seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Corinthians 10:23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
This is from the commentary.If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner… eat what is set before you: If an unbeliever invites you to dinner, don’t get into a debate about the meat with them. Don’t ask, and it won’t bother you.
But if I partake with thanks – that is, if I can eat with a clear conscience, and offending no one else’s conscience – why am I evil spoken of? Since the food itself is not the problem, no one should judge another Christian who can eat meat sacrificed to idols, as long as they don’t violate their own conscience or someone else’s.
OK, Paul's still talking about what food they could eat as Christians. This is a letter to the Corinthians, who are not Jewish, so they are not required to stay Kosher. They are Christians though, so they have to be careful about what they do or say, because everyone is watching. Yesterday I used eating at the gay bar for lunch, it's about the same topic as today, only Paul's saying that if someone else sees them in that bar, it might hurt their Christian Witness.I try to walk a mile every day. Most days I can do it. It only takes about 20 minutes a morning. I'm in Arizona now, so rain doesn't stop the morning walk very often [bummer]. Heat has slowed me down this year. The point is my neighbors see me walking almost every day. Not too long ago, one of my neighbors called me an "inspiration". The first thing that came to mind when she said that was "Oh Brother!". Since she said that, I feel obligated to walk. It's been in the 90s overnight here.... some mornings it has been just too hot and sticky to be anything near pleasant walking weather, but I am obligated to walk. I see her out there walking now. She isn't steady on her feet, so her hubby is with her. Most of the time he is in his mobility scooter [he has a bad back] and she is hanging on to the chair. She says something to me every time we pass each other. She walks a mile now... slower, but she walks it. On top of that... She lets me know when she doesn't see me out there early in the morning. Some mornings they are out there walking their laps while I'm still on my computer writing in this forum, but I see her, out the window, and she's looking for me.
Now suppose instead of "inspiring" her to walk, I was "inspiring" her to drop a tab of acid or drink some moonshine or walk around the block naked.... then I would be hurting her. I would be responsible. Since I now have a Christian conscience, I would know I did her wrong. She would carry the consequences of dropping the acid, or drinking the moonshine, or walking around naked, but so would I. I "inspired" it. I would have to answer to the charge of being a bad neighbor when I meet Jesus at Judgement.
That's what Paul's saying about the meat at the pagan temple. It's not bad meat in itself. It's probably a great cut because who would offer their god something that isn't fit to eat? It's the way it was cooked or cured or smoked or salted that makes it different from the meat the Jews were accustomed to eating. If someone saw Paul buy meat from the pagan market, then they would "know" it's ok to buy meat at the pagan market. If that person decided to go worship at the pagan temple, because they were invited while in the pagan market.... That would be on Paul. He "inspired" them and put them in a situation they could not handle.
Check out verses 23 & 24. It is true... I have the right to do anything! I agree! But if I "inspire" someone to do wrong or if I "inspire" someone to do something that will hurt them or if I "inspire" them and put them in a dangerous situation.... I have to pay the consequences.
I have the right to do anything! I have to be careful how I enjoy that right. I don't want to ruin a perfectly good Christian witness.
As a Christian I am called to "Love" my neighbor. I am called to "look out" for my neighbor.
I do have the right to do anything!
