13 July 2005

We continue on about food and idols and the rest in 1 Corinthians.

It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (1 Cor. 8:7) "Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. for if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. (1 Cor. 8:8-13)

The freedom and liberty of living within the gracious Reign of God is beyond our understanding. And yet, it is available to us all in Christ, Jesus. Only Christ bring us into this eternal relationship with our God. Yes, the banner in this text does read "Food will not bring us close to God." It is also true that nothing we do or do not do will bring us close to God. But then...there is always a "but" that comes into play here. It is not a "but" that tries to say that the first part about Christ alone bringing us into that eternal relationships with God. Rather, it is a "but" that now attempts to make us aware of how we are also, in Christ, brought into a new relationship with our neighbor - whomever that may be. Sometimes, our neighbor is not at the same place of understanding or life experience and therefore, they may not have been able to discern the vast expanse of God's graciousness in Christ, Jesus. We are all suckers for conditional life...even when we think we are completely free of conditions. Too often, a conditional life is easier for us because the depth and width of God's gracious love is much to much for us to consider when it comes to applying it to everyday life. Having said that, we press forward within the gracious Reign of God. We do that in two ways - simultaneously. We witness to the freedom and liberation within this Reign and we never settle for anything less. Then again, as we live in community and within the differences of our lives we are invited to be patient, understanding, humble, self-sacrificing, even as we press on within the life Christ offers to us. You see, there is a tension here...there always will be tension when we are people who live in community...and we are always people in community.

Connection: We live in a time when many churches are trying to say either yes or no to issues like full inclusion of gay and lesbians in the church. Both sides want one of those responses to be the only response. Well, it may be that whatever we say, the whole body never ceases to press for the quality of life that is a part of the promise of the resurrection. Yes, it will mean the tension continues - even to the cross.

O Lord of New Life, you set us in the middle of a community and inspire us to live together as one body. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are moved to face our differences and remain that one people who are able to struggle and discern the path we will walk together in Jesus name. Let your gracious ways rain down upon us. Amen.