PAUL now addresses another problem he had been asked about by the believers in Corinth. This problem is in his mind right up to chapter 10:14-22, but because it raised the problem of attitudes in the church which effect how Christians behave to other Christians, and which effect other Christians,we find Paul addressing attitudes within the church before he comes back to the problem of meat offered to idols.

Meat offered to idols is not something we have today, and so the problem here may seem irrelevant. However the way this issue is dealt with does lay down principles for dealing with problems and difficulties of faith today. There are many things in life that the bible gives no specific ruling on. The way we deal with these is to apply the principles which the bible presents to us. Such principles are used by Paul in dealing with the problem of food offered to idols, and so these are what is of importance for us today.

In the heathen society in Corinth at the time of Paul, the worship of idols was very much embedded in everything that was done. Every facet of life was bound up with idol worship, and business and activity was carried forward in conjunction with the idol worship. Worship before idols was in everything. Meat or food was offered to the idol. Part of it was given to the priests who made the offering, part to the one making the offering, and part to the temple. This meat and food was then eaten in a communal way, and all in the business or the event were expected to partake. The surplus food or meat was sold in the market, so buying in the market meant that people were buying and consuming meat that had first been offered to an idol. Because of this it was very difficult for believers to avoid involvement with idol worship, and this caused the problem.

Some believers with tender consciences were troubled because they felt that in eating the meat offered to ]an idol, they were getting involved with idolatry, and sinning. Others if told the meat was alright to eat, because of weakness might easily be drawn into accepting idol worship, and their faith in Christ being impaired. This is the the problem.

Paul says that knowledge tells us that idols are nothing. They are just bits of wood, metal or stone. If food is offered to wood or stone it does not matter.It is still food good for the nourishing of the body. With such knowledge people can simply eat with a clear conscience. However this is not the whole story. Knowledge on its own simply tends to pride, and hardness towards others. Knowledge without love is harmful. We must have knowledge, but we must not allow our knowledge so effect our lives so that we cease to care for others, and do not act in love towards others. Knowledge may well breed spiritual pride if it is not held along with the practice and attitude of love. In fact we can't live without our lives impinging on and effecting the lives of others.

So whether we eat food offered to idols does not rest simply on knowledge that the idol is nothing, but also on what others feel and think, and how they will be effected by our actions. If our knowldege and actions cause distress or harm to other believers or even to those who are not believers, we must be careful about the exercise of our knowledge in our daily life.

What we eat is not important. What is important is the building up of the church, and the spiritual well-being of all the members of the church. So we must be careful in the way we exercise freedom in Christ in the fellowship of the church. What is permissable is not always expedient.

If we harm another believer through the exercise of our freedom through knowledge, then we are sinning against Christ.

All this is the thrust of Pauls teaching here, but within the teaching there are other lessons. For example the fact that idols are nothing and have no power, but this knowledge needs to be held with care, because to some less enlightened, the idol is not neutral and they feel that to have contact with an idol in any way lays them open to contact with evil, and lays them open to the sin of offending God.

There is the teaching that there is only one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. All other supposed gods are not gods, and to worship them is not only folly, but giving worship to Satan rather than God. But we should proceed with love when we speak to others who have not reached such light and understanding.