Lesson 25

What's For Dinner?

I Corinthians 10:23-33

This morning, we learned that our actions have spiritual implications. Those things that we choose to do will both reveal what is in our heart and will affect our fellowship with Christ. In this last section, we learn that our actions also have social implications. By that, I mean that our Christian life is not lived in a vacuum. It is lived among people - Christian brothers and sisters and even unbelievers. The choices that we make affects other people too. This final passage in the Christian liberty section of I Corinthians deals with how eating meat offered to idols affects our relationship to other people. Again, I need to point out that although this specific matter of meats is no longer an issue within Christianity, the principles given in the Bible here have a wider application.

This text gives some very practical advice to the Corinthians. It is "what to do" kind of advice. What to do when you grocery shopping at the Corinthian meat market. What to do when you go to dinner at an unbeliever's home.

Let's work our way through the text and discover its principles for us.

Principle #1 - The Profit Principle, v. 23.

"All things are lawful for me but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me but all things edify not." The "all things' refers to the all those areas where the Bible gives no explicit commands. It refers to the areas of Christian liberty. We might call them the "gray areas" where Christians disagree with each other and struggle within themselves to determine right from wrong.

But, according to Paul just because a person has liberty doesn't mean that he or she ought to do something. For example, on the German Autobahn there is not speed limit. You can drive as fast as you want. Permission to drive fast does not mean that you ought to drive fast. We must discern whether those things are expedient (profitable), whether or not they are edifying. We should avoid those things which do not edify, build up Christians. We must choose edification over gratification.

Principle #2 - The People Principle, v. 24.

It is against our human nature to surrender our personal rights and privileges for the sake other people, but that is exactly what Paul tells us to do in verse 24.

I read once about a pastor who preached from this text and concluded the sermon with a testimony time asking the people of the congregation to give personal examples of things that they had given up for others. No one in the congregation could think of anything they had given up. It is against our nature and we just, for the most part, won't do it. But we should.

Principle #3 - The Planet Principle, vs. 25-27.

Paul places no restrictions on the Corinthians grocery list. "Whatever is sold at the shamble (the meat market) eat asking no questions for conscience sake." Here is a word to the intense and overzealous. The Bible warns against it. Ecclesiastes 7:16 "Be not righteous over much." It is a strange kind of proverb. Most of us think that it is impossible to be too righteous. The idea, however, is that it is possible to be overzealous and, according to this text, to be over scrupulous. We can become so self-analytical, so intense, so serious that we lose the joy of serving Jesus.

The reason that Paul gives for eating whatever is available at the market is a quotation from the Old Testament "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof (everything in it)" (Psalm 24:1). After idol meat is sent to the market it becomes like all other meat. It is food from the earth which the Lord has provided.

Next, Paul moves from the private issue of the meat market to the more public issue of a dinner party. Now the issue is not just your own conscience but the conscience of other people.

Imagine this. You are an active member of the church at Corinth - very involved and very respected. You are invited to a cook-out at the home of Rufus and Julia, a non-Christian couple who own the R&J Chariot Shop on Coliseum Court. While enjoying your Caesar salad, you can smell the sirloin steak grilled and seasoned to perfection with your name on it.

There are some questions raised here. Should you even be fellowshipping with these unbelievers to be begin with? After all, they are still members of the pagan temple of idols. The Pharisees would not eat with them but according to Luke 15:1, Jesus would eat with them and so should you. This may be the beginning of an evangelistic opportunity. Should you inquire about where the meat came from? It is very possible and quite likely that this steak at some point came through the temple, as a sacrifice offered to an idol. Well, according to verse 27, you should ask no questions and eat what is set before you. There are situations where ignorance is better than knowledge. Knowing means that you have to make a decision. Ignorance means that you don't have to decide. God has not called us to be some kind of spiritual detectives who investigate every detail to the nth degree. Eat the meat. Don't worry about where it came from.

Principle #4 - The P... Principle, vs. 28-30.

Paul complicates the his own scenario in order to present this principle. At Rufus and Julia's cookout, seated next to you, is Erastus, a new Christian who has begun attending your church. Just before the meat is served, Erastus leans over and whispers to you, "I overheard the cooks say that the steaks were left over from the sacrifice. That really bothers me because I was involved in idol worship for a long time. I just don't feel right about eating this meat."

Now what are you to do? By refusing to eat you might offend your unsaved hosts. By eating you risk the real possibility of offending your Christian brother.

According to Paul, under this circumstance, you should not eat the meat. The reason Paul gives for not eating is the same reason he gave for eating. Quoting Psalm 24:1 Paul reminds the Corinthians that there are lots of other things to eat. Eating may not be an issue for you. You might be able to give thanks for the steak and enjoy it immensely but as an expression of your Christian liberty, you should choose to give it up. You must consider the conscience of your Christian brother.

Interestingly, if you ever find yourself in one of those "no win" situations where you are either going to offend an unbeliever or a fellow-believer, Paul says that you should offend the unbeliever.

Most of us probably wouldn't see it that way. We would for evangelistic purposes think that it is worse to offend an unbeliever. Besides, we can always make up with our Christian brother.

However, according to Paul, the opposite is best. An unbeliever expects to be offended by Christians. Furthermore, as a part of our witness, it is important that we choose our brothers and sisters over the world. Our consideration of and our concern for our fellow believers is of a high priority.

The two questions asked in verses 29-30, sound argumentative but are truly rhetorical questions which he anticipates the Corinthians to ask.

The last three verses are the answer to the questions and the summary of the entire three chapters on Christian liberty.

Do everything to the glory of God

Avoid all things that are offense.

Do that which will ultimately bring people to Christ.

Many people add 11:1 to this section. The Corinthians should imitate Paul's example as he follows the example of Christ.