Exercise freedom with love

Do you love to eat? I love to eat. My family and I are quite international in our eating habits. Each one may have their food preferences but we can survive in most parts of the world. Thanks to Lee Yen, my wife, my older 3 children can whip up great meals. The father, namely me, mainly sits at the table to enjoy everything. Paul addresses some significant cultural issues with regards to food.

1 Corinthians 8:9-11
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

Apparently, much of the meat and choice foods in Corinth are offered to idols before being served. This became a point of contention within the church. Yes, we have full knowledge that meat sacrificed to idols is nothing and we should be able to eat it, but there are some in the fellowship that may stumble at this and revert to idol worship or have their faith shaken.

We have freedom to eat what we want but for the sake of our brothers who are weak and those who have yet to come to Christ, we will abstain. The love of God compels us to abstain. In the meantime we will work on these and grow them in the knowledge and power of God. This principle needs to be applied to everything we say and do.

Father, help me not stumble anyone through my daily words and actions.

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