This week's Scripture Readings are (it is worth noting that all of 1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1 is seen as a unit on this topic, you might want to read more than the portions for this Sunday):
- 1 Corinthians 8
- 1 Corinthians 10:23-31
The Sermon title is What About Masks?
Early Thoughts: Last week I read this blog post and realized that this was a sermon that needed to be preached. I think Paul lays out an ethical principle here that extends far beyond the issue he is dealing with in Corinth, one that has application in a wide range of human interactions.
The 2 letters we have to the Corinthians in Scripture are part (it appears) of a larger body of correspondence between Paul and the church he founded in the city. Certainly there were letters from members of the community to Paul and possibly as many as four letters from Paul to the Corinthians. Reading the letters, particularly First Corinthians, reveals that the community in Corinth is not a unified group. In fact they seem to be split and fighting on a number of issues, some of which are theological, some of which appear to be class-based. Among the issues of dispute is a question about meat.
For much of human history, meat was a luxury item. Hunting always had a hit or miss aspect to it so meat could be rare. And even once we humans started raising animals for slaughter meat was still a luxury item because of the cost involved. Adding to the controversy is the fact that much of the meat in Corinth (a very cosmopolitan seaport in the Roman Empire) may have been from animals that had been offered as a sacrifice in one of the many temples in town. Can a Christian eat meat (or any other food) that had been part of a sacrifice? That is the question.
Some in Corinth say that it is not an issue because they know full well that those bits of stone and metal that the animal was sacrificed to are not gods, or idols -- they are just bits of stone or metal. Others are less sure. Are they participating in idol worship by eating the meat? Are they risking their salvation? It appears that the Christian community in Corinth has asked Paul for guidance.
To be honest, I have long avoided this passage. I have avoided it because I find Paul's answer lacking in clarity. He seems to say that there is no reason not to eat the meat, and then in the next breath say there is a big reason not to eat the meat. He seems to have missed the "just say yes or no" aspect to giving advice.
But reading it now I realize what I missed in the past. I missed the ethical principle that Paul lays out.
Paul is telling the Corinthians (and, through them over the years, us) about one way we make love real and actual in our lives. It is a clear way to live out the commandment of Jesus "love one another". When it comes to the question of meat the question is not actually (or not only) the meat itself. It is "how does my behaviour impact my neighbour?". If my choices might negatively impact my neighbour (in the case of meat and idols by leading them astray) then I have the duty to make a different choice.
As people of faith we are both free and not free. Our freedom is bounded by the commandment to live love for our neighbour.
So this 2000 year old question about meat does in fact touch on our current debate about wearing masks. And on older debates about restricting smoking. And on a host of other questions about how we live together in community. How do we live out love for our neighbour? How does our commitment and responsibility to the collective interact with the North American idol of individual freedom and "rights"?
To be part of the Christian family means we have different priorities. Paul challenges us to think of our neighbours. So did Jesus. So did the prophets of ancient Israel. So, in the end, does God.
--Gord
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