to your house
and offer him a drink?
When
we love others our freedom should be less important to
us then strengthening the faith of a fellow believer.
1
Corinthians 13: 2,3
“If I have the
gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge
and if I have faith that can move mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.”
Love,
not knowledge, must form the foundation of Christian
behavior. Jesus perfectly demonstrates this in the story
of the woman caught in adultery. The law was indeed on
the side of the mob of men who brought the woman before
Jesus. The law stated, anyone caught in the act of
adultery was to be stoned to death. With rocks in hands
they were just waiting for Jesus to say, “Commence
firing.” Jesus didn’t argue the law or refute it. Jesus
agreed with the law. However instead of giving them
permission to carry out the law, he said,
“Whoever is without sin,
cast the first stone.”
One
by one the rocks were dropped to the ground and the mob
was disbursed. Jesus then asked the woman,
“Where are those who condemn you?
Neither do I. Go on your way and sin no more.”
This
is one of many other occasions where Jesus chose love
and compassion over the letter of the law. This is the
point that Paul is reiterating in 1 Corinthians 8-10.
Love rather than knowledge needs to remain the center of
our ethics.
“Knowledge puffs up,”
Paul
said,
“but
love builds up”
(vs. 1).
This
is one of the most significant statements of the Bible.
The Christians with “knowledge” knew that it was o.k. to
eat such food, but Paul urged them to set aside their
superior knowledge and even to compromise their
convictions for the sake of those who were new in the
faith and easily offended.
Christians
have essential freedom in morally neutral matters, BUT
their behavior must be tempered with concern for others.
Christian freedom does not mean anything goes. It means
our salvation is not determined by good deeds or
legalistic rules, but by the grace of God.
“So
whatever you eat or drink
or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.”
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