Bible Question:

Concerning I Corinthians 8:1, are there idols? 2) Can we eat food that has been offered to an idol?

Bible Answer:

1 Corinthians 8:1 taught the early Christians about an important principle related to meat that was offered to idols. It was an issue then and now. So, when you think about an idol,  what do you think about? What are idols? Can we eat food that has been offered to an idol? What follows explains the teaching of 1 Corinthians 8:1.

Can we eat food that has been offered to an idol?

What are idols?

The first question we need to ask is, “What does 1 Corinthians 8 mean by idols?” Jeremiah 10:2-5 gives us a good description of idols,

Thus says the LORD,
“Do not learn the way of the nations,
And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens
Although the nations are terrified by them;
For the customs of the peoples are delusion;
Because it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
They decorate it with silver and with gold;
They fasten it with nails and with hammers
So that it will not totter.
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not fear them,
For they can do no harm,
Nor can they do any good.”
Jeremiah 10:2-5 (NASB)

The book of Revelation reveals that idols and demons are connected. That is, demons are the real power behind idols.

And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. Revelation 9:20 (NASB)

Isaiah 19:3 and  Zechariah 13:2 also puts idols, ghosts, spiritualists, and mediums together. 1 Corinthians 10:20 explicitly reveals that if we worship an idol or sacrifice to an idol, we are worshipping or sacrificing a demon. Therefore, idols can be any thing that is man-made but the demons are not man-made. They are real.

Can we eat food offered to an idol?

Now, what does 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 say about eating meat offered to man-made idols,

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 1 Corinthians 8:4 (NASB)

In the apostle Paul’s day, Christians struggled with eating anything that was offered to idols. Today, some Christians who have come out of other religions where people sacrifice to idols wonder if it is okay to eat anything that is offered to an idol. So, the question is a good one for us today. So, let’s discover 1 Corinthians 8:1 teaches us,

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NASB)

This verse is not about having too much Bible knowledge (compare verses 1 and 11). It is about Christians who know the truth and carelessly cause others to struggle. They lack love for others. These Christians knew the idols were not gods. But they were “still real” to these new believers. It was like participating in the religious practice (1 Corinthians 8:10). The older Christians were arrogant, insensitive and uncaring. They wanted their steak!

So Paul the apostle reminds all Christians that there is no God but one. He rebuked the insensitive Christians and encouraged them to stop eating food at the temple. Why? First, it is wrong to cause immature Christians to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:13). Second, there is nothing wrong in eating meat that was offered to an idol. Since idols are not gods, the meat is not defiled. It is okay to eat the meat. But they should not eat it if they are with someone who might be caused to stumble by seeing them eat meat offered to an idol.

The spiritual principle

The spiritual principle of 1 Corinthians 8 is that we must not offend another Christian who may struggle with our actions. The Holy Spirit encourages us to avoid offending a fellow Christian even when there is nothing wrong with our actions. There are times however, when we must offend someone – when the issue is dealing with right and wrong, when the issue is sin. We are not to sin in order to please someone. Just imagine sinning to avoid sinning!

Conclusion:

Ezekiel 14:1-3 tells us that we can have idols in our hearts. Colossians 3:5 is one verse that gives us a quick summary 0f this kind of idol.

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:5 (NASB)

Idolatry is really anything in your heart that causes you to not love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Exodus 20:3-6; Luke 10:27). So what are our idols? What takes you away from reading God’s Word or praying to God? What is more important than Him? And what kind of “meat” are you eating that causes another to stumble today? “Food” today that causes others to stumble can be any activity that motivates another Christian to spend less time with God or encourages another to sin. How we dress, where we go, what we do, what we say. What are your idols? What kind of “stumbling-food” are you eating?

Suggested Links:

What is an idol? What is a graven image?
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream — Meaning of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Kingdoms
Should I have statues of Mary and Jesus in my home?
Why do Christians bow to statues?