Religious Much? Knowledge and Love

This is the eighth lesson in a series on 1 Corinthians. Please read all about it in the Introduction. I’ve broken the post into sections with journal prompts at the end of each part. These would be great stopping points. I’ve also linked the Scripture references to biblegateway.com; click the blue font references. I’d love to hear what you’re learning in the comments!

Religious Much? (1 Corinthians 8)

So, finally a change in subject.

As glad as we might be to leave the subjects of sex and marriage and relationship contentment; we are about to launch into a 3-chapter section that will be just as challenging, chapters that make us look into our gray areas. Gray areas are tricky in church because they become a battleground where lots of blood is spilt stupidly.

Believers have always had a hard time getting along in the gray. Some need to make all of life black and white and exert their own intelligence to make it so, stamp God’s name over it, and fight to the relational death anyone who would challenge them. Others need to keep life ALL gray, and exert their own will to make it so, stamping God’s name over it, and ignoring anyone who would challenge their self-earned freedom.

Both are wrong. Both are hurting the Church. Both are sinning.

Before you roll your eyes, click exit, and go back to Pinterest, let me ask a question. How do you navigate the gray areas of life? I am certain that as we get started, there will be challenge and encouragement that you and I need to embrace. I’m also certain there will be practical wisdom that we can apply and clarity that we can find.

Back to Corinth

Early in our study, we looked into what Corinthian culture was like. This week we see a specific aspect. It was common practice to offer meat sacrifices at the Corinthian temples. These required only part of the animal. The leftover meat would be used in other temple feasts, given to priests, or sold in the general public market to be used in households. Social clubs and meetings and even private parties were often held at banquet halls connected to the temples (ESV, 2202). One commentary said that abstaining completely from the use of any meat connected to the pagan temples would be in essence cutting oneself off from Corinthian society (Morris, 120). So, as we turn to chapter 8 and this next question the Corinthian church asks Paul, it’s a big deal. And it’s not just about what to eat. It’s about how to live in their culture, where to pull back and where to engage.

There are new believers who are still so freshly removed from the idolatry practiced in the temples that they are afraid to eat anything in any situation that might be even possibly associated with it. The temptation to return to a false religion that is more satisfying to the flesh even though it chains them to fear is strong and as close as the aroma of roasting meat as they walk near the temples. They are becoming super weird strictly out of fear and making impossible rules to try to keep from going backward in their newfound faith in Jesus. They were formerly pagan, likely with generations of idolatry in their pasts.

Then there are those who are so welcoming of their newfound freedom from being religious that they are eating anything anywhere with no thought of the struggles of their brothers and sisters. They won’t be bossed and won’t follow rules, new or old. They were formerly religious, likely with generations of tradition in their pasts.

Love Trumps Knowledge (1-3)

Read 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

In the JB Phillips version verse one says, “while knowledge may make a man look big, it is only love that can make him grow to his full stature.” (biblegateway.com). Another commentary says, “love deflates the vanity and arrogance that knowledge feeds and disarms it so that it is not used to hurt others.” (Garland, 392)

Some Corinthian Christians were learning a lot. They were soaking up theology and Christian philosophy and were good at defending their beliefs. They had great knowledge and it was making them proud.

But here’s the thing; Without love knowledge feeds arrogance not faith.

Without love learning a lot just puffs us up and we become mean, squishy, arrogant, useless know-it-alls. In a few weeks we are going to spend an entire week on the greatness of love; so let’s just stop here to say that there is great danger in knowledge that is not fortified with love – God’s Love, God’s way.

Verses 1-2 are a call to humility, a reminder that we don’t always {read, ever} know as much as we think we know. Knowledge and Love are partners.

Give this a few minutes of thought with me. Can you see this happening in our churches today? Have you ever been so certain of the rightness of your conviction and so able to argue it persuasively that you walk away from a conversation with someone and feel victorious over them instead of connected with them? That’s the loveless knowledge we are talking about in verses 1-3. It’s ugly.

Journal Prompt: Read Galatians 6:3 and 1 Timothy 6:3-4. What do you see about loveless knowledge? How does what you’ve learned so far apply to your church situation right now?

