Paul had a very tough situation on his hands. The men who wanted to lead in the church were very judging of each other, in hopes they could discredit another. The Greeks who wanted to lead would criticize the Jews who wanted to lead. Vice versa, the Jews who wanted to lead criticized the Romans and Greeks who wanted to lead. They were looking down their nose at each other.
Criticizing the actions of another brings pure tension into a group and when they are to bond in unity, criticism causes strife, disunity, back biting, and bitterness. Therefore, Paul wanted to address these issues in hopes of restoring unity.
Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 (NKJV)
The “things offered to idols” refers to the meat sold in the market place on the day after great feasts. Because there was an abundance left over, the meat was sold at very reasonable prices. Thus a family could afford barbequed meat for their family.
Because there were so many temples, there were many feasts; and the pagan worship to these gods included food, alcohol, and the night would conclude in debauchery. Thus became the argument, since the food was used in pagan rituals, the church should take a stand and refuse to buy it. These who led the argument called the meat unclean. However, they used this situation to their own advantage by bringing discredit to others.
Pride and arrogance had gripped the Corinthian leaders. They used their own understanding of holiness to look down on others who did not have the same conviction. Paul said their knowledge had puffed them up and in truth, they did not have enough spiritual understanding to make this judgments on others.
Yet, we must ask ourselves, if judgment begins in the house of the Lord and these judged others, were they not doing the right thing to disassociate themselves from the pagan food offered to idols?
Paul’s answers this conjecture by saying, “knowledge puffs up, but loves edifies.” We are not to use our beliefs to tear down others or to bring accusations to their discredit. We need to edify them; which is to say build them up. We are to help them to grow in wisdom and piety.
The scriptures and our understanding of them should not cause us to feel superior to others and rarely should we reprimand others for what they do. Instead we are to encourage them to good works.
There was a church which taught the scriptures well. In this church you were thought of differently if you knew the scriptures better than others. When people realized knowledge was the measuring stick of holiness, every person started studying at a feverish pace. Bibles studies became as competitions and if you taught your own Bible study you were considered in leadership at the church
Truthfully, there was great competiveness and people were encouraged to act such a way. Many became puffed up and looked down on others who were not like them. It became so bad that all the men who desired to be considered as leaders grew beards to match the pastor.
The whole congregation became infected and this infection spread to the social lives of the people. Some looked down and openly judged their extended family members who had not given their life to the Lord.
At work these were pushing Christianity on their co-workers. They did not truly love them and would look down on them in hopes the same infectious desire to learn would draw them to God.
What they called evangelism, the people around them saw as a person who thought to highly of themselves.
If this was not bad enough, the puffed up attitudes of the people spread from knowledge, to a chase for holiness. Some began to condemn watching television, going to the movies, and socializing like the world.
They thought their money should be strictly given to the Lord and stopped providing essential elements of life for their families.
They took their children out of schools and started their own school; teaching their children their own ways of life.
Life away from the church family was discredited and all were encouraged to spend their time together. Church meetings were held every day of the week and prayer meeting became gloomy, dark, session where people would call out others to repent of their sins.
Over time their church experience became so weird many of the people started to wake up to their own actions and some of these confronted the pastor. They tried to speak to him politely; however, the talks became debates and unity was severed.
Many people were told about the separatist attitudes and the direction the church was heading. This caused a spilt of great size and the hurting lives of many fled for help from other churches. Their hearts were broken and these had damaged spiritual lives.
Puffed up attitudes caused this church and its pastor to take a very sharp downward turn. He encouraged the people to sell their belongings and some their own homes. Then, he sold the church building, bought two large complexes and separated the men from the women.
Their separatists’ attitudes continued and spiritual pride was a constant grab. It was so bad that one by one, people left with shattered lives. The pastor and his wife ended up selling the complexes and taking off with the money they had accumulated.
This was not the planned from the beginning, it happened to a wonderful Bible teaching church. All this occurred as a result from being puffed up and prideful. This is why Paul took on this subject and will continue to lovingly help the Corinthians from making large errors in running their church.
But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. 1 Corinthians 8:3 (NKJV)
How can you share a loving God, who died to forgive sins, if you are looking down you nose at a person for their sin?
How can you communicate to someone about knowing Christ if you act as if you know everything and they know nothing?
The church and its people are to be as God and look at people with understanding, compassion, and forgiveness. Even if we were to say nothing at all to a person who lives in sin, the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sins; also for their need for a savior. All we need to do is love them and accept them just the way they are.
King Solomon had understanding of this having been a king and ruler of great respect. People came from all around to hear from His great wisdom and experience the vast empire he built. Yet though Solomon was rich in wisdom Solomon used it wisely. Solomon wrote, Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-19 (NKJV)
