Paul concludes his discussion of eating food sacrificed to idols by warning his readers to be careful how they use their freedom in Christ. You may be free to eat food sacrificed to idols, Paul says, but be careful to not cause another believer to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:9-10). Most people understand the metaphor of a stumbling-block. The word refers to something which literally causes someone to stumble, a hidden rock in a path, etc. How is eating food sacrificed to idols a stumbling block?
The situation Paul has in mind is the wealthy or elite in the churches who attend a banquet at a temple. A private meal may not have attracted anyone’s attention, but someone who is invited to an important civic function at a temple would make that sort of thing known to others. It seems highly likely the elite in the church boasted in their participation in the civic banquets, and they may have encouraged others to participate as well.
Why would the Corinthians think that they had a right to eat at a banquet? Bruce Winter suggests this may be a right as a Corinthian elite (After Paul Left Corinth, 280). The elite can eat rich meals at a temple because they were invited. A gentile Christian might consider eating the mean their right because they are free from the Law (they can eat food forbidden by the Law).
It is possible to have knowledge the idol-food is nothing, but not express that knowledge with love, therefore harming brother or sister in Christ (8:11-12). It is possible the Gentile believers in the church had no problem attending meals at a temple, while Jewish believers would find this highly sensitive. Gentile Christians may have been more socially higher class than Jewish Christians and felt more pressure to attend civic banquets. If the Gentile believers were encouraging Jews or others who believed that attending the temple meals with sin, then they would be “causing them to stumble.”
Paul therefore declares it is better to abstain then cause a brother to sin! (8:13) Earlier in the letter, Paul said it is better to be wronged than to bring a brother to a secular court. In 1 Corinthians 8 he applies this same principle to eating food sacrificed to idols. It is better never to eat meat again than to cause someone to stumble.
Setting aside one’s freedom runs contrary to modern (American) ideas of freedom. American freedom should never be confused with Christian Liberty in Christ. Because we have a right (as Americans) to some social behavior, we must evaluate the practice through the lens of the Gospel. As an American I might have a right to do something, but should I set aside that right, as a Christian, in order to not cause another Christian to sin? There are many examples of Christians abusing their rights as Americans which might cause others to sin 9Maybe you can give your own suggestion in the comments section!)
Paul is clear: we have freedom in Christ, but that freedom is an opportunity to serve others in love. For Paul, the Gospel always takes precedence to an individual’s freedom in matters of indifference. His over-riding concern is for the outsider who may be attracted or repelled from the Gospel based on how the church looks from the outside. This does not seem fair, but it is the way things work out in the real world!
Paul must balance Christian liberty in Christ with the need to present the Gospel to an entirely pagan world. He is clear that the Gospel is more important than personal liberty; you’re your freed in Christ interferes with the Gospel, then your freedom needs to be restrained. Like Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ, we ought quickly to set aside our insistence on our rights as free in Christ so we will be able to present the Gospel without hindrance.
This passage in 1st Corinthians applies to the 21st century. Different religions push their beliefs on other people that don’t have their view: instead of peacefully respecting each other’s religious practices, they become a stumbling block.
Here, Paul is addressing the issue of causing others within the church to sin. In chapter nine, Paul talks about becoming “all things to all people”. Both of these passages advise the Christian how best to represent Christ, to the church and to the world. Paul advises his readers to temper their speech and their actions with mindfulness of who they are with. Is Paul saying we should be disingenuous? No, only that we should be mindful of how our actions are perceived by others especially as it relates to the gospel. Someone once said that Christians are the Jesus the world sees today. If we are called to reflect Jesus, to be Christ-like, then we ought to ask ourselves: what would Jesus do? And then, of course, measure our own actions against the answer.
The metaphor, a stumbling block, is a fascinating way of referencing it to eating food sacrificed to idols. The visualization that Paul has in mind with eating food sacrificed to idols are those who are wealthy or elite in the Corinthian churches who attend a banquet at a temple. There were two ways in which the Corinthians looked at these banquets: they had the right to eat meals at the temple because they were invited and they had a right because they are free from the Law. To reflect on the society, Gentile believers had no difficulties in attending these meals because they have been more socially higher class than Jewish Christians. This sets the example that we have freedom in Christ, but it’s an opportunity to serve others in love. In this sense, it demonstrates that we should not be a stumbling block because we are all in the freedom of Christ.
