The Reporter   
 Volume 47 # 45,  --  November 9, 2007

 

Things Offered Unto An Idol

– First Corinthians Eight –

 

   Paul knew that some brethren in Corinth had knowledge. Knowledge used the right way is a good thing. The Corinthians were so full of pride that they did not properly use knowledge; especially concerning the eating of meats sacrificed to idols. These brethren had allowed themselves to become worldly. Often the worldlier one becomes the prouder he seems to be. Paul said their knowledge had puffed them up. (I Corinthians 8:1) Charity or love builds up the body of Christ. Pride puffs up and destroys the body.

 

   Love will always consider what is fitting and proper, not only what lawfully may be done; as in the situation concerning eating things sacrificed to idols. If a man has knowledge but no love in his heart he is still useless in spreading the Gospel! If we want to be accepted by God we must lovingly obey! This love must manifest itself in the way we deal with our weak brethren. If we love as we should we will not want to be a stumbling block.

 

   Today we understand that an idol is nothing at all. It is just a piece of wood, rock or metal. Idols are nothing in the world, since there is only one God! Christians are not only in Christ but they are likewise in the one true God. (I Corinthians 8:6) The reason Paul gave emphasis to not eating meat offered to idols was that it might cause some weak brother to believe that an idol was really something, instead of nothing. Eating meat offered to idols would not commend you to God nor would it make you a worse person. However, we must be very careful concerning our example least we destroy one for whom Christ died.

 

   Knowledge puffs up – I Corinthians 8:1-3: In their letter to Paul the Corinthian brethren had asked him about meat that had been offered to idols. Paul said this was a subject that everyone had some knowledge about. The problem with that is that knowledge makes us proud of ourselves and puffs us up with pride. In contrast with how knowledge puffs up love edifies and makes us helpful to others. To edify means to build up or strengthen, especially in morals or religion.

 

   Corinth was a city where many sacrifices were made to idols. The flesh of the animals was not burned. It was just used in ceremonies and then sold in the market for meat. The question that arose was whether it was right for Christians to eat this meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Some Christians said that it did not matter because an idol was nothing anyway. Sadly those that had this knowledge often became puffed up. This became a discouragement to the weaker brethren. Those that knew the truth about idols should have been much more loving in their attitudes and actions. They did not know the love of God, for had they have know it there would have been a much greater impact on their daily living.

 

   An idol is nothing – I Corinthians 8:4-6: Paul and the knowledgeable brethren understood that none of the idols were alive. They could say nothing and do nothing. These heathen idols have no divinity in them. They were just a stick of wood or a piece of rock. Paul taught and believed that there is but one true and living God. (I Corinthians 8:4) For though there be many that are called gods and lords; none of them really are gods or lords.

 

   The amazing truth is set forth that we have only one God. He created everything, and we must live for Him. We have but one Lord and that is Jesus Christ. Everything was made by Him, and it is by Him that life was given to us. This is true of both physical life and spiritual life. He is the one Mediator between God and men.    

 

   Causing a brother to stumble – I Corinthians 8:7-10: Some brethren at Corinth had not gained enough spiritual knowledge to know that an idol is nothing at all. They had turned to the Lord but they still had some respect for the gods they had previously worshipped. So when they or others ate meat offered to idols they were bothered by their weak conscience. Paul does not say that eating idol meat was unlawfulness. It would be within the realm of Christian freedom. However, the misuse of this freedom might destroy a weaker Christian. If he eats the meat he feels guilty and thinks he has in some way again become idolatrous in worship. We do well to remember that one must have a clear con-science in order to please God.

 

   Paul said certain food did not make a Christian either closer to or farther away from God. He said, "for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse." (I Corinthians 8:8) Eating idol food or refraining from doing so has nothing in either action to commend a person to God. One brother that has good understanding is not bothered at all by eating in an idol's temple. It is just like going into a restaurant to eat. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees him and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. By eating his conscience is encouraged to do something that he feels connects him to idol worship. The actions of the stronger Christian carried the weak brother back to idol worship.

 

   I will eat no flesh – I Corinthians 8:11-13: We must deny ourselves even concerning what is lawful rather than to cause a weak brother for whom Christ died to stumble. What happened is this; the weak brother saw the brother with knowledge eating in the idol's temple. This encouraged him that the action might be right and so he ate. But now he feels guilty. He is in danger of perishing because he has defiled his conscience. Hear the words of I John 3:20-21, "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God."

 

   If you lead a follower of Christ into sin by the misuse of your spiritual freedom, then you are guilty of sinning against the Lord. Injuries done to our fellow Christians are injuries done to Christ. (Matthew 25:40-45) This is especially true concerning babes in Christ or weak Christians. Paul was so serious in not wanting to cause a brother to sin that he said, "if I hurt one of the Lord's followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live." The meat that he referred to was the meat that had been offered in sacrifice to idols. Paul would willingly deny himself any particular food rather than to lay a stumbling block in a weak brother's way. The stumbling block would be the occasion for a brother to sin by following his example, without a clear understanding of right or wrong.

