Food offered to idols

[sweetycakes]

I have been trying to get my head round whether or not it is acceptable to eat food that has been offered to idols. Can anybody help me?

This is because there are so many asian and indian takeaways where I live ( I used to work in one), and the meat (kebabs) etc, is halal, where the animal is slaughtered in accordance with muslim tradition, a prayer being said at the time of the killing.

Now, I, myself, avoid such foods whenever I know it is halal. But my daughter likes to eat indian food. I don't know whether I should discourage her from doing so, or whether I should leave her in blind ignorance, and therefore, hopefully, blameless.

This is a subject I have wrestled with for quite some time. I can't seem to make sense of the NT teaching on the subject. I'm not the sharpest tool in the box, you know. Can anybody enlighten me?

Thanks in advance.

[Marnie]

Eat man, eat. That was Paul's whole point. Food is neither good nor bad. But, if a weaker brother/sister is nearby, and they think it is wrong, then you as the stronger brother should just eat something else so that your action won't cause them to sin against their conscience.

[st. Worm]

I have been trying to get my head round whether or not it is acceptable to eat food that has been offered to idols. Can anybody help me?

This is because there are so many asian and indian takeaways where I live ( I used to work in one), and the meat (kebabs) etc, is halal, where the animal is slaughtered in accordance with muslim tradition, a prayer being said at the time of the killing.

Now, I, myself, avoid such foods whenever I know it is halal. But my daughter likes to eat indian food. I don't know whether I should discourage her from doing so, or whether I should leave her in blind ignorance, and therefore, hopefully, blameless.

This is a subject I have wrestled with for quite some time. I can't seem to make sense of the NT teaching on the subject. I'm not the sharpest tool in the box, you know. Can anybody enlighten me?

Thanks in advance.

The New Testament teaches that a believer has the freedom to consume food offered to idols. As Paul writes, we know that an idol is nothing. Only those who are weak in faith would have a problem with it. Although there are other passages that address it, I would cite 1 Corinths. 8 as definitive on the issue.

sw

[Guest man]

You can eat whatever you want unless that food is specifically an offering to an idol. 1 Corinthians 10:27-28

[sweetycakes]

Eat man, eat. That was Paul's whole point. Food is neither good nor bad. But, if a weaker brother/sister is nearby, and they think it is wrong, then you as the stronger brother should just eat something else so that your action won't cause them to sin against their conscience.

But this is exactly one of my points. I know I didn't state it, but why should I be allowed to eat something in private, but not in public (in the presence of a brother or sister?). If it is bad in public, is it not also bad in private? I don't know.

[branchesofHim]

Eat man, eat. That was Paul's whole point. Food is neither good nor bad. But, if a weaker brother/sister is nearby, and they think it is wrong, then you as the stronger brother should just eat something else so that your action won't cause them to sin against their conscience.

Ah~main Marnie, my sister. All correct indeed. Praise YHWH.

[Leonard]

But this is exactly one of my points. I know I didn't state it, but why should I be allowed to eat something in private, but not in public (in the presence of a brother or sister?). If it is bad in public, is it not also bad in private? I don't know.

There are certainly actions we can do privately which if done in public would be sinful. You wouldn't have sex with your wife in a glass elevator would you?

[rfw]

If it is bad in public, is it not also bad in private? I don't know.

Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:16-17

If you cannot eat it with a clear conscience, then don't eat it. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23 As a Christian, I know that God has made everything good. I also know that He is my Shield and Salvation, and there is nothing in or of this world that can touch me for evil. (I'm not speaking here of sinful choices like adultery, or recreational drug use, but food). I receive food with thankfulness to God, and enjoy it without concern for what someone else's "prayers" may accomplish, trusting that by His Grace, I can enjoy all things.

"It is for freedom Christ has set us free..." Galations 5:1

[sweetycakes]

Good point, Leonard!

RFW: so, then, should I eat, or not? Since idols are described in one place as 'nothing', and in another place as 'demons'.

should I eat it or not?

Please elaborate. thank you.

Anybody else who can clarify this matter for me, and who else has encounted this problem, and what have you done to deal with it?

Thank you, Christian brothers and sisters. Just trying to seek help for this matter, that's all.

[st. Worm]

Eat man, eat. That was Paul's whole point. Food is neither good nor bad. But, if a weaker brother/sister is nearby, and they think it is wrong, then you as the stronger brother should just eat something else so that your action won't cause them to sin against their conscience.

But this is exactly one of my points. I know I didn't state it, but why should I be allowed to eat something in private, but not in public (in the presence of a brother or sister?). If it is bad in public, is it not also bad in private? I don't know.

The only limitation Paul places on it is as a consideration for a weaker brother whose weak faith does not understand his freedom to eat. Its not a question of private vs. public.

sw