It Starts Small

In the last passage we learned NOT to follow the terrible example of the Israelites. God blessed them in so many ways. They had every advantage and opportunity to serve Him. Yet, they fell into idolatry and rebelled against the Lord. They sinned in a number of ways. Paul was using this example to teach the Corinthian believers not to make the same mistakes that the Israelites did. These served as a warning to them. They didn’t need to repeat those mistakes. God offers an escape from every temptation. This is true no matter how severe the temptation.

Also we learned that many sins such as idolatry and immorality are NOT areas of Christian freedom. The Corinthians were taking their freedom too far by engaging in outright sins and they needed to stop.

This passage starts off with the key verse to flee from idolatry. Like most pagan cities at that time, Corinth was filled with idol worship. It was everywhere and most people were caught up completely in it. Fleeing from idolatry is the way out that God offered. The second issue is one closely related to idol worship, but regarding the food sacrificed to idols. Since this is the third or fourth time it has been mentioned in this book, obviously it was a major issue to them. Often times the writers of Scripture under divine inspiration repeated very important topics. It is not enough to hear something once. We need to hear it again and again.

 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 

1 Corinthians 10:14

Some translations start off with the word “therefore”. When there is a “therefore”, you should ask what it is there for. It means that based on the things Paul just shared the Corinthians should flee idolatry.

These days in most countries there is far less idolatry than in the time of the New Testament. But in much of the world less educated people still get caught up in it. Often passages on idolatry are taught. Pastors say that idolatry applies to anything one would put in front of God. Is this an accurate interpretation?

Firstly, we have to look at the word in Greek. In Greek “idolatry” pretty clearly means worshiping a graven image. It doesn’t mean “substituting something for God” or “taking God out of His rightful place”. In the original context, Paul, and other writers, are clearly telling their audience not to bow down to graven images. Does that mean it has no application other than to not worship graven images?

I don’t think so. There are a lot of issues like this. We can follow a broad principle behind the specific command. And sins take different shapes and forms in different times. At that time rebellion against God was more likely to take the form of idol worship and false religions.

This is still true in third world countries. But in more developed countries and more educated countries, rebellion against God often takes the form of evolution, materialism, etc. So I believe it is an acceptable and correct way to preach to say. MacArthur also says that libeling the character God, worshiping Him in the wrong way, etc. are also idolatry.

Paul tells the Corinthians not to worship graven images.

The broad principle behind this is that we are to put God first in every way. We must prioritize Him in every area of our lives.

We should not put money before God.

This is how Biblical interpretation works.

1. What did the original author mean to the original audience?
2. What is the broad principle behind this?
3. How can we apply the broad principle today?

Sometimes number 1 and number 2 might be the same, such as “love your neighbor”, but in many cases it is different. The next passage is the same about food sacrificed to idols. We will discuss the principle behind it. It is to glorify God in every way. We should not be a stumbling block to others.

I believe verse 15 mildly rebukes the Corinthians. They should not consider themselves too wise to listen to what Paul had to say. It’s a way of saying, “listen up.” It encourages them to be humble and pay close attention. They should do this without looking for reasons to disagree or stir up controversy.

 ¹⁶ The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the one bread. 

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

The “cup of blessing” refers to communion. It is a blessing to be saved. It is a privilege to remember and recognize Jesus’ sacrifice. By joining together in unity with all believers, we celebrate Jesus’ death for us. Taking it is a symbol that we have been united with Christ and are identifying ourselves with Him. It reminds us of what He has done for us. It also shows what He expects us to do as part of His body. It is also a reminder of the unity that we have with each other because of His sacrifice. We can take communion together. Whether rich or poor, male or female, young and old, or sick and healthy, we are united. He breaks down the barriers between us.

¹⁹ What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons! ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

1 Corinthians 10:19-21

The point here is not to sacrifice to idols. Sacrificing to idols is a form of worshiping demons, which is completely contrary to God. Sacrificing to idols is to worshiping demons what taking the Lord’s supper is to worshiping God. Sacrificing to idols is like worshiping demons. It parallels how eating the sacrifice of the fellowship offering in the OT was to worshiping God. Drinking the cup of the Lord refers to taking holy communion. Drinking the cup of the demon means worshiping the demon through a ritual. This could be something like sacrificing food to the demon. Same thing with the table.

