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| Illustration credit: Wilhelm Lubke (via Wikipedia) |
I think one of the most interesting things about human civilization is that not a whole lot has changed since we started living in organized societies. People have always huddled with their own gang, tribe, or clique. Fights have happened between men over a certain woman. People have enjoyed alcoholic beverages all the way back to when the Sumerians allegedly invented beer about 7,000 years ago. People have always enjoyed events that showed off the athletic prowess of people. People have been accountable to one another. And of course, people have seemingly enjoyed shopping in the marketplace and buying and exchanging goods.
This was happening in the time of the early church – about 2,000 years ago. For instance, the Greek city of Corinth had a marketplace – and like any other marketplace on the planet goods were sold, bought, and exchanged. In Corinth there was also a brand new church – they were the recipient of two letters from a man named Saint Paul that ended up as books in the Bible (1 and 2 Corinthians). Like any church they lived in the same place where people of other beliefs, customs, and practices lived. For instance, in Corinth, there was a temple to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. What we learned about in school when we studied mythology, these people experienced daily when they went for a walk through their neighborhoods.
One of the issues the Corinthian church was facing was a dispute about proper behavior in relation to their pagan neighbors who believed in “the gods”. The dilemma was this: if someone sacrifices an animal to any of these false gods and goddesses – are we as Christians allowed to eat the sacrificial meat once it’s sold in the marketplace?
This was a big question! Let’s say someone had a food truck (or at least a first century version of one) in downtown Corinth and they were selling Zeus Burgers made from the animals sacrificed in some pagan temple – can the Christians head over there during their lunch break and eat one? Wouldn’t that be participating in paganism?!? Wouldn’t that make God (the One, True God) mad?!?!? Are Zeus Burgers sinful?!?!?!
Paul understood the dilemma. I think we do too. Those question marks and exclamation points mean business! As Christians who are (by the Grace of God) trying to faithfully follow Jesus the idea that we might do something like this – accidentally or intentionally - terrifies us. This issue is just as fresh today! Are we “allowed” to watch certain TV shows, movies, drink alcohol, and etc.? Will God strike us down where we sit and laugh and drink? I like the movie “The Avengers” – one of the characters is Thor, a “god.” Am I in danger of going to Hell because I thought Chris Hemsworth was absolutely magical in his portrayal of the fictitious “god of thunder?”
While we all struggle with this stuff Paul seemed to keep a cooler head on the matter. He basically says, “Look, people, we’re Christians. We believe in the One, True God. A burger made from the animal sacrificed to Zeus is nothing because Zeus is nothing. Have a Zeus Burger – and make it a double if you want!” (1 Corinthians 8:4, extremely paraphrased).
Paul recognized the dilemma – but the issue went beyond that for him. See, while they had the freedom to eat a Zeus Burger the dilemma was in actuality – is it OK to always exercise that freedom? While we should always think about how we live in relation to our neighbors – Paul also said we need to think about how we live in relation to fellow Christians. This mattered to Paul more than eating meat offered to a fake god in a fake religion.
“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights
does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”
1 Corinthians 8:9
That issue today exists for Christians. Take alcohol for instance (I mentioned it earlier). Are Christians allowed to drink? The issue has become a very large issue among different denominations. The problem is alcoholism – which has given birth to the reaction that ALL alcohol is bad. Some churches forbid it and you cannot be a part of their gatherings if you imbibe. The Bible itself never goes that far. It only says that getting drunk is the problem (apparently this was a problem in this Corinthian church as well. People were getting liquored up during communion! (1 Corinthians 11:21)).
But the Bible talks about how Jesus kept the party going at a wedding reception when they ran out of wine (John 4:1-12). Jesus also drank wine at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:27-29). Paul himself told his student Timothy to have a little wine to help with his stomach issues (1 Timothy 5:23). Then again there’s the story of Noah (yes, that Noah) who upon getting off of the ark and after giving thanks to God proceeded to plant a vineyard, make some wine, get trashed, and pass out naked (Genesis 9:20-22). So we see the point: moderation.
Undoubtedly Paul was thinking of this when he went into detail about how the freedom to eat Zeus Burgers doesn’t necessarily mean it’s beneficial 100% of the time. He understood that thinking of the consciences of others is our duty as brothers and sisters in Jesus.
““Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek their own good but the good of others”
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
Paul has spent a few chapters in 1 Corinthians talking about how some of the members of this church were doing considerable damage with their “knowledge” and “freedom” concerning their salvation in Jesus Christ. Now he seems to be writing to some of these folks – and seemingly folks who are a bit more mature in the faith about this “knowledge” to eat whatever they want. Why? Paul says because there are newer Christians watching the behavior of the mature/experienced Christians – and the newbies, exercising that same freedom, might not understand what they’re doing and think this attitude is OK when it comes to ANY issue (which we see happening in our church culture today).
So naturally the question arises: so we can’t do anything? Of course we can. It’d be impossible to live if we thought everything in this world was “icky” in some way shape or form. Can I watch a TV show because it has someone who is gay in it? Can I vote for a candidate who has been divorced? Can I watch “The Avengers” (as I mentioned before)? I’m a prideful person with a propensity to anger, lust, and greed – does that mean you can’t read the stuff I write?
Let’s be realistic. Of course we need to flee from sin – but good luck if you think you can live your life for Jesus wearing bubble wrap and a football helmet while sitting in your basement. What I think Paul is saying is that we need to consider our audience before we do things. If you, a Christian, are hanging out with a person who might find your drinking a beer a temptation for them to get drunk – then having a Pepsi won’t kill you. The best part is that it would enable you to talk about this stuff with them! If I want to watch a Quentin Tarantino movie – but the person I’m with might experience a crisis of conscience – then we can watch The Smurfs instead. Paul lays it out there:
“For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t they be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother/sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge…Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother/sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”
1 Corinthians 8:10-11, 13
I heard a pastor named Keith Krell say once that he watched an interview with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger talk about why he doesn’t wear a helmet when riding his motorcycle. Roethlisberger basically said that since it wasn’t a law in Pennsylvania he didn’t have to wear one. He added that he felt more free without it. Sometime later Roethlisberger was involved in a serious traffic accident when he was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered some extensive damage to his head and face. In later interviews he was apologetic to all who loved him and cheered for him for having been reckless with his freedom.
Krell continued that Roethlisberger influences a lot of young people with his fame. The concluding attitude of these people might be, “If he doesn’t have to wear one, why should I?” As you can see – this attitude can have tragic consequences.
We finally see the point. We have a responsibility to one another on this planet. As Christians that responsibility potentially has an effect on the eternity of others. Our freedom can be a tool or a weapon.
We are our “brother’s keeper.” Think about that as you enjoy your Zeus Burger.
