1 Corinthians 8:4-13

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

-1 Corinthians 8:4-13

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Your faith doesn’t exist in a vacuum.  Your faith doesn’t just belong to you, it’s part of a community.  When you struggle in your faith, the whole Christian community struggles.  When you grow in your faith, the whole Christian community grows.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul was dealing with people who looked down on those who struggled with eating food that was used in other religious ceremonies.  So let’s say there was a Buddhist ceremony that used some oranges to “sacrifice” to their Buddhist idols.  Are Christians allowed to eat those oranges?

The Apostle Paul is saying it is perfectly okay to eat that orange, but for some Christians, it might bother them that they are eating fruit that was once used by another religion.  Paul is saying that if it bothers someone, even though it is okay to eat it, you should abstain for their sake.  This is Christian love.

I shared this example before, but that’s why some of the AYL adult leaders abstain from alcohol.  Though the Bible speaks against being drunk, it doesn’t prohibit imbibing alcohol.  This is freedom that we get to enjoy.  BUT, we know that alcohol is abused by a lot of people, including a lot of teenagers.  For their sake, we give up our right to drink so that those who struggle with it can see that you can still live life to the full without any alcohol in your life.

What right do you have to give up so that you can help your brothers and sisters in Christ?  You faith isn’t your own.  Your faith is not private.  Your lifestyle decisions have an impact on those around you.