60 Days in the Word

Day 29: 1 Corinthians 8: 7-13

Rev. Dyson | About the passage

The passage challenges rights vs responsibilities. Certainly, as a child of the King, I have rights. But what do I have when my rights hurt another child of the King? Then I have responsibilities. Hans Finzel wrote a book “Top Ten Mistakes That Leaders Make” and one of mistake is placing procedures over people. My biggest privilege is to care enough for those around me to give up something to care for another human. This is not easy or popular, but when have ease or popularity been the best markers of an action?
Picture of Rev. Gregory Dyson
Rev. Gregory Dyson

Vice President for Spiritual Life and Intercultural Leadership | Campus Pastor

Day 29: 1 Corinthians 8: 7-13

However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.

But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

Questions

What does the passage say? / What is happening in the text?

How does this impact me?/  What is significant or noteworthy?

What does this mean in my life?/ What does this mean to me? 

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