 

   Will you appreciate Jesus enough that you will receive Him as Lord and Savior? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (I Peter 3:21). After baptism be spiritual in your daily living!

 

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: Stabler Hospital: Wallace Murry, UAB Hospital Birmingham: Jimmy Allen (brother of Patsy Nall). In Need Of Prayers: Linda Adams, James Berry, Mae Beverly, Brenda Burkett (sister of Vickie Clark), Brain Davis, Paul Deason, Mary Dewrell, Anne Marie Freeman, Roy Goodwin, Montine Hardin, Carrie Harding, Evan Hartsell, L.J. Herring, Wanda Kyser, Marjorie McKelroy, Jo Ann Moorer, Mary Powell, Steve Smith, Brenda Stallings, Harold Thompson, Leroy Waller, Alma Ward (mother of Bill Ward), Richard Watts, Helen Web (grandmother of Paige Box), Johnnie Wesley, Ryan Wilkes (friend of Alaina Bagents), and Mary Williams. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou Wright. Pine Needle: Mary Lou Phelps. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey, and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Doris Taylor.

 

2. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in Iraq: Sam Sanders, Michael Howell, Taylor Bodie, Richard Shows, and Todd Till. Pray for them often!

 

3. Bridal Shower: A bridal shower is planned for Tim Croley and Lindsay Rice following our evening worship on Sunday, November 18th. Everyone is invited. Please bring finger foods.

 

4. Birthdays: November 11th Elease Brown, and November 15th Joan Barr.

 

5.  A Note From Lisa Bagents: I would like to get everyone at Walnut Street that buys a Happy Meal at McDonalds with the “Bee Movie” toys to save them for the Resource Room. These are really cute and can be used in the infant and toddler classes. Thanks, Lisa

 

6. Great Fall Party: Our Fall party was a great success. Thanks to Stacey and Patricia Harrell for hosting the get-to-gather. Thanks also to all that helped in any way and to all that participated. God bless each one of you!

 

7. Guyana Trip: Pray for Bobby Terrell and Charles Box as they make a trip to Guyana on November 27th – December 11th. Bobby will work with the Plaisance Church of Christ and the Industry Church of Christ. Charles and a small group will go into Annai to work with the church there.

 

8. The Reporter: “The Reporter” can be seen on our web-site or you can receive it by e-mail. Send e-mail request to: wschurchofchrist@camelliacom.com. If you receive the Reporter by mail and would be willing to receive the e-mail version we would be grateful as postage is so expensive.  The website address is: http:\\www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org.

 

9. Radio Programs: Remember to hear our programs and tell others to listen. Sunday: 95.9 at 8:00 a.m., 94.3 at 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday: at 12:30 on 94.3.

 

10. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: November 11-14 – Gospel Meeting – County Line Church of Christ – Speakers see bulletin board – Time Sunday – Bible Study 10:00 a.m., morning Worship 11:00 a.m. and evening Worship 2:00 p.m. and weeknights 7:30.

 

11. Very Important: There is an urgent need for a Sunday van driver for the month of December. Please sign up today.

 

12.  Special Thank You: We wish to thank all of those that drive the vans to pick up people for worship or to take people to the doctor or other needed trips. You are a rendering great service.

 

13. Put God First: With holiday season approaching remember to keep God first in your giving. (Luke 6:38) Our weekly budget is $6,427.38. As you give God blesses more and more.

 

14. Crowne Health Care: Those that participate in our regular classes at Crowne Health Care are to be commended. Your service is a blessing to many. Classes are Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and the third Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Those that do not participate are invited to do so anytime.

 

“Go, I Will Be With Your Mouth And Teach You What You Shall Say”

 

   I got ready slowly that morning, thinking about the Sunday sermon the night before. I knew better than ever that my dedication to Christ required me to reach out to the lost.  I had the desire and the knowledge, but suddenly the excuses began to flow. “What if no one listens or even cares what I have to say?” “What if I say the wrong thing and offend someone?” For these and some other reasons, to my knowledge, most of my former high school classmates have never heard the simple truth of the gospel. When I really look to the root of my difficulties in spreading God’s word, the most substantial key seems to be my lack of confidence in people. I had a lack of confidence in myself as a teacher, as well as a lack of confidence in those that I would teach. It is true there is no guarantee that people won’t let you down, but in this case the power is not in men, but in God Almighty.

 

   I am reminded of the conversation between God and Moses in Exodus 4. God had given Moses a message to take to the Israelites and then to Pharaoh in Egypt, but Moses had little confidence in people. He was afraid the Israelites would not believe him, and he feared because he had little belief in his own ability to speak. But listen to God’s reply, “Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

 

   God quickly reminded Moses of a vital truth. It was God who created mankind. He made our mouths to speak, our ears to hear, and our eyes to see. In all our imperfections God is with us, and He will aid us in fulfilling His wishes. Therefore, it is up to us to simply go and do what He has commanded. God was with Moses in delivering his message, and He is most assuredly with us today as we go forth to preach Jesus to the world. Remember, it is not you or I, but the gospel message that is God’s power unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

-         - - - Darrell Powell

-          

Give God what’s “right”,

not what’s “left.”

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)