Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
1 Corinthians 8:13 (NIV)

In the 18 years I’ve been writing this chapter-a-day blog, I’ve always found it fascinating which posts resonate with people. There are days that what I write something that I think a lot of people are going to want to read and no one does. Then there are days that I just sort of write a quick post and throw it out there and suddenly it’s getting unexpectedly read and shared all over the place.

Last week I wrote about an awkward moment I had in the pub in which a Christian couple I know stopped to talk to me as I was sitting at the bar having a pint, but they refused to actually enter the pub. Instead, they stood and semi-shouted their conversation with me while making sure they didn’t cross the threshold. It was a popular post and even yesterday I had people stop me to ask if the story was true (it was).

Today’s chapter addresses an issue that was creating conflict with the Corinthian believers of Paul’s day. It is, however, not an issue that we deal with here in the 21st century. In the pagan religious culture of Greece and Rome, there were pagan temples everywhere, and people regularly sacrificed animals at these temples. The meat from the sacrifices found their way to the local market and were sold as food to anyone who would buy it. Among the followers of Jesus in Corinth there were those who felt that they could not, with a clear conscience, purchase and eat meat that had been sacrificed to a pagan god. Others among the Corinthian believers thought it was not a big deal. The two factions were at odds with one another and things were getting heated.

While meat being sacrificed to a pagan Roman god is not an issue today, I’d like to return to my friends who stood outside the doorway of the pub making sure their feet didn’t cross the threshold. It was obvious that my friends had been taught, and believed, that it was wrong to enter an establishment that serves alcohol. I’m equally sure that they are teetotalers. As silly as I might think they are being, it is certainly a matter of conscience for them and this is the point that Paul is making with the abstainers and eaters in Corinth.

I might disagree with my friends’ personal views on having a beer or entering a pub, but as a disciple of Jesus I am called to consider others ahead of myself.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

Knowing their feelings about drinking, I’m going to be considerate of those feelings if I find myself having a meal with them or socializing with them. I’m not going to flaunt the freedom of conscience I have if it’s going to create tension with my friends. Rather, I’m going to humbly respect their feelings and choose not to drink around them. In fact, if the awkward conversation at the door were to ever happen again, I think the right thing for me to do is simply leave my pint at the bar for a minute and step out onto the sidewalk to have a chat.

In the quiet this morning, I’m reminded that Jesus calls me to be considerate and servant-hearted with others. Sometimes this means that I serve others by submitting to their customs or preferences even if I don’t share them.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.