Watch what you do for the weak

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 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.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Today's topic is on Christian freedom. Drinking, smoking, and clubbing. Paul is addressing the eating of foods sacrificed to idols. Corinth was multi-theistic and multi-demonistic. People believed that demons could enter the body through food. So people believed that sacrificing this meat to idols purged it from demonic presence. It was sold in the market. Much like organic foods in the modern day. Some believers were stumbled by this food; others were not stumbled.

There are differences between people in knowledge of faith.

There is a difference between people when it comes to theological knowledge. There were people in the Corinthian church who understood. But even though they were right, they had a proud attitude towards those who don't know. They were puffed up. In this, they were in the wrong. It is not simply a matter of possessing knowledge of God. There is more  to it than just theology. It must impact our lives. Knowing God means having theology that changes us.

There is a difference between POSSESSING KNOWLEDGE of the gospel and being POSSESSED BY KNOWLEDGE of the gospel.

The one who loves is the one who knows God.

There is a difference between christians in terms  of conscience.

While idols are nothing, there are people who worshiped these idols. They had weak consciences. The subjective truth in their mind is that idols are real. For these, the food was wrong to eat. Our conscience is based on our beliefs. So for those who have certain beliefs, doing things that are not sins (as delineated by the bible) causes them to stumble.

Guilting and pressuring those with weak conscience to do things that make them guilty IS a sin. We should avoid any actions that may stumble them. In our knowledge of other's  consciences, we are called to abstain from those things.

In addition, there are areas where a christian is weak. For these areas, the conscience is a good and right warning. They should abstain for their own good. This is not a weak conscience; it is a weakness that is to be respected.

When we ignore other's conscience and their weaknesses, we do three things:

We defile their conscience.

This teaches them to ignore their conscience...and disables their ability to avoid spiritual danger.

We stumble their faith.

We are tearing them down. Impeding their spiritual growth.

We sin against Christ.

Mark 9:42 ESV

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea."

There must be a difference in our choices and actions depending on who we are with.

For those who can handle alcohol maturely, grabbing a couple beers is okay. But for those who struggle with alcoholism, we should not drink with them or bring them into the bar.

Romans 14: if we don't have a clear conscience about something, then we shouldn't do it. Because all that we do should come from faith.

Can I?
Is it explicitly forbidden in scripture?

Should I?
Does it glorify God? (1 Cor 10:31)
Is it beneficial to me? (1Cor 10:23)
Is it beneficial to others? (1 Cor 8, Romans 14)

The driving force behind all this:

Philippians 2:4-8 ESV

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Church matters: sexuality

1 Corinthians 6:9-20 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The world's view on sex has caused much damage, pain, and suffering. The church can some much light and restoration here.

God's design for sex

Paul was fighting this idea called dualism.  It saw the body and spirit as separate. This thinking meant that the body was seen as unimportant. Sex was just like eating; an appetite to be sated. Others saw sex as dirty and marriage something to be avoided.

Paul advocates neither of these. He told Christians that their body matters. It was not to be denigrated. It was the temple. In addition, we get a resurrection body.  Jesus was resurrected  with a body, with scars. He even ate fish. This implies the body is  neither bad or unspiritual. It is to be used for God.

By God's design, the only proper context  for sex, and any form of sexual contact is in marriage, between a man and a woman. Both sex and marriage serve as an illustration of the Gospel.

Sex illustrates the Gospel these ways:
For procreation (bearing fruit)
To communicate exclusive love (to give everything to another, no other)
For bonding (intimacy and union)

Distortion of sex

The culture tells us to just go with what feels right. To be true to ourselves. Waiting for sex sounds old-fashioned. Marriage, so outdated.

Our desires can be twisted. Pedophiles illustrate this.  Wanting sex with young children is wrong regardless of what we desire.

In addition,  we are free in Christ. We need not worry about dietary restrictions. But we cannot do what we wish without consequences. We find ourselves enslaved by our twisted desires. This is idolatry. We have placed our twisted sexual desires above God. Idols promise but cannot deliver. So the desires increase, but the fulfillment is not to be found.

Dealing with sex as a church

Sex and any sexual contact is reserved for marriage.

We are to treat those we date as a brother and sister in Christ.

When we dress consider how we might be stumbling others.

Be open about our sexual struggle; don't stigmatize those who have persistent sexual struggles.

Homosexuality is not something exclusive. It is listed along with adultery, thievery, greed, and idolatry. These lifestyles can disqualify you from the kingdom. Not the desire, but the consistent lifestyle of living this way. Fighting  these desires is hard and sometimes lifelong. But we win in Christ, for we have been sanctified, justified and raised in Him.