QT 08/07/2024 Mon. 1Cor 8 哥林多前书8章.
QT 08/07/2024 Mon. 1Cor 8
READ http://www.esvbible.org/1cor8
Paul moves on to the next messed up problem - the consumption of food offered to idols. By definition, an idol is not a god at all ('We know that "an idol has no real existence"', 1Cor 8:4). Instead, "there is "but one God" and "one Lord, Jesus Christ" (1Cor 8:6).
However, the knowledge of the above might puff up a person (1Cor 8:1) and cause that person to utilise that knowledge in an unloving way or in a way that does NOT build up (1Cor 8:1).
Look around you, because among the community of believers, "However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled." (1 Cor 8:7)
APPLICATION: Make sure that the exercise of your freedom to eat, at whatever time, in whatever way, does not become "a stumbling block to the weak" (1Cor 8:9). Why insist on eating certain foods on certain occasions and let your stomach and appetite prevent you from sinning against Christ ultimately (1Cor 8:12)?
REFLECTION (1): Where is the dividing line between (1) The prohibited participation in idol worship and (2) The eating of food sacrificed to idols in temples but the excess meat has since been RESOLD by the temple into the Corinthian marketplace for retail to the general public (including Christians)?
REFLECTION (2): In a Singaporean Chinese context, is the dividing line the CESSATION of the idol worship ceremony, e.g., after all the candles / joss sticks have been EXTINGUISHED, that believers can consume food offered to idols?
星期一 2024年7月8日 今日读经：哥林多前书8章.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/1Co/8/
听音频哥林多前书8章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/1cor.8.cnvs
保罗来到下一个糟糕的问题--吃祭过偶像的食物。顾名思义，偶像本来就不是神(“我们知道世上的偶像算不得什么，也知道 神只有一位，没有别的神”，林前8:4)。相反的，我们“只有一位 神”和“一位主，耶稣基督”(林前8:6)。
然而，晓得以上的知识或许会使人自高自大(林前8:1)并使那人利用那知识在没有爱心的行为上或不造就人的行为上(林前8:1)。
看看你身边的人，因为在信徒当中，“不过，这种知识不是人人都有的。有些人直到现在习惯了拜偶像的事，因此他们吃的时候，就把这些食物看作是真的献过给偶像的；他们的良心既然软弱，就被污秽了”(林前8:7)。
应用：要确保当你在自由地吃，无论在何时、无论怎么吃，都不会成为“软弱的人的绊脚石”(林前8:9)。为何要坚持在某些日子吃某些食物，而让你们的胃和胃口得罪基督?(林前8:12)
反思(1):在(1)禁止参与偶像的崇拜和(2)禁止吃祭过庙里偶像的食物，而这多余的肉已被卖到哥林多的市场以销售给公众(包括基督徒)两者之间，那分界线在哪里呢？
反思(2):对一个新加坡华人来说，这分界线是不是偶像崇拜仪式停止后，例如，所有的蜡烛/香烛已被扑灭，信徒就可以吃祭偶像的食物？
