FOOD for thought...

I was reading I Corinthians 8 this morning to be more prepared for class tonight... in German... and I had some thoughts I thought I would share with you... Look at vs. 9-13

1Co 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Co 8:10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?
1Co 8:11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
1Co 8:12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

This is an interesting section of scripture. We don't have the problem so often today that we are in a situation where we have to decide if the meat we eat was offered first to idols before sold to us, and if that violates our consciences because of what happened to it previously.

For us today it is more a matter of how we deal with matters... we sometimes call disputable matters. Those things that we cannot agree on... sometimes those things we cannot even agree to disagree on... so what do we do. I believe what Paul is telling us indirectly through his letter to these Christians is that LOVE is more important that being right. Love is more important that having things the way you want. Love is more important that convincing people that we are right and they are wrong...

Paul tells us we have freedom to do things. But he emphasises the need not to "destroy" other people in the process. It sounds a lot to me like what Jesus told us in Matt 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Instead of tearing each other down, we seek to build each other up. Remember that what we do to others, what we say and how we treat them, we are actually doing to Jesus.

You have to love vs. 13! Paul stresses that for him, it is not worth ever eating meat... for us, ever doing anything to someone else... that would destroy their relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. So, what does that mean for you and me... not an easy answer. Sometimes I know I am right... sometimes I know that I have the right to do and act as I know I can... the hard question is how is it effecting my brothers and sisters? Am I willing to have my way to the point of actually causing someone else to loose their faith, to give up their relationship with our Father, just because I have the right to do what I want? Sometimes it is more than a little frustrating when someone "just cannot get the whole picture"... then it comes down to LOVE! Jesus loved us more than he loved his own body... so much so he gave it up on the cross for me... I believe that is what he has called us to do too. Give up ourselves for others in order for them to come to know him better. Both the lost and saved.

The last question I ask myself when I look at these verses is... when is it that I am not getting the whole picture? I really want you guys to be patient with me when I am the 'weaker' one, because I do not realize that I am... I am still learning. I really want to get it all right... a great goal, but just like maturing from a boy to a man takes time, so does maturing from a babe in Christ to becoming mature in Christ takes time. I want that... I need to give that to others and remember that as a part of the body of Christ we are here to ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER AND BUILD EACH OTHER UP, not just ourselves. Not sure how this all works out in your mind... it is not an easy thing to deal with, at least for me. Let me know what your feelings are and thanks for letting me have a few moments of your life today. May God bless you and give you His peace this day.

Mark