This passage is a little confusing. At first glance, it seems it might restrict us from eating the food or drink sacrificed to demons. But the rule of interpretation is to interpret Scripture by other Scripture. Other Scripture makes it abundantly clear that this in itself is not sinful.

The major point is that worshipers of God cannot and must not in any way mix in worship of demons. A person can’t do both. A person can’t have two masters. This is not an area of Christian freedom. Worshiping demons is blatant rebellion against God and is one of the most horrible abominations to God.

The first two of the ten commandments deal with this issue. Denying the true God or minimizing Him by worshiping others is perhaps the grossest of all sins. This sin is foundational and will lead to countless other sins. This is not an issue that believers can have any compromise on. The idols are nothing themselves, just gold, silver, and wood. But behind the idols is probably a demonic force. It is sent by Satan to impersonate the false god. This force does some cheap tricks to strengthen the superstition.

Idol worship is obviously sinful. Christians should worship God on Sundays. They should not go home and worship demons with their relatives. A person can’t worship two things. There is no compromise. You can not worship to Jesus on Sunday and read your horoscope on Monday morning. You can not worship the God on Sunday and read tarot cards on Tuesday.

We can’t serve God and men. We can’t serve God and money. We can’t serve God and our friends, our family, our school, ourselves, or anything. There is only ONE God. We must be completely committed to Him above everything else.

This is a very basic Christian issue and one discussed in the second book on Lordship. Christ is in the center. But it is also one of the most difficult. So many Christians want to just go to church sometimes. They pray sometimes. They read the Bible every now and then. They seek God when they need help and leave it at that. But we need to give our very lives to God and Him only.

What do you worship? Think about it.

²² Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

1 Corinthians 10:22

This is another warning. God is a jealous God. That means that He wants your worship. He wants your heart. He wants your service. If you worship others, one day you will be judged for that.

²³ “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. ²⁴ No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

²⁵ Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, ²⁶ since the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. ²⁷ If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience. ²⁸ But if someone says to you, “This is food from a sacrifice,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. ²⁹ I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks?

³¹ So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. ³² Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, ³³ just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10:23-32

We learn the main principles that allow us to choose what to do in grey areas (specifically food sacrificed to idols.

Do the things that edify instead of gratify (23)

Seek the good of others instead of yourselves (24)

Liberty over legalism (25-27)

Condescension over condemnation (28-30)

In verse 26, this means that God created the world and the things that He made are good. Food is good. Drink is good. Work is good. Fun is good. Sex is good. The problem comes when people twist what God intended for good into evil. For example drink has been twisted into something where people get drunk and lose all control. Many believers react against this by saying that all alcohol should be avoided. But this is an overreaction and ignores the fact that God created all things for good. Sex has been twisted in tons of ways. Some Corinthians also reacted against this by deciding that all sex was bad. Again, this was an overreaction and not true. As Christians, we should enjoy the things that God has made. We should enjoy life. We don’t have to avoid them or restrict ourselves just because some people misuse God’s great blessings and gifts. However, we do need to exercise them within God’s limits.

I believe verse 31 is the key verse for this second section.

³¹ So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

This verse should govern our action in all grey areas. Sadly, most people approach gray areas in completely the wrong way. They attempt to see how far they can go. They say that the Bible does not prohibit it so it must be OK. Their thought process is to do whatever gratifies their own desires the most.

They use their freedom for gratification and trying to enjoy themselves as much as possible. This is completely the wrong approach. The verse doesn’t say, “whether then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the enjoyment of yourself.” We are to do all for the glory of God. We should not ask ourselves, “Can I get away with it?” We should ask ourselves, “Does this give glory to God.”

In verse 32, Paul clearly doesn’t mean his ultimate goal is to please people. He expressly said this was the wrong attitude in other Scriptures. Rather, his point is that the Christians should look out for others ahead of themselves. When relating to other believers, they need to reach out in love. They should aim to build up other believers. They must be careful not to make them stumble. In relationship to unbelievers, they need to be a good testimony. They should become all things to all people so that they may be saved.

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