The sermon was originally going to focus exclusively on Paul's personal example, but when studying the Scripture, I found the issue of the class divide to be really interesting. This sermon could also have focused more on not being a stumbling block, but next week's sermon on Christian freedom will speak to that more. I will probably reference the stumbling block passage in next week's sermon.
“A 'C' on the Back” January 31, 2021; SAPC, Denton; Dr. Richard B. Culp; I Corinthians 8: Mark 1: 21-28
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3 but anyone who loves God is known by him.
4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 “Food will not bring us close to God.”[a] We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11 So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed.[b] 12 But when you thus sin against members of your family,[c] and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling,[d] I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them[e] to fall.
Introduction: Another week in Corinth;
another attempt by Paul to challenge some of the things being said by some in the church community (reminder - the quotes in the text are probably direct quotes from those making arguments in Corinth)
Another example of how Paul believes that their Christian faith, that our Christian faith, speaks to specific issues Christians face in the world.
In this case, the specific issue is meat sacrificed to idols.
Move 1: As we might expect, the food issue represents a bigger issue - divisions in the church between different groups.
a. For the community in Corinth, the food problem is as follows.
1. There is a lot of pagan worship in Corinth. Corinth at this time was a quintessential pagan town, which meant there was lots of meat being sacrificed to the idols during pagan rituals.
2. Much of this meat was then sold in the markets.
3. As a Christian living in Corinth, could you buy and eat this meat? (https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-after-epiphany-2/commentary-on-1-corinthians-81-13-3; Valerie Nicolet-Anderson, Faculté Libre de Théologie Protestante, Paris, France)
b. the approach to this question reveals a divide in the community between those in the upper class and those who
1. the well-educated, well-to-do Christians have the opportunity to eat the food offered to idols because they find it at the upper-class social gathering they attend such as feast and celebrations or other public events where the meat offer to idols was sold for food (Feasting the Word, 302, V. Bruce Rigdon).
2. they also can use their education to develop arguments to rationalize the eating of this food.
3. We can see their thought progression in Paul’s letter: they begin with “all of us possess knowledge”
which leads to we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” because “there is no God but one.”
which culminates with, we can obviously eat meat offered to idols since we know that idols do not exist so the sacrifice has not really happened.
4. From a rational point of view, I see the logic in the argument.
5. But, Only those with access to meat need to figure out a way to justify it.
6. For those without money to afford the meat, without the educational chops to make the argument, it is much simpler - if you eat the meat, then you are worshipping idols.
7. Now, the community is split over this issue.
c. Paul determines that the relationships in the community, the need to be together in their Christian community matters more than which side they are on in the food issue.
1. Paul sets up knowledge in contrast to love.
2. perhaps we find this ironic - Paul, who always seems to be developing theological concepts and calling on Christians to think through their actions seems to be suggesting knowledge is less important than love.
3. I think Paul would say (hard to speak for Paul) that we are still called to be thoughtful and theological, but when deciding on how to act, love should be our guide.
4. As Paul does in fact say, “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
5. Or, as new Testament scholar Mark Allan Powell notes, Paul argues that “Love must trump knowledge as a guide to Christian behavior” (Mark Allan Powell, Introducing the New Testament)
6. in other words, when we think about how to act as Christians, it is not what we know, but how we love.
Move 2: We also see in Paul’s argument his own call to lead by personal example.
a. I don’t know about you, but when I think about Paul, I think about rules he gives for Christians to follow.
1. But notice, how Paul finishes this discussion about eating food sacrificed to idols.
2. No command for how the Corinthians should act.
3. Paul does not issue a mandate on what they should do.
4. he simply tells them that since eating food sacrificed to idols might cause someone else in the community to stumble, he is not going to eat meat.
5. He offers his personal example.
b. We see in Paul’s choice how he understands Christian leadership.
1. If you want people to understand what it means to be a Christian, then act in ways that reveal love and help others instead of becoming a stumbling block.
2. It as if Paul has put a big “C” on his back and said, here is what it means to be a Christian.
3. It seems to me that he knows that all the arguments in the world for believing in christ or understanding resurrection or the power of the Holy Spirit need concrete expression in the ways Christians live their lives.
4. the story is told about a Civil War chaplain who encountered a wounded man on the battlefield. “Would you like to hear a few verses of Scripture?” he asked. “No sir, but I am thirsty. Could I please have some water?” After giving him some water, the chaplain again asked about reading a few verses of Scripture. “No sir, not now, but could you put something under my head.” The chaplain did so and then asked again about reading Scripture. “No sir, but I’m cold. Could you cover me up?” the chaplain took off his overcoat and placed it over the wounded man. This time he did not ask about reading scripture and started to walk away. But the soldier called after him, “Look, chaplain, if there’s anything in that book of yours that makes a person do for another what you’ve done for me, then I want to hear it.” Carlos Wilton, “A Witness for the Defense,” Theological Web Publishing, LLC
6. in our world today, a world in which people make claims about God and Christ and argue how their beliefs reflect Christ, the most compelling argument for Christ is when we act in love and care more about the community than about satisfying our own personal needs.
Conclusion: Join Paul in sharing your Christian faith in the way you live
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