To eat or not to eat

To eat or not to eat

This Sunday, we were privileged at CDC to listen to a message from Elder Steven based on 1 Corinthians 8. In the Corinthian church, one important issue had come up regarding the eating of food sacrificed to idols. Now it was common practice in those days for food to be offered to idols and then eaten by the worshipper. What the worshipper could not finish could be sold in the market, and quite often such worshippers would invite friends to come and eat together of this food. In a Malaysian Chinese context, this is a very similar situation, where many Christians have parents or relatives or friends who worship idols or ancestors and sacrifice food to them.

Now in reality, Paul explains that an idol is nothing at all in all the world, and food is food, neither making a person better or worse in a spiritual sense. However, to some, whose consciences are weak, to partake of food sacrificed to idols is to become part of the worship of the idol, and they should not take. Hence, if a more mature Christian takes freely in front of them, it may mislead them or cause them to sin and because of that in such circumstances, Paul says not to eat, not because eating is wrong, but because eating will damage the conscience of the other brother or sister. The principle is that whatever we do should be in consideration of others, especially in the family of God.

In the day of the Pharisees, those who considered themselves religious would distance themselves from the common people, and completely abhor the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the beggars. However, when Jesus came, He reached out to all, even the very lowest of society. Whether to the Samaritan woman or to Nicodemus, Jesus met them at their level and brought God’s truth to them. In a famous phrase, Jesus exclaimed “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. Those who know they need God are near to salvation, but those who think they are alright on their own are ever so far away. Elder Steven spoke of an incident where one was failed for plagiarism in a Bible School. Immediately, many of the other students avoided the offender, looking down on him. Only a few continued to stand by and accept the fallen student. This was a Bible School, yet there was no grace, but condemnation by her students.

In John 1, it is written that the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Only truth without grace leaves no room for the sinner. Only grace without truth, gives rise to a license to sin. Grace and truth saves the sinner and sets him on the path of truth, to do what is right. Once we accept Christ, we are free, but at the same time we are slaves to righteousness. In following the Holy Spirit, who will lead us to love God and to love others, we will inherently always do what is righteous.

Coming back to the issue of eating or not eating, the important thing is to realize is that whatever we do should be done for the glory of the Lord. If eating causes a brother to sin, we should not eat, likewise wearing certain clothes, doing certain practices, drinking liquor for instance.

Elder Steven shared how he once attended a reunion and was offered alcohol. Now to him, there is nothing wrong with alcohol within control, but not getting drunk. However, a Baptist pastor who was there with him advised him to abstain as there could be younger brothers in their midst. For their sake, Elder Steven abstained, and he believed it was the right thing to do in that instance.

In his church, there are some who see buffets as sinful. The Elder sees it as nothing wrong yet will not mention it in the presence of these brothers and sisters out of respect for them. If anything will cause a brother or sister to stumble, it is best to abstain. Amazingly, there was even a brother who came up to Elder Steven during a fundraising and told him upfront that he would not contribute a single sen because he looked very prosperous, as he had a big belly. In this instance, even a person’s size could stumble a fellow believer, what more our actions. In a similar instance, there is nothing inherently wrong with a pastor driving a BMW, but if a poor church member may think, my offering is being used to help pastor sustain this lifestyle, then it is better for the pastor to drive a normal, average car. The principle is always to be sensitive not to stumble others.

The apostle Paul later wrote how he became all things to all men, so that by God’s grace, some might be saved. To a Jew he became a Jew, to a Greek he became a Greek. Always, always, his priority was to honor Christ in everything he did.

In conclusion, that too should be our aim in life – to be full of grace and truth, considerate of others in love in whatever we do.

God bless,

Jason