Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- The passage teaches of the need to be sensitive to others in church in 'grey' areas
- Be careful not to trample upon conscience
- Do not cause someone to sin or put a stumbling block in their way
- It is not about pleasing people but not causing people to sin
- Christianity is foremost about a vertical relationship with the living God
- Example of Brazilian brothers
- Christianity is about knowing God
- It is about living for Him - v6
- We are not unconnected from others
- We are dead to the sinful world but not to our brothers
- Our vertical relationship with God should enhance our horizontal relationships with other people
- We are to do good to everyone - but especially the household of faith
- Paul is addressing the Corinthians in a family context
- Let us consider this passage - it is about eating meat offered to idols
- A number of the people saved in Corinth had offered/eaten food to idols
- Those with a strong faith had come to recognise that an idol is nothing and meat will not contaminate
- Paul tells people to be careful in this as it might lead others to go against their conscience
- We could have a discussion on this
- Different cultures act in different ways
- Example of wearing shorts
Foundational principles (v1-3)
- Reading v1-3
- Christianity is more than knowledge - v1
- You can be a great theologian but misapply Scripture
- Knowledge in itself has a tendency to puff up
- Paul is trying to help those with a lack of knowledge but it telling those with knowledge to be sensitive
- Love considers much - examples
- It builds up others
- Our knowledge is limited - v2
- 1 Cor 13
- If we are honest - we recognise there is much we don't understand or know
- He who loves God is known by Him - v3
How should the Christian consider idols? (v4-6)
- The world is full of many idols - as was Corinth - v4
- Paul is clear - the idols are nothing
- The Old Testament tells us that idols are nothing
- Yes, people worship idols
- Yes, the devil and demons are involved in idol worship
- Examples - just objects
- There is but one God - v5
- We must keep ourselves from idols
- 1 John 5:21
How should I relate to a brother with an over sensitive conscience? (v7-13)
- Not everyone has knowledge - v7
- Food was often involved in idol worship
- Not everyone was aware that meat was just meat - it might affect their conscience
- Understand that there are believers that think differently to you and be sensitive to them
- Christians do have different points of view - v8
- Rom 14:2-6 - eating of vegetables vs meat
- Do not let freedom cause problems to others - v9
- Do not cause scandal/offense to your brother
- Consider others in what you do - v10
- Imaginary example
- Do not cause another to defile their conscience and not sin
- Do not make a brother perish - v11
- A life of guilt and ruin
- Rendered useless
- Are we prepared to give up our rights - v13
- Example
- Not a verse to hold people to ransom
- Not to avoid offense (though we should try) but to avoid sin
- Matt 18:6
- At the Council of Jerusalem - there was a ban on eating food to idols
Application
- What is appropriate dress in church?
- What is honouring to God - entertainment, the Lord's day?
- We must remember our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit
- Alcohol, smoking, overeating/gluttony
- What about the Lord's day?
- Petrol/shopping - if necessary
- Works of kindness
- Christianity is not about God - about worshiping God
- There are implications that we need to think through
- Some might have more liberty than others but we need to be careful to consider others
- Rom 15:1-3
- We are to please God and consider our neighbour
- Let us seek to consider others