Topic

I Love That, Can I Eat it?

Key Scripture

Romans 14:21 – It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

Digest

From the key scripture, you can already guess that we aren’t just talking about food here, though food is going to be our focus in this digest. Many believers are really scared to eat certain foods, or even touch them believing that God would become upset, however, let’s see what the word says.

1 Corinthians 8:4-8
[4]So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God
[5]There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords
[6]But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live
[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
[8]It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do

1 Corinthians 10:25-27
[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

The food we eat is physical, and would only affect your physical body, that’s why you eventually pass out the food waste once it digests…well, food can be used as a means to practise witchcraft, but in a previous digest, we addressed a believers authority over this, tap here to read that digest. What you eat doesn’t in anyway affect God’s approval of you, or make you unworthy before Him, in fact you are free to eat whatsoever you please, though if you eat unhealthy it’ll surely have a negative effect on your body.

Okay, now we know that what we eat doesn’t affect our relationship with God, but there are other believer’s who don’t know this, and it may affect their consciences. In those cases, we should forfeit the pleasure of food, and consider them. Let’s see what the word says.

1 Corinthians 8:8-9
[8]It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.
[9]But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble

It’s actually walking in love when you do this. Thank God you have better knowledge, however, for those who don’t, you’ll need to sacrifice the pleasure. Remember our key scripture, it encourages us to consider others in our actions so that they don’t stumble, stumble there referring to causing division or strife. Eat freely, but consider your brethren as well.

Romans 14:20 – Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble