Stumble

Corinthians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  29:23
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Stumbling Stick

A story in two pictures.
Jono riding bike down driveway. Gravel. Flying free.
Me. With a Stick.
What is a brother supposed to do?
As a loving big brother, I just wanted him to have the joy of flying.
Paul is addressing a whole host of challenges at the Corinthian church. It was fighting over who’s the best pastor, then gross sexual sin in the church, then questions of marriage and divorce and singleness.
Now it is the question that all of you certainly have: Can I eat food sacrificed to idols?
That may not be your question. But you might have questions like:
Is it sin to smoke pot?
Is it sin to watch such and such show. Game of Thrones on HBO?
I curse like a sailor. (Lots of nautical phrases). Is that a sin?
Paul speaks to sin “gray areas”. Subjective sins, we could call them.

1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 8 ESV
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Look -

Matters of Conscience

Paul has spoken directly to some sin issues. Thieving, adultery, homosexuality, sleeping with your father’s wife… these are not “gray areas”. There is no ambiguity here.
Now he turns to a different category.
Here’s a question no one here has: is it a sin to eat food sacrificed to idols? For some reason that question doesn’t come up a lot.
But this was a hot topic in Corinth. There would be sacrifices at one of the many temples. Apollo or Hermes or Isis. The food from that sacrifice in the temple, it isn’t all eaten there, it is butchered and sold in the market. Is it sinful, is it idolatrous to buy and eat that food? Maybe it’s cheaper by the pound? There was debate in Corinth and someone had written to Paul to ask him.
1 Corinthians 8:1–2 ESV
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
That’ll be important.
What we know:
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 ESV
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
We know that. More, we know:
1 Corinthians 8:8 ESV
Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
This is what “we” know, Paul writes. The idols are nothing, there gods aren’t real, aren’t powerful, the food killed in their name isn’t magically powerful.

Birthdays

Indeed one of our predecessors has observed that the birthday of Pharaoh is recorded in Genesis and recounts that it is the wicked man who, being in love with the affairs of birth and becoming, celebrates his birthday. But we, taking our cure from that interpreter, discover that nowhere in the scriptures is a birthday celebrated by a righteous person.
-Origen (ca. 185-254 ca.)
This isn’t a clear Biblical sin issue. There is no chapter and verse to point to at this time in the Old Testament… and Jesus didn’t speak to it.
So Paul is reasoning from theological principles, confidently, inspired by the Spirit, but there are others who are coming to a different conclusion.
You “know” that celebrating birthdays is not a danger to your soul. But for some in the 2nd century, this was a question of conscience.
You “know” that eating food sacrificed to idols is not a danger to your soul.
taking up our questions from before:
Is it sin to watch, say “Game of Thrones” on HBO?
Is it sin for me to smoke the doobies (as the kids say these days)?
Is it sin for me to cuss like a sailor?
Many of you might have clear answers to those. I absolutely bet they aren’t all the same answers.
These really come down to questions of the heart… which is subjective. What is happening in your heart and mind when you watch that show? Is that lust? Or covetousness? Or idolatry? Or rebellion?
If you are perfect, those things may not be any kind of sin for you. If that is an area where you are strong, that may not be an issue for you.
But there’s this guy, known as:

My weaker brother

In this case, you know my weaker brother’s name. For privacy I’ll just use his initials: Jonathan Mackintosh. He never quite recovered fully from that bike accident.
We may “know” that the idols are empty, and that food sacrificed to them carries no power but...
1 Corinthians 8:7 ESV
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
Here’s what happens.
For years, decades maybe, they have been worshipping in that temple to that god. And when they then eat the meat, it is a sacred act. It is an act of worship to that god. So for them, their habits, their way of thinking, the direction of the heart, the well worn patterns of worship… it is an act of worship to them.
That is subjective. It takes place in the heart.
And that’s a weakness, it absolutely is. This is an area of weakness in them. People frequently misunderstand Paul here, I think. As if the church is divided into the “weak brothers” and the “strong brothers.” And let’s be condescendingly patient with the weak ones.
I don’t think that’s it. This is an area of weakness in there life… and you know there are other areas where I am weak. This just happens to be theirs.
I read in Christianity Today years ago about the guys at xxxchurch.com, witnessing at porn conventions, going to strip clubs buying lap dances and using that time to share the gospel with people who need to hear it.
That’s… never going to be my ministry. There I would be the weaker brother. Food sacrificed to idols? Pass the BBQ sauce. Not a problem for me.
Sometimes, sin is subjective. That is, it isn’t just the outward action, but the inward intention.
So… what’s this stumbling block business?

