18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[f]
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
-1 Corinthians 10:18-33
Soon after I graduated from college I was really considering dying my hair blue—anime blue. For real. It never happened though and this passage had something to do with it.
The Apostle Paul here is advising Christians to stay away from food that’s been offered to other gods in other religions. He makes it a point to say that the food is fine regardless. There’s nothing magical that happens to food when it is used in another religious ceremony. For Christians, it’s still food and it’s still delicious.
BUT if by eating the food others might think that you are worshipping a different god, you need to take pause. If your actions can lead others astray or confuse others about the Christian faith, you need to reconsider.
That’s what happened with my hair dying desires. There is nothing wrong with dying your hair. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, “Thou shalt not dye your hair blue!” BUT, during that time I was starting to serve in youth ministry at a fairly conservative church and I knew a counselor with dyed hair would probably not be taken seriously by parents.
Anime blue hair is not forbidden by Scripture, but if me dying my hair might prevent parents from trusting me with their students, then it’s better for me not to do it. This is what Paul means when he says, “Do not cause anyone to stumble.” I give up the freedoms that I have so that the Gospel can reach others unhindered. Not dying my hair anime blue is but a small, small sacrifice. And in the long run, it worked out. I shudder to think ridicule I would receive now if pictures of my blue hair existed.
In your actions, are you seeking the good of others or do your actions preventing others from seeing God clearly?
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