We just got two good verses about not being a spiritual smarty-pants and a theology know-it-all, and then verse 3 plops down with this random thought “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” Seems to me that it should read more along the lines of “If anyone loves God, he is loved by God.” or “If anyone is a know-it-all meany at church God’s gonna get him.” {But I have an issue with mean people}… 

After I pondered a bit I saw the connection. It doesn’t matter how much I know so much as it matters Who knows me. It doesn’t matter how much I love on my own so much as it matters Who I know. Do you see it? At the start of things, the origin –  it’s not me. It’s HIM. He’s not the subject of our knowledge, He’s the source and means and ending. Our knowledge is all about Him, our love is all about Him. He starts it all and He finishes it all and He holds it all together in the meantime (1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16-17).

As I looked for understanding in these verses my Study Bible had these beautiful cross-references. And this is all I’m going to do in this section.

Exodus 33:12,17, AMP “Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, You say to me, Bring up this people, but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You said, I know you by name and you have also found favor in My sight.’ And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight and I know you personally and by name.’”

Jeremiah 1:5, NIV “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Nahum 1:7, ESV  “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”

2 Timothy 2:19, NLT “But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”….”

Journal Prompt: How does “being known by God” affect your attitude toward the pursuit of knowledge? Make a list of any changes God is calling you to make.

One God

Read 1 Corinthians 8:4-6

This is the theology. This is the Truth that the smarty-pants in Corinth have embraced. They believe the right things and Paul confirms that. They just aren’t living it out in a way that is good for building up the Kingdom. And the right Truth is that idolatry is ridiculous and dangerous. We can’t move on without touching on this.

Read Isaiah 44:12-20. Can you see the absurdity?

It’s ridiculous to notice and pick up a piece of wood,

• Use your own talents and tools to create a shape out of that piece of wood.
• Then pray to what YOU created and expect it to have the power to deliver you even while you use the rest of it to fuel a fire to cook dinner!

{Insert a big Biblical “duh” right here}

Or as my Study Bible says, “The leftovers of ordinary human activity provide gods to whom people turn for deliverance.” (ESV, 1321) Imagine a life where every ritual and belief you and your parents and your friends have ever had was this absurd. Imagine seeing the craziness of it for the first time. You would never want to go back.

Don’t move on without considering your own life. Don’t move on without seeking knowledge and discernment to recognize Truth and Lie in what you believe and worship. If you read this passage and simply shake your head at the poor dumb ancient guy - Stop.

Anything that you trust to deliver or comfort you when you are in distress is your block of wood; 

the lie in your hand.

Journal Prompt: What is the block of wood, the lie in your hand?

We need knowledge and discernment to see idolatry, and the knowledge isn’t wrong. It’s how we walk out into life with our knowledge in mind that we often mess up. It’s how spiritual knowledge comes out of our mouths and attitudes and facebook posts where knowledge transforms to arrogance.

When we learn something amazing and freeing and True but forget all the lessons of family and community from early in 1 Corinthians – that’s when we are at risk of being puffy. And there in that knowledge-rich puffiness, our freedom from former idolatry becomes idolatry of another sort; self.

So what now?

Consider Your Brother

Read 1 Corinthians 8:7-13

Simply put, Christians struggle with different things. Some grow faster than others. Some experience setbacks that others don’t or don’t understand. For some Corinthians trying to walk in new faith in Jesus, eating temple meat sets them up to fail (7) because of their past attachments to what happens at the temple {Think new Christian who was an alcoholic; hanging out in a bar sets them up to fail}.

In this context Paul asks a very simple question. If a weaker spiritual sibling sees you (a more grown-up spiritual sibling) in a controversial setting, will they be encouraged or discouraged in their own walk?

We have lots of Legos at my house, but Legos are different than they used to be. No longer is it just about grabbing random blocks and building the tallest tower. Now they come in boxes with everything you need to make a complete pre-determined creation. The instructions are specific, and books, and illustrated step by step. The picture on the box is an exact photo of what the creation should look like at the end. My 6 year old loves it most when she can get her dad or her big brother to build with her. She doesn’t want them to do it for her; she wants them to do it WITH her. She wants to build together. She knows that it’s much more likely that her finished “set” will look like the picture on the box if she has some help from the expert Lego builders {she never asks me, which I didn’t consider until just this moment…I think I belong in the random tower builder camp…...hmmm}.

