GOD OVER FOOD

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

But 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. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

1 Corinthians 8:7-8

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Some people worship food. It’s true, isn’t it?

Subscribe to any of the leading programming providers - whether satellite, cable or streaming - and you will find a block of channels dedicated to food. On any one given day, you can learn how to prepare certain dishes, enjoy cooking competitions, or follow food journalists around as they visit different restaurants and highlight the food offered.

Yes, people have an affection for food which can border on obsession sometimes. In fact, we have even developed a word to describe these food junkies, “foodies”. People infatuated with food wear the title like a badge of honor.

Why all this talk about how people can be laser-focused on food in life?

Because as we can see in today’s passage, the same matter existed more than 2,000 years ago. Look at these words from the Apostle Paul as he wrote to the church in Corinth:

But 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. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 1 Corinthians 8:7-8

The knowledge Paul speaks of at the start of verse 7 is the awareness that there is one God and one Jesus, one Father and one Son. Christianity is a monotheistic religion and existed in striking contrast to the polytheistic religions it competed with. As was the case with Judaism, many other major religions in Paul’s day promoted animal sacrifices to different gods. These animals were then cooked and eaten, enjoyed by some and staunchly resisted by others who flat out refused to eat anything sacrificed to a god (small “g”). Those who saw the food as repulsive did so because they saw the food as being defiled, so much so that it would defile anyone who consumed it.

Paul saw this as a foolish stance, one born from a weak conscience. He asserted that food failed to bring anyone to God through simply eating it. Eating wasn’t a way to any means spiritually.

If a believer chose to eat, great. If they choose not to eat, that was great too. It was all a matter of choice.

Ultimately, food can never do for a person what God can do. It was true during Paul’s time and it remains true today.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. And when that happens, your worship will be centered on the Creator instead of any created thing, just the way the Lord intended.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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