Being the Church Today: Food Part 2

 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. 1 Corinthians 8

Okay, I confess I skipped over 1 Corinthians 7 dealing with relationships.  I have a bit of a defense, which is to remember that we are reading the Corinthians' mail.  Sometimes something is said in a personal card to me that is tough for an outsider to sort out.  Second, remember the last post about judging?  Seriously, let's grab coffee and talk about chapter 7.  

In chapter 8, Paul picks up the theme of food dedicated to idols.  This would have been meat sacrificed to Apollo the god of music or Aphrodite the goddess of love.  Some thought, "Hey, I know there is only one God...what is the big deal.  Besides have you tasted the 11 herbs and spices?  Delicious!"  Others thought it was just poor taste and causes confusion among the people of faith.  So there was trouble in River City.  Plus, Paul sets the tone here for the famous chapter 13, the treaties on love.  So, some in Corinth were making arguments...based on knowledge...to show people that idol meat was a-okay.  Others took the other side.  And the bottom line was tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.   

Some might say, where is the connection?  I would suggest that if, like me, you walk past the Apple Store gazing longingly at the new watch...we know what the Corinthians were going through.  If you struggle with wants and that whole stewardship post from a few times ago (you were hoping I forgot that weren't you??) than we know what the Corinthians were going through.  There are temples dedicated to the gods of today all around us...we just don't see it that way.

So, what happens when we bring that into the church?  It can create divisions and tensions.  Where is this happening in your church?  How about your family?  How about within your own heart?

Paul says rather than trying to solve these dilemmas, what if love gets a word in edgewise?  What would God's love say about technology?  About disagreements over theology?  About debates over vision for the church?  Both inside and outside in the church, we need to let God's love give voice to the how, what, and why of our lives.  May there be more than a trace of God's grace moving in our lives as we do so.

Blessings ~