My little cutie next to a very non-towerish Lego creation!

How ridiculous would it be if her brother completely took over her building process making her feel frustrated and left out and completely inadequate? How mean would it be if as she struggled to follow instructions she didn’t yet understand he tore up her work, even while flaunting his own?

Mom would not be happy.

Go back to 1 Corinthians 8. The word “encouraged” in verse 10 is the same word as “builds up” in verse 1. Look for both of these words in your Bible and see them in context. The word comes from two Greek words: “Oikos (house) and domeo (to build)” (Zodhiates, 940). It means to build a house. And while it’s positive in verse 1, “love builds the house” – I think there’s a song, but I totally digress, it’s negative in verse 10! See what He did there? Could it be that your arrogant example of selfish freedom rebuilds the pagan house that your less mature spiritual sibling has finally torn down? A house he will return to and be destroyed in? {Gulp}.

Whether this is a lifestyle habit like drinking or movies or gambling….or a conviction like how to educate or parent your children, or whether or not you believe in free will or election… or whether or not you’re free to cuss in your blog… If it builds up a temptation to return to a former God-less way of life in those who watch your example then you must take it seriously.

The next two verses (11-12) state this even more strongly. When we march through life free and right and full of knowledge with no concern for those watching and following us, we are building up what destroys their faith and sinning against the One who gave His life for us.

Don’t be a know-it-all.

Don’t be mean.

Your life should be characterized by patient “Lego-building” with spiritual siblings.

Journal Prompt: Examine your life. Are you the Know-it-All older sibling or the Spiritual Baby? How can you fully engage with what this passage teaches and follow God there?

So. My hope is that this passage brings us all to a place of precious repentance and newfound love for those we can be mentoring as we patiently walk through life with them, building up their knowledge as it’s surrounded by affectionate love. But here’s a giant disclaimer:

GIANT DISCLAIMER: I tend to take things to extremes and will “extremely” push this chapter into a frantic defense of the biggest people pleasing/people-controlling routine since 6^th grade safety patrol. As a pastor’s wife and people-pleaser in general I already struggle with this big-time.

• Is it ok to eat at the new restaurant in our town even though it has the name “brewery” in the name?
• Is it wise to put this picture on facebook even though it was taken while I was skipping Wednesday night church and it makes it seem like I’m having a good day?
• Should I apologize for not being able to make that meeting or be in charge of that event?
• Should I make the trip back home to change my daughter’s shirt since I just now realized she’s wearing a Wicked t-shirt and we are walking into church?

And while those are kinda shallow and silly, they strain through my brain and they constantly illuminate my more serious and hurtful issues. Concerns and pressures that wound me as I am more and more convinced that my efforts are simply never enough.

I love this summary of all of Chapter 8, found in one of my husband’s commentaries: “Three timeless principles dominate this chapter; what is safe for one Christian may not be safe for another; true discernment always requires love as well as knowledge, and believers have no right to demand certain freedoms if they in turn prove detrimental to those around them.” (Blomberg, 164)

So. How to live it? How do I encourage without falling to people-pleasing? How do I live and love and learn without being overwhelmed with the weight of the needs and expectations of others? How do I navigate the gray areas of life?

Here are a few things I’ve committed to as I pursue knowledge and then walk out into real life. 

• I will remember that it all starts and ends with God. This life is His thing and so I’ll ask Him.
• I will seek knowledge, but tuck it always under humility.
• I will look to see and serve others.
• I will not do things (right or wrong) that will make others stumble in their genuine pursuit of Jesus.
• I will articulate Truth, but never just to be right.
• I will seek to be connected with and not victorious over other people.
• I will consider criticism received and fix to the best of my ability anything I’ve done to make a brother or sister struggle.
• I will discard destructive criticism and expectations that cause me to stumble.

My prayer is that over the next couple of weeks this list will grow….let's walk together; full of knowledge AND love.

Journal Prompt: Write your own list of “I Wills” summarizing what you’ve learned this week. I’d love to hear what you add!