Posted by Yong TM (202.172.43.132) on February 26, 2003 at 10:39:26:
In Reply to: Food that had been offered to idols. posted by Khew Chee Keong on February 24, 2003 at 20:24:41:
Your general approach is classic, and correct. There are a few things I would like to add.
1. We do not know exactly the context of Paul's writing, meaning we are not certain what it meant back at his days when a person partake of food offered to idols. Therefore, context is very important.
2. In the Asian context, food offered to idols (especially in Taoism) often have a 'leftover' context, i.e. the gods took the 'spirit' of the food and we take the rest. I grew up with an aunt who was a staunch Taoist, and she would do the food offering thing all the time. Not once was there an idea that by eating the food, we become blessed, or become part of their faith. So it was quite a neutral thing. In Paul's days, perhaps there was an implication that such food initiates a person into that faith.
3. This is an issue of higher calling; not an issue of absolute right or wrong. That is, eating food offered to idols is not a sin, but to save the other person weak in faith, Paul took on the higher calling. Again, context is important. I am not certain if anyone today would say that they stumbled in faith because Elder Yong ate the chicken that was offered to Guan Kong... One could argue that the fact that Elder Yong took the chicken means that his God is more powerful than Guan Kong.
As an example, it may interest you to know that my wife and I have never been to a disco party in all our life, even during our dating days. This is because I am not certain if that activity serves any purpose (never did understand why that form is called dance rather than 'just-jiggle-anyway-you-want'); and certainly in my days (and surely these days), disco parties are places where decadence ruled. So I would not want to try it lest it stumbles me, or others. But we are opened to ballroom dancing, and may enrol in a class later when I have time to breathe... ha ha.
So again, I would say that I prefer not to be seen in a disco party; but I would not say that anyone who is there has sinned. By so doing, I believe I answer to my LORD and am at peace with myself. It is a personal thing; not a judgemental thing.