Our Food can spoil other’s relationship with God: (8:7-10):
Pagan religion demands sacrifice of food. It is very common even in India too which is called as ‘prasad.’ Even in the days of Corinthians also many Christians who were earlier belonged to such religions and offering food to idols played an important role in their pagan worship. Now they are Christians and they served the real God. So they did not want to have any connection with a false god. For that reason, they refused to eat any food that someone had offered to a false god. They were careful to avoid that food. Those Christians were right to be careful. A Christian should avoid any behaviour that may offend God. That Christian’s relationship with God matters more than anything in that person’s life. But some other Christians believed that they could eat any food. They were even eating food that other people had offered to false gods. Their behaviour offended the Christians who refused that food.
Paul told the Christians, that, in such circumstances, they must not eat that food (8:11-13). They should show love towards other Christians. They must not do anything that would upset another person’s trust in Christ (Mark 9:42). This is true with the Indian culture also. Although a believer has every right to eat whatever food since food will not make any one holy or unholy, every Christian must seriously look at his own actions. Christians must show love to other people. They should not insist on their rights if other people will suffer as a result.
If weaker Christians ate that meat, they would find it hard not to give honour to the false gods. They had not eaten such meals after their conversion. It was clear that they must not do it again.
So Christians cannot always do the things that they have a right to do. It is more important that they should show love, both towards God and towards other people. Similarly an Indian Christian must keep away from such foods sacrificed to idols which will set up a good example to other weak Christians.
Believers must deal gently with others: (8:11-13):
Apostle Paul used the word “brother” as a relationship between people. Yes all Christians are brothers and sisters in the Lord. Every Christian has a duty to show love towards other Christians and even non-Christians, foreigners. Christ died for all people and He loves all the people of this earth. In Corinth Christians were arguing for the food sacrificed to idols. Although they gave thanks to God before consumption of food, the very food is causing the weaker faiths to spiritually backslide. Since we all call ourselves brothers and sisters, we must avoid all those attitudes which are causing a stumbling block to others whether Christians or nominal Christians or even people of other faith. We are answerable for our actions before God. Every believer has to bear this cost of not destroying the faith of the weaker ones whether it may avoiding food or going to places of mockers or fun-lovers or wasting time in parties although the Christian is not involved in it. If we are arrogant and indifferent to the needs of weaker Christians, this would result in sin not only against them but also against Christ of whose body they are members. The Lord Jesus said: “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck” (Mk. 9:42).