An important principle Paul uses when addressing a difficult issue in the church that caused a lot of division can be found in 1 Corinthians 8. The people were divided over if they were able to eat meat offered to idols. Eating meat offered to idols was a common thing in Corinth in the 1st Century. When an animal was killed to be eaten it was sacrificed to their gods to bless them in certain areas. They had many gods. Gods like the goddess of love, the god of the sea, and the god of healing. What Paul does here is so helpful for us when we are facing grey areas and difficult areas of disagreement.
There were 2 different camps. The first camp said it was wrong to eat meat offered to idols because we only worship God. The second camp said it wasn’t wrong to eat meat offered to idols because we only worship God and those idols aren’t real anyway. On this particular issue there were two black and white, yes or no sides, and Paul helps us zoom out of the issue. Is there a different way to think about it?
Paul begins this peace making effort by acknowledging that “Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Paul quickly presents the different way to think about, the way of love. Both sides KNOW they are right. And that knowledge makes us feel good, but it’s love that strengthens the church.
Paul goes on to say that it’s ok to eat meat offered to idols since idols aren’t real anyway. Go for it! We can’t win God’s approval by eating the meat or not eating the meat anyway. It doesn’t matter.
But then he turns the whole conversation on its head. While it’s ok to do it, I don’t think you should. What? If it’s ok to do it, why shouldn’t I do it? Well, Paul concludes that “if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:13).
What if we lived this way? What if instead of picking sides and telling the other side how much we KNOW we are right about something, we would instead choose love? What if I willingly didn’t do something I knew was ok to do because I wanted to love my friend and see their faith in God grow?
How have you seen this scenario play out in your own life? How have you seen it done well? What’s an example of seeing it done poorly?