Stumbling Block

What is that? A block you stumble over. Very helpful.
1 Corinthians 8:7 ESV
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
And then, they see me engaging in a behavior that they believe is sinful.
And it isn’t that they judge me, it is that they mimic my behavior even though they believe it is sinful.
And it “defiles their conscience.”
Their “inward faculty of distinguishing right and wrong.” It isn’t sin in the eyes of God, rightfully understood… but they believe it is sin. And when they eat it, they are disobedient in their heart… so for them it is a sin because it is done in defiance.
And so I trip them up.

What about people who think you are sinning?

This isn’t about them.
Jesus was constantly doing things other people thought were wrong or even sinful. He was eating with tax collectors and prostitutes. He was healing on the Sabbath. He was calling himself God. Jesus was right, he was in the right, he knew he was right and he didn’t worry about people who thought he was sinning.
That isn’t what this is about.
This isn’t about them.

What if “someone” might struggle with that?

We could see this as a reason to stop all action entirely. Crippled by the possibility that it might lead someone to sin.
My Dad tells the story of his dad, Albyn. He wouldn’t go see a movie at the movie theaters. Someone might see him going in… and might guess that he is seeing a rated R movie… and either judge him for it or think that’s it is okay for them to see it too and so stumble.
This isn’t “make up your own hypothetical sin” time. What if someone is really struggling with attraction to my shoes, and they are maybe even worshipping my shoes… should I not wear shoes?
That’s nonsense. But we can let our minds run amok.
I remember one Conference where they “outlawed dancing” as a youth activity. Because someone might be theologically opposed to dancing (because Baptists)… and that someone might not then let their kid participate… and that would be sad for that kid… so no dancing.
The inclusivity came from a loving place. But we went around and talked to all the parents. All of them. None of them were actually opposed to dancing at all, they just thought it was “possible” someone else was.
1 Corinthians 8:7 (ESV)
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
Some (specific people) through former association with idols, eat food.
This isn’t hypothetical. It’s Carl, and Becky, and Todd. I know this is an area of conscience for them.
So you know what I do when I’m with Carl and Becky and Todd?
I don’t eat food sacrificed to idols.
What does this require?
This only works in a community where you follow the model of James.
James 5:16 ESV
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
I need to know where you are weak. Not so that I judge you, this isn’t unrepentant ongoing sin, these are the areas I am most pursuing holiness and righteousness. Praying that where I am weak He will be shown to be strong.
I bring my weaknesses to you… and you help me. With love and forgiveness and, as far as you are able, helping me avoid temptation. And I do the same for you.
It’s easy in defining what “matters of conscience” are, what “stumbling blocks” are and are not… that was a whole lot of knowledge, wasn’t it? But Paul led off this chapter saying something kind of crazy.
1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
It would be the easiest thing in the world for this all to devolve into a debate about the sanctity of eating food sacrificed to idols.
But (and so often) knowledge is a trap.
We could all leave her feeling good about our mental comprehension of what a stumbling block is and what it is not. That’s not at all Paul’s goal.
1 Corinthians 8:2–3 ESV
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
And then, building up towards 1 Cor 13, Paul is setting the stage for how we love one another radically. Practically. Constantly. First.

Love First

You don’t “win” in knowledge. You “win” in love.
The problem was they could be 100% right in their reasoning and still be in 100% wrong in their love toward their fellow saints in the church
Maybe there comes a time where Paul works to teach the “weaker” brothers better theology. But the first question he challenges us to ask is “what can I do that is loving to them now?” How can I encourage them in their walk, in holiness and righteousness?
Not out of fear that they’ll judge me. Out of love to keep them walking.
This should be our first question. This should be our primary principle.
What can I do that would be loving. Given what I know about Wayne… how can I sacrifice, even sacrificing my freedom to “do what I want to do” to show love to him. Using the quote from Hebrews 10 he shared last week “Consider how to spur one another on to good deeds.”
With careful loving thought.
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