To Learn or to Trap?

Scripture
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake.
28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake;
29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

I Cor 10:27-33 (NASB)

 
Devotion
I have stopped having discussions about what the Bible says with unbelievers because, frankly, they aren’t interested in learning more about God’s Word.  They’re goal when they’ve asked me for my opinion about a certain passage or other is not to learn, but to trap me in what they believe is a winnable argument to further discredit Christianity in their mind.  I’m not interested in trying to edify them on how the totality of scripture interacts on the believer’s behalf.  They simply aren’t believers and aren’t looking for that.

Unfortunately, there are many believers who are still supping on the “milk” of Christianity who are just as eager to present a scripture to another Christian just to try and “trap” them into agreeing that their interpretation is good, right, and true.  While the I Corinthians passage above is about food, I think it can apply to Christian fellowship and conversation as well, especially from verse 29 on.

Questions for Discussion

  • How could our conversations be like “…meat sacrificed to idols” from verse 28?
  • How does our “conscience” come into play with what we eat and what we say as mentioned in this passage?
  • Why is it “okay” if we eat the food or have the conversation and don’t know if it was “sacrificed to idols”?

Focus Words and Greek Definitions
“Unbelievers” Strongs 571 Apistos
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/apistos.html

  1. unfaithful, faithless, (not to be trusted, perfidious)
  2. incredible
    1. of things
  3. unbelieving, incredulous
    1. without trust (in God)

“Conscience” Strongs 4893 Suneidesis
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/suneidesis.html

  1. the consciousness of anything
  2. the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other
    1. the conscience

“Idols” Strongs 1494 (Slain in sacrifice) Eidolothuton
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/eidolothuton.html

  1. sacrificed to idols, the flesh left over from the heathen sacrifices
    1. it was either eaten at the feasts or sold (by the poor and the miserly) in the market

“Freedom” Strongs 1657 (liberty) Eleutheria
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/eleutheria.html

  1. liberty to do or to omit things having no relationship to salvation
  2. fancied liberty
    1. licence, the liberty to do as one pleases
  3. true liberty is living as we should not as we please

“Offense” Strongs 677 Aproskopos
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/aproskopos.html

  1. having nothing to strike against, not causing to stumble
    1. of a smooth road
    2. metaph. of not leading others to sin by one’s mode of life
  2. not striking against or stumbling
    1. metaph. not led into sin, blameless
  3. without offense, not troubled by a consciousness of sin

“Church” Strongs 1577 Ekklesia
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/ekklesia.html

  1. a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
    1. an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating
    2. the assembly of the Israelites
    3. any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously
    4. in a Christian sense
      1. an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting
      2. a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order’s sake
      3. those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body
      4. the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth
      5. the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven

“Saved” Strongs 4982 Sozo
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/sozo.html

  1. to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
    1. one (from injury or peril)
      1. to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health
      2. to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
    2. to save in the technical biblical sense
      1. negatively 1b
    3. to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment 1b
    4. to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance

All NASB scripture has been copied and pasted from BibleGateway.com.  All Greek Strongs definitions have been copied and pasted from BibleStudyTools.com.  All other content unless otherwise noted is copyright by The Cavalier 2015 and is released for use under Creative Commons License.

Chat Rules

  1. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
    Matt 18:20 (KJV)If you wouldn’t say it to His face, don’t say it in here because you are.
  2. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    John 3:16 (KJV)This is a Christian chat room. You do not have to believe to participate but you do have to be tolerant or you won’t be. We discuss topics in here from a Christian world view with a biblical perspective.  Do not reference secular works or other religious texts as a basis for your opinion unless that is the topic at hand.
  3. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
    17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
    2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV)The primacy of scripture is paramount.  If you state an opinion, be prepared to quote the scripture upon which your belief is based.  If you cannot or chose not to provide such scripture do not be offended when someone else declares your ‘feelings’ as secondary to what is stated in God’s Word.  This is not insulting nor a personal attack.  It is building a life based on what God says not what Man says.
  4. 16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
    Prov 12:16 (KJV)If you cannot discuss a topic without name calling do not participate in the discussion.  The arena of ideas is shaped by rational thought, not feelings.  From a Christian perspective we base this rational thought on God’s Word as defined by the Holy Bible, not “how I was raised” or “I just feel”.  Attacking someone with whom you are having a discussion by name calling indicates you have run out of cogent defenses and/or ideas.  Your name calling behavior declares the other person the winner of the discussion and will get you ejected.
  5. 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
    1 Cor 14:26 (KJV)The purpose of this chat is to learn and grow in wisdom. We are not here to ‘win arguments’. Trolls of any type will be summarily ejected.
  6. 14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
    Prov 15:14 (KJV)Be prepared to change your mind if given sufficient scriptural evidence that clearly counters your position.  Our purpose here is to grow our lives closer to God and His way of living, not Man’s way of living. The only way we can do that is by being willing to change how we live when the Holy Spirit convicts us of an offense against God.
  7. 1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
    2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
    3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
    4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
    Romans 14:1-4 (KJV)You do NOT have the sole voice of Truth spoken in your ear so do not assume the person to whom you are chatting is outside God’s love.  Two people can read the same scripture and take diametrically opposed meaning from it and both be walking on God’s path for their lives.
  8. 14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
    2 Tim 2:14 (KJV)Stay on topic.  Neither Calvin nor Arminius resolved the question of Free Will v Predestination and neither will you.  Do not devolve every discussion into a Calvin v Arminius argument or you will be ejected.  If you do not know who these two men were you have some research to do please.
  9. 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
    Romans 13:4 (KJV)This is a private website and a private chat. You do NOT have I Amendment Rights in here to say anything you like.  The Moderators have been placed in authority over this place and are the sole arbiter of the rules. If you don’t like a decision, engage them in a private chat about it but public airing of a Moderator’s declaration or ignoring said declaration will find you on the outside looking in (muted).
  10. The proper response to the question, “Have you read the chat rules?” is “Ni”.
    Book of Armaments 4:5 (or is it 3?)

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