Collision over Food

Collision over FoodWhen Relationships Collide 2INTRODUCTIONRelevanceChristians in idolatrous societiesIssue of Halal food. Is it idol food?Food is inextricable part of life. The objectives of this messageRecount and apply Scriptural teachings on food offered to idolsUnderstand Pauls approach on this and other similar issues.

INTRODUCTIONCorinthAbout the issue INTRODUCTION4.1Very early church (Jerusalem Council)Acts 15 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silasto confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

INTRODUCTION4.2Church at Pergamum (Asia Minor)Rev 4 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idolsand committed sexual immorality.INTRODUCTION4.3Church at Thyatira (Asia Minor)Rev 4 20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

INTRODUCTION4.4Tenor of ScriptureScripture consistently disapproves of eating food offered to idols.INTRODUCTIONAbout the Conflict in CorinthPaul speaking for the weak.Parties in the disagreement: Corinthians vs Paul. INTRODUCTIONLife situations6.1Buying food in the market6.2Invited to private home6.3Invited to pagan temple precincts

INTRODUCTIONFlow of Pauls Instruction

Lets look at our assumptions ( Chapter 8)Lets look at what is more important (Chapter 9)Lets look at essential truth (Chapter 10)

I. LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONSAssumption #1. 1Co 8 1We know that We all possess knowledge.Response. 1Co 8 But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.2Those who think they know somethingdo not yet know as they ought to know.3But whoever loves God is known by God.

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONSAssumptions #2 & 3. 1 Co 8 4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:We know that An idol is nothing at all in the worldand that There is no God but one.Response to #3 Yes. Response to #2 No comment till chapter 10.

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONSKey consideration #1. 1 Co 8 7But not everyone possesses this knowledge.Contra 1Co 8 1We know that We all possess knowledge.

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONSKey consideration #1. 1 Co 8 7But 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.8But food does not bring us near to God;we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONSKey consideration #21 Co 8 9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling blockto the weak.10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idols temple, wont that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?11So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyedby your knowledge.12When you sin against themin this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.13Therefore, 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 fallI.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONSMeaning of eating in an idols temple

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONS4 Reasons why you should not eat in a pagan temple

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONS4 Reasons why you should not eat in a pagan templeYour actions can cause a weaker disciple to stumble

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONS4 Reasons why you should not eat in a pagan templeYour actions can cause a weaker disciple to stumbleChrist redeemed this person by his death, you would want to undo it with your food?

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONS4 Reasons why you should not eat in a pagan templeYour actions can cause a weaker disciple to stumbleChrist redeemed this person by his death, you would want to undo it with your food?When you cause them to sin, you sin against Christ who sacrificed his life for them.

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONS4 Reasons why you should not eat in a pagan templeYour actions can cause a weaker disciple to stumbleChrist redeemed this person by his death, you would want to undo it with your food?When you cause them to sin, you sin against Christ who sacrificed his life for them.If such food will cause people to fall into sin, I will never eat such food again.

I.LETS LOOK AT OUR ASSUMPTIONSConnection 1. The issueConnection 2. Food and other mattersCaveat. Meaning of Stumbling block.II. LETS LOOK AT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT

Paul: I dont live my life by asserting my rights. I have done everything in my power to serve you in a such a way that there is no hindrance to the Good News I bring you. This is why I refuse to accept any support from you.

II. LETS LOOK AT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT1Co 9 4Dont we have the right to food and drink?5Dont we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lords brothersand Cephas? 6Or is it only I and Barnabaswho lack the right to not work for a living?

II. LETS LOOK AT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT1Co 9 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldnt we have it all the more? But we did not use this right.On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinderthe gospel of Christ.1Co 9 15But I have not used any of these rights.

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTH2 lessons from Israels exampleLesson #1. Dont have false confidenceLesson #2. There is a connection between eating food offered to idols and immorality and idolatryIII. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTHLesson #2. There is a connection between eating food offered to idols and immorality and idolatry1Co 107Do not be idolaters,as some of them were; as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them didand in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTHActs 15 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silasto confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.28It seemed good to the Holy Spiritand to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these thingsIII. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTHChurch at PergamumRev 4 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idolsand committed sexual immorality.

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTHChurch at ThyatiraRev 4 20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTH2 lessons from Israels exampleLesson #1. Dont have false confidenceLesson #2. There is a connection between eating food offered to idols and immorality and idolatry- Explanation of link between idol food and immorality

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTH2 lessons from Israels exampleFalse confidenceDangerous link with immorality and idolatry2 Incompatible Tables

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTH1Co 10 16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we breaka participation in the body of Christ? 19Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lords table and the table of demons.

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTHCompare1 Co 8 4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:We know that An idol is nothing at all in the worldand that There is no God but one.

Idol is nothing in itself, but the sacrifices are not to idols but to demons.

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTH2 Challenges to an Assumption1Co 10 23I have the right to do anything, you saybut not everything is beneficial.I have the right to do anythingbut not everything is constructive.24No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTHConcerning food sold in the market1Co 10 25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,26for, The earth is the Lords, and everything in it.* Idols are nothing in themselves without their associationIII. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTHConcerning food in a private home1Co 10 27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before youwithout raising questions of conscience.28But 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.29I am referring to the other persons conscience, not yours.

III. LETS LOOK AT ESSENTIAL TRUTHConnection to Halal Same as food offered to idolsMeal in mosque No Meat in market Yes Meal in private home Careful

CONCLUSION1Co 10 31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.32Do not cause anyone to stumble,whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God33even 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.