Lawful but not helpful...

In 1 Cor. 10, an imprisoned Paul is answering a letter from the Corinthian Church regarding meat sacrificed to pagan idols…

In Corinth, there were pagan temples that offered a portion of meat for their pagan gods, a portion for themselves, and a portion for the pagan priests as a sacrificial ritual. The leftovers were sold at the village market at a discounted price.

The conundrum was that some Corinthian Christians would be invited to non-believers homes for a meal and were concerned they may be eating meat from the pagan temples.

“Should we ask about the meat? Should we deny the meal?” they asked.

Paul directs the Christians to not ask about the food or deny the meal to avoid unnecessary offense. That they ought to be low maintenance, come down to that person’s level, be a gracious guest, and not miss the opportunity to share the gospel. The meat was God’s before it went to the pagan temples and was still God’s at that person’s home.

There were other Christians that took this in the other direction believing that because they were sanctified by Christ, that they could partake in the pagan meals at the temple since Paul declared in 1 Cor. 8, “an idol is nothing.” It has no power.

However, he clarifies, that “the food wasn’t the issue, the idol worshiping atmosphere was the issue.” (Encouraging Word)

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” (1 Cor. 10:23)

Just because we are no longer under The Law, doesn’t mean The Law is not good.

Just because it’s not a salvation issue, doesn’t mean our actions are automatically sanctified.

Just because we have the right, doesn’t mean it’s right.

When have I thought to myself that I can get away with that because I’m a Christian, I’m protected, I’m washed in the Blood of Jesus?

What are our modern day pagan idols that Christians think are harmless?

What are our modern day pagan rituals that Christians partake in because “idols are nothing”?

We ask, “What’s the harm to me?”

We ought to ask, “What good can this be for me?”

Just because something is permitted, does not mean it is beneficial to ourselves or others.

“Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” (1 Cor. 10:24)