Love is Greater Than Knowledge

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.

1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (ESV)

Chapters 8 to 10 of 1 Corinthians deal with the subject of meat sacrificed to idols.  The church in Corinth was surrounded by paganism, and it’s not a stretch to assume that the Christians there still had family members who remained Pagans.  The church wrote to Paul about this subject because it caused division in the church; mostly between those more mature in the faith and those who were still young.  Ironically, the mature Christians were the ones partaking in these feasts, while the younger Believers were abstaining.  The question was, is it permissible to eat at these celebrations?

Paul, in godly wisdom, was able to see past the surface level issue and was able to get to the root cause.  The issue was not the meat, but it was people’s hearts.  Here we have an interesting situation; the mature Christians were correct with wrong intentions, while the young Christians were incorrect with the right intentions.  The mature Believers used their knowledge of scripture and theology to conclude that since there is only one God, eating at such festivals is no big deal.  The young Believers saw this as worshipping false gods.  Paul even states that it’s alright to eat this food, “Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do” (1 Cor. 8:8).  But he follows it up right away with this, “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Cor. 8:9).

A problem we as Christians might have is that we forget our new identity.  When we are in Christ, that needs to take priority.  Our earthly culture and families are knocked down a peg or two.  With this identity comes new family, and that new family needs caring.  If I am doing something that is acceptable to do, but it is causing confusion or sin for a newer Christian; it would be better not to do it.  You may be justified in the legal sense, but you are not justified in the familial sense.  Remember, this is not limited to meat at pagan ceremonies, this includes; drinking, music, movies, you name it.  When you are around newer Christians, keep these in mind.  See where they are with these things, do not assume it will not trigger old behavior.  Do not push your right to do them just because you know you can.  For us, love is greater than knowledge.

I love you all,

Justin