Was the Apostle Paul a...
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Was the Apostle Paul a vegetarian? After all, in this passage he declares, "I will never eat meat ..." (v. 13).
The issue, however, was not eating meat, but specifically eating meat that had been offered to idols. Buying such meat financially supported the pagan temples. Eating such meat honored pagan deities.
New Christians had to absent themselves from community celebrations, family gatherings, guild meetings, and the observance of holidays, because all of these important social events included rituals honoring pagan deities. To be a Christian, one had to become as an alien and outcast to one's own city, guild, and family.
Even though it would do no harm to eat meat offered to idols, Paul writes, it would be better not to eat meat at all than to risk undermining the faith of other Christians.
Caring for the tender faith of another reminds me of the new college student who called home. "I have some bad news for you," her mother reported. "I forgot to water your begonia, and it died." Then the coed's mother added, "And, I'm sorry to say, I forgot to feed your goldfish, and they died, too."
There was a pause. At last the college student hesitatingly asked, "Mom, how's Dad?"
Paul's admonition reminds us that we are to nourish and strengthen the faith of others.
-- Bristow
The issue, however, was not eating meat, but specifically eating meat that had been offered to idols. Buying such meat financially supported the pagan temples. Eating such meat honored pagan deities.
New Christians had to absent themselves from community celebrations, family gatherings, guild meetings, and the observance of holidays, because all of these important social events included rituals honoring pagan deities. To be a Christian, one had to become as an alien and outcast to one's own city, guild, and family.
Even though it would do no harm to eat meat offered to idols, Paul writes, it would be better not to eat meat at all than to risk undermining the faith of other Christians.
Caring for the tender faith of another reminds me of the new college student who called home. "I have some bad news for you," her mother reported. "I forgot to water your begonia, and it died." Then the coed's mother added, "And, I'm sorry to say, I forgot to feed your goldfish, and they died, too."
There was a pause. At last the college student hesitatingly asked, "Mom, how's Dad?"
Paul's admonition reminds us that we are to nourish and strengthen the faith of others.
-- Bristow
