Idols
In the New Testament, a discussion takes place about whether believers should eat food offered to idols.
It is discussed in a letter to the church from the believers at Jerusalem (Acts 15:20), and later in a letter from Paul to the church at Corinth (1 Cor 8)
This is further expanded in 1 Cor 10, esp vs 23 onwards.
1 Corinthians 10:23-29 (NLT) You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.)
The upshot is, food as it enters us does not define us spiritually. However, for those less mature in their faith, be considerate, and if you know that this food has been offered to idols then do not partake.
How does information affect our conscience and what do we do about it?
In a recent article,
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-31/woolworths-pushing-to-expand-pokies-in-victoria/8760898
A major grocery retailer is highlighted as desiring to make more profit from gambling machines. This is perfectly legal, but one could argue highly damaging and unethical in the targeting of the demographic of people they choose to exploit.
How do we as followers of the carpenter respond?
In the culture of this country, ownership of shares of a company is a common thing and considered a prudent investment. How much responsibility do we have to ensure that we are not joining in with unethical practices? Do we need to reflect and consider how we will answer the question of our treatment of fellow humans, either directly or hidden behind "big business"?
Sometimes being part of the solution starts with not being part of the problem.
It is discussed in a letter to the church from the believers at Jerusalem (Acts 15:20), and later in a letter from Paul to the church at Corinth (1 Cor 8)
This is further expanded in 1 Cor 10, esp vs 23 onwards.
1 Corinthians 10:23-29 (NLT) You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.)
The upshot is, food as it enters us does not define us spiritually. However, for those less mature in their faith, be considerate, and if you know that this food has been offered to idols then do not partake.
How does information affect our conscience and what do we do about it?
In a recent article,
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-31/woolworths-pushing-to-expand-pokies-in-victoria/8760898
A major grocery retailer is highlighted as desiring to make more profit from gambling machines. This is perfectly legal, but one could argue highly damaging and unethical in the targeting of the demographic of people they choose to exploit.
How do we as followers of the carpenter respond?
In the culture of this country, ownership of shares of a company is a common thing and considered a prudent investment. How much responsibility do we have to ensure that we are not joining in with unethical practices? Do we need to reflect and consider how we will answer the question of our treatment of fellow humans, either directly or hidden behind "big business"?
Sometimes being part of the solution starts with not being part of the problem.
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