Looking at the whole chapter allows us to see how Paul’s argument builds.  He starts by asserting the importance of loving relationships when dealing with disagreements.  Secondly, Paul argues his side of the case on the issue.  He then advocates a general principle that those who have attained a stronger understanding of God sometimes have to give that up if they believe it will lead a weaker one into sin.

In a modern case, someone may believe that they are mature enough to see “R” rated movies and be unaffected by them.  They may be correct in their assumption.  However, they should be careful how they act around impressionable children or members of the church who think that “R” rated movies are inherently corrupting.  The more mature Christian should see in each case that maintaining the relationship is more important than being correct.  The weaker Christian is less likely to be able to cope with diversity within the faith.  The one who can entertain more possibilities must give way to maintain the peace.

1 Corinthians 8

¹Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge.^[a] Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ²The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. ³But the man who loves God is known by God.

 ⁴So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. ⁵For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), ⁶yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

 ⁷But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. ⁸But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

 ⁹Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? ¹¹So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. ¹²When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Questions

1. What words are repeated in the passage?
2. What do sentences say that contain words about knowledge?
3. Why would Paul choose never to eat meat again?
4. Where do you think Paul would draw the line between a debatable item and a non-negotiable?
5. How do you treat those who are less well-versed in the faith?  Do you have hot-button issues?  Do they?