I believe a perfect example that exist today with “roadblocks” is our job as evangelists coming off too strong or in a negative way and turning people away from their relationship with God. At one point, my family considered changing churches back at home and while visiting other churches, some came off in ways that were very unwelcoming and made us question what the churches real purpose was. I think we need to be reminded sometimes that people are brought to God in many ways and once we find ways we enjoy, others should not create “roadblocks” for our life.
“Stumbling Blocks” can be interpreted in many ways, but Paul wants us to not be stumbling blocks when eating sacrificial foods and attending large gatherings such as banquets. I think the message that Paul is trying to send here is to not get caught up with other religions and not associate yourself with others. I believe that there is a lot of mis-information out there that can ultimately persuade someone in the wrong way where they may think they are doing the right thing. Understanding that we have the will of free speech in America and can worship without any fear. The point I am trying to make here is when you are doing things such as a sacrifice for God, make sure you have the right intentions behind them in which they are glorifying God. This can also be looked at for many things in life, when life has these “roadblocks”, have the right intentions towards opportunities in life and bring a biblical standpoint towards it. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).” Having the correct mindset in life will set you up for a confident and successful future with God at your side. Paul had one goal in mind, which was to fix the church and get people to follow Christ. During that, he wanted others to respect him and what he believed in which was God. Being an Apostle had a big responsibility for him which ultimately drove him to be the best Apostle he could be.
Paul challenges the church of Corinth not to be a stumbling block for other believers. This is in relation to food sacrificed for idols. Now, is this something we have to deal with in 21st century America? Likely not, however there is a general principle here in that we shouldn’t cause other believers to stumble. Paul wrote more on this in his letter to the Romans. However, Paul here is using an analogy of a stumbling block to help make the teaching of this easy to understand for the Corinthians. Paul also warns against those taking part in private wealthy ceremonies in that they don’t give up their right to not eat sacrificed meat just because they’re at a private event. Paul also says in verse 13 that is better to abstain from eating meat than to cause a brother or sister to sin. Yes, we have freedom in Christ, but that does not give us the green light to do whatever we want. We can not cause our fellow brothers and sisters to fall. We are to build one another up and hold each other accountable. If causing a brother or sister to fall interferes with advancing the kingdom then we shouldn’t cause another to stumble.
I really liked the metaphor of the stumbling block, with the food that has been blessed to the idols. While we may not think it’s harmful, that doesn’t mean everyone is. People like the Jewish Christians at the time were very sensitive about this, and already about many other things. Just like we ought to be an example of what a Christian should be, how we are to represent Christ.
Today, I feel like often we abuse the view of what Christianity should be, heavily. There is a big negative vibe around Christianity, especially now with really big churches that could be corrupt, and with social media. We are told to preach the word, but from personal experience, we don’t want to overdo it in a sense where we make people be led away from God. We don’t want to be a stumbling block for that person. And we have many freedoms in our country, but it’s also important what we decide to put aside in pursuit of others. We are to set an example, and I like what was said in the last paragraph of this blog. We have freedom in Christ, but that freedom is an opportunity to serve others in love.
Love is such a key trait in a Christian, it’s literally a gift given from God. We are to express, encourage love everywhere we go, to lead people into faith in Christ. Showing love is the way to correctly represent God.
I think that there could be different interpertations on this. The way that I took this is to not tempt another believer with sin. My opinon on this is that in the 21st century and aas christians we have free will. Personally speaking I have friends that do other things or have their own ways of interpreting the word and practices than I do. In this situation when it comes to the eating meat, I think that there was simply not an issue with this. It would be different in this context if the Jews were forced to eat meat which stood against their way of living but they weren’t. It is important to have dicernment in situations like these especially in the 21st century. It would be the same way if a christian was invited to a birthday party but is around people who drink and participate in wordly stuff. The christian in this situation would do what is right and still go but not partake in this situation. It is all about knowing what is right and what is wrong. Although yes, if it was one christian to another it would be different and it is important to keep each other accountable, but it is still important to remain that self control over what you beleive in and how you interprate the Word of God no matter if you have that accountability partner or not.