Jump Start # 162 

1 Corinthians 8:13 “Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.” 

This verse is the concluding statement of the apostle Paul after a series of arguments about the  issue of eating meats. The thought here is not about diet or is meat better than a vegetarian, it has to do with religious thought.

  The pagans often sacrificed animals to their gods and then sold the meat in market places. This was common in the Gentile world. With many Gentiles now becoming Christians, the thought and issue of these meats comes up. Similar thoughts are found in Romans 14. If a Christian ate meat that had been sacrificed to idols, is he participating in idolatry?

  Paul deals with this. He begins by saying, “there is no such thing as an idol in the world and there is no God but one” (4). Later he says, “food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat” (8). At this point it seems that Paul says, it doesn’t matter.

  But he throws in, “Not all men have this knowledge” (7). Some “being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.” Paul then instructs those who do not have a problem with this, not to hurt the conscience of others. The rest of the chapter Paul shows how we need to be concerned about how others see us and not to mislead them.

  Then comes our powerful verse. Paul states that if eating meats causes another Christian to stumble, he would never eat meat again. Many would consider Paul to be extreme. Some would say, “it’s not fair. If nothing is wrong with eating meats, then he has a right to eat meat if he wants to.” The problem is we are so stuck on our rights that we often abuse the feelings of others. Christians don’t do that. They are concerned about others. They do not want anyone to lose their faith because of something that they did.

  These verses illustrate for us the closeness and love that brethren have for one another. They would rather do without than to hurt another. Their mindset was the big picture. They cared about unity, getting along and the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. Long ago, when they became disciples, they crucified self. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me, Paul would declare. Christ said, “if any one wants to come after me, let him first, deny himself…”

  That spirit is often missing today. When something doesn’t go just the way some think it should, off they go looking for another marriage, another church, or another god. It’s not about me! Have we forgotten that?

  I like meat. I like meat on the grill. I like beef, pork, chicken, lamb and maybe someday MOOSE. Could I give it up? Some only do that kicking and shouting when the doctor threatens them with a short life if they don’t. But to give it up willingly? To do it because of someone else? To do it so someone else who may be weaker in faith can keep going?

  Now meats sacrificed to idols are not an issue here in America. But don’t limit your thinking to just that. Be thoughtful. Be considerate. Be a team player. Be self—less. That is the driving thoughts that Paul is addressing. Powerful stuff. Hard to do! But possible through Christ.

 Roger