Epiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 29, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.

 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘no idol in the world really exists’, and that ‘there is no God but one.’ Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.  — 1 Corinthians 8:1-6

Well, we have apparently walked into the middle of a discourse between Paul and the Corinthians and we do not know what was said before our scripture started. Commentators have speculated that an issue had arisen about Christians eating meat offered to idols and Paul is trying to answer their concerns. The single quote marks are an attempt of newer translations to note quotes from the Corinthians.

We have probably all been engaged in these kinds of discussions. My guess, for one like Paul who saw the bigger picture, slowing down to deal with this level of intricacy was hard. Dealing with the doubts and distractions of our fellow Christians, however, may be very important. Paul  said To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. (1Corinthians 9:22) Thus the question about eating meat offered to idols was a no brainer to Paul, but to the Corinthians who were new in the faith, the eating of meat offered to idols was a big deal.

As we move out into the world of people whose cultures we do not share or know, we must take the time to be sensitive to their perspectives. Where I am sitting on the outskirts of the intercity those cultures includes the homeless, the mentally ill, and people in poverty. I have much knowledge to learn.

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see and my heart to understand perspectives that are alien to me but are the way of life of many of your children living on the streets in my home community. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.