We live in the most individualist society in human history. Catering to self surrounds us. More people live alone than ever before, and grocery stores sell half-loaves of bread for those of us who cannot get through a full loaf before it goes stale. A lot of good comes from developing our potential and encouraging others to do the same. But the needs of those around us fade in significance.

Paul wrote about a unique concern to the church at Corinth. Vendors sold meat from animals originally slaughtered as a sacrifice to an idol. Paul’s view was that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. He had no trouble eating that meat. But others in the congregation struggled. Many new followers of Jesus converted out of a powerful culture of idolatry. They loathed their former religious practices. That meat sitting in the butcher’s stall represented enslavement, and at the same time served as a subtle enticement to return. It was better to avoid the whole mess.

Paul strongly encouraged those in the congregation to pay attention to this issue and care for those who struggled. He wrote: Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Paul chose to go meatless in order to nurture the faith of those new to Christ. For us that might mean evaluating how much we spend when we’re out to dinner, or watching certain movies, or taking our friend who struggles with drinking to a party where we know alcohol will be served. Better to miss the party than ruin the faith of a friend.

Cain famously retorted Am I my brother’s keeper? when the Lord asked him about Abel. The answer is yes. The emerging faith of new believers is delicate. Those of us with more experience and knowledge are to guide and encourage rather than skip off on our own. Seedlings of faith are precious in the eyes of the Lord. Many times swearing off a brief pleasure builds the kingdom of God, and no party matches the joy of bringing others along in their faith.

1 Corinthians 8

Photo by Kylo