Surrendering Your Rights (Part 1 of 2)

The Context of Purity in Corinth

One of the big issues the Apostle Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians is the audience's holiness and purity—not just sexual purity, but purity from association with the world. It's similar to the emphasis in Isaiah on Israel's holiness and separateness. Throughout chapter 7, there's a focus on sexual purity, starting from the close of chapter 6 where he addresses fleeing sexual immorality, and continuing into romantic relationships. Purity is essential for Christians.

Many in Corinth had been saved from heinous sins, including temple prostitution where fornication was intermixed with idol worship. They sacrificed unblemished animals to idols, much like Old Testament prescriptions but to false gods. Paul now focuses on purity in the context of food offered to idols—a subject we all struggle with in principle.

The Principle: Love Over Knowledge

Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

The basic principle from verses 1 through 13 is this: I will not do anything if it violates another Christian's conscience. This may feel like a cosmic killjoy—restraining from something enjoyable, like high-quality meat sacrificed to idols. But if participation offends or bothers another believer's conscience, willingly restrain yourself indefinitely.

There are many activities in our lives that, in themselves, are not sinful but become abhorrent sin if they genuinely bother a brother or sister in Christ.

Knowledge Without Love Puffs Up

The Corinthians had reported issues to Paul, perhaps in a letter. Phrases like "we know" reflect their claims. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up—not all knowledge, but their loveless, prideful knowledge. Corinth was a prideful church at war with itself.

If you think you're knowledgeable, you've only scratched the surface. True knowledge unites with love: consider God's glory first, others' well-being second, yourself last. This is sacrificial love, laying down rights for a brother's conscience. Nothing is more Christlike.

Imagine Jesus, fully God, leaving heavenly glory to live among sinful humanity, veiling His divinity, suffering as a man—taking on sin He wouldn't have in eternity. If Christ's sacrifice matters, restrain from non-sinful things for your brothers and sisters.

True Theology: One God

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

The strong knew idols have no existence—statues can't see, hear, or speak (Psalm 115). But the weak, from former associations, thought the food was really offered to idols, defiling their conscience.

Even if idols pointed to real spiritual beings, our God is greater: from Him are all things, through Christ all things exist. Knowledge without love hurts the weak. If you persist in your "right" despite their conscience, you sin against Christ.

Not All Possess This Knowledge

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. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

Paul's conclusion: If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble (v. 13). Unite knowledge with love by considering not everyone knows what you know. Sinning against a weak brother's conscience—for whom Christ died—is sinning against Christ.

Applying the Principle Today

When facing gray areas without a specific verse—like going to a bar—don't just ask pastors for permission. The Bible guides us. Chances are high a believer's conscience will be bothered, especially in conservative churches. How beneficial is it if it distresses a sweet church lady?

We lack intimate relationships to know each other's pasts—like my history with alcohol. Do we ask fellow believers if an activity bothers them? Without chapter-and-verse prohibition, it doesn't mean it's okay if it wounds another's conscience. Obey laws and Scripture; restrain for love.