“However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.”

Should Christians be free to eat food offered to idols or not? That is the question the Corinthians were wrestling with. Some might say, “That’s a no-brainer; stay as far away from anything associated with idolatry as you can!” That is akin to Christians back in the day avoiding movie theaters, dance halls, and gambling casinos—all things suspected of allowing the evils of the world a foothold in the Christian life, especially for those who were immersed in those things prior to knowing Christ. Paul’s response would be, “Think deeply; don’t just rely on a list of rules” (Col. 3:21–23). Paul is not saying such activities don’t matter—he is actually ramping up the stakes.

Idolatry was ubiquitous in ancient Corinth (apart from Jews and Christians). When animal sacrifices were made at the pagan temples, the pagan priests kept some meat for themselves, then sold the remainder in the meat markets on the street. Now think of a Christian buying a side of lamb at the market, where the meat from the temple was mixed in with other meat. Should the Christian only buy non-idol meat, or can he buy and eat the temple meat (especially if available at a discount!)? Should Christians invest in mutual funds that contain alcohol or tobacco stocks? Should Christians use computer apps sold by a non-Christian religious organization? Details differ, but the issues are similar.

Some believers who had been deeply involved in idol worship before faith in Christ could not bring themselves to eat any food associated with pagan rituals. Others felt it was just meat, it had not intrinsically changed, and Christians therefore were free to eat it—after all, idols don’t really exist anyway.

Paul explains that neither eating nor abstaining from temple food will affect our relationship with the one and only true God. However—and this is a big “however”—there is the matter of one’s conscience. Some had not been able to work out the implications of monotheism. They could not separate the meat from idol worship in their minds. Paul describes their conscience as “weak.” For them to eat the food would defile their conscience.

Paul’s message to both sides of this debate is that neither position on eating or not eating temple food is better for spiritual growth. What really matters is a person’s conscience. That is the focus of Paul’s teaching next.

Lord, help me to be sensitive about other people’s sensitive consciences and not just the knowledge of my freedom.