How to Handle Grey Issues

This article is adapted from a message on the AI-Renewal mailing list. The message I responded to included a look at 1 Cor 8:4-13 and 1 Cor 10:18-33. An additional passage to consider is Romans 14 and 15 (even though it deals more with clean vs. unclean food.)   When you look at the three passages (1 Cor 8:4-13 , 1 Cor 10:18-33 , Romans 14-15 ), it's easy to get confused. Paul seems to give with one hand, and take away with the other. In the end, though, I think he is offering a balanced approach.

In philosophy, there is a principle called antinomy:

One of a pair of mutually conflicting laws, or sequences of thought (thesis and antithesis), each of which possesses, or appears to possess, equal validity.

Many Bible scholars prefer to use the term "parallelism" instead (in part to avoid confusion with "antinomianism," which is the erroneous belief that Christians are by grace set free from observing any moral law.)

Parallelism is a characteristic typical of Hebrew poetry. The writer states an idea, and then reinforces the idea by repetition, variation, or contrast.

The major types of parallelism are recognized as:

1) Synonymous. This is when the second line repeats the first in slightly different wording. (Example: Psalm 83:1).

2) Antithetic. The second lines contrasts - often sharply - with the first. (Example: Proverbs 26:4-5).

3) Synthetic. The second line completes the thought started in the first by supplementing it. (Example: Psalm 7:1).

Thus, rather than introducing contradiction, parallelism provides additional information.

Though not in poetic form, parallelism is also taking place in Pauls three passages on food. He is making various statements that, seen together, form a multifaceted approach to a complex issue:

He establishes the fact that idols are nothing.

Since idols are nothing, pagans offer food to them in vain. Therefore, it really doesn't matter whether or not we eat that food:

In fact, we can eat anything:

Addressing the issue of clean vs. unclean food, Paul says:

Thus Paul acknowledges that people differ in how they view these issues. In fact, he says:

Why the reference to "weak faith"? Well, Paul makes it clear that not everyone knows or understand the above facts. Having shown that idols are nothing, he says:

Thing is, when we eat and drink we thank the One who provided the meal, and thus eat in His honor:

(See also 1 Tim. 4:4-5).

Those who have a "weak faith" (e.g. new Christians) may still in their minds connect meat with idols. When they do that, the meat is defiled since it would then be eaten in "honor" of the idols instead of in honor of God. Paul has strong words on this:

Clearly, we can not worship both God and idols.

Still, earlier, we saw that Paul said we can eat whatever an unbeliever serves us. This does not militate against the above, because of the exception:

By telling his guest the meat has been offered to an idol, the host is expecting the guest to join him in eating to the idol's glory. In that case we should not eat it. After all, we know idols are nothing, but the host sees the idol as his god. We don't want to join him in worshipping his god, but instead make clear we only acknowledge the One, true God.

Thus we can eat whatever food there is, as long as we eat it to the glory of God, and not while even so much as acknowledging idols.

But Paul, mindful of the ones who are less mature in their faith, adds a warning:

In other words: don't cause the 'clueless' brother to fall. In fact, make sure you offend no one:

In addition, don't pass judgment on the weaker brother:

This is important, for while Paul is mainly talking about food, there are Christians who habitually pass judgment on just about anything they well please. Their mantra is:

Be a Christian long enough and you will be told to stay away from anything from television to tacos, from suntan lotion to sex, and from MTV to the NIV. Keep track of it all so you won't offend anybody, and in no time you can't leave the house for fear of doing something someone somewhere will claim leads him astray.

And thus Paul includes this:

We're not to judge each other on these issues, but instead should make sure we do not become a stumbling block to the weak:

(I believe this works both ways. Weaker brothers can be taught that not everything is, in fact, a stumbling stone, and that not everything that looks like a stumbling stone needs kicking...)

In the end, I believe these verses are the key:

In other words: be wise in what you do with regard to disputable matters ("eating meat," dancing, reading murder mysteries, drinking alcohol, listening to sixties oldies, using the Internet, etc.), so that you do not become a stumbling block to the weak. At the same time - as long as you stay within the clear rules of Scripture - don't condemn yourself by what you approve.

I think an understanding of these issues can prevent a lot of unfruitