Heys, today's format is going to be a little different, I will be writing down my thoughts as I read the Word and see what God is speaking to me or what I'm learning :)
Btw, on a random note, I will miss CHCKL, especially E12. Though it was short, it was sweet :) Many things I've learnt :)
Here's on to today's "lesson"
1 Corinthians 8
1 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that "we all have knowledge" about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
I love how it says while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. My first thought is obviously a reflective one of myself. One who many times over prides himself of being a knowledge-full person, and perhaps this verse speaks straight at me, that I love it because it makes me feel important, rather than using it to help others. A line that I have to draw more clearly.
And the next thought is "it is love that strengthens the church". I love taking the Bible literally. Wanna build a strong church? It is built on love. Just as how Jesus loved the church and gave Himself for her, so we too in building a strong church must build it on love. Not principles, people or perspectives. But love. Love God, Love People, Love Ourselves. I guess this is another lesson in building a strong cell group that I've seen and experienced too. To build something strong, it is paid by love and dedication.
2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much.
How true this is. If you know all the answers, it is obvious there are a lot of things you haven't considered, areas you haven't explored and experiences you haven't had. I'm happy to not have all the answers :)
7 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
This speaks to me about how powerful our mindsets are. Sermons are often preached about changing mindsets, and I believe this is the reason. It is because how we think can actually cause us to either stumble or stay strong, while doing the same thing. While not giving concession for "losing ground" as Sherene put it, but at the same time, one with a wider mindset will be able to do more, or live a more comfortable or victorious life than one that is hampered by a small, parochial mindset.
12 And when you sin against other believerss by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.
This verse reminds me of the Law of Love which Paul is obviously basing this statement on. And I think some of us take this verse too lightly when we ask our Christian friends to do things they are not comfortable with. It ranges from simple things like playing a certain game or watching a certain movie, to deeper things like the Cultural Mandate. So I feel in all these sort of things, what can be the key to transiting safely from one "realm" to the other, is ... knowledge. And I guess this is where knowledge doesn't make us feel important, but instead makes the listener feel important because he is empowered to do what previously to him was "sin". Not an explanation to rationalize or incite antinomianism, but rather put knowledge in it's place, as a tool to empower others to break through their mindset to get a clearer, higher resolution view of the big picture of what God is doing in this generation.
Yay, knowledge FTW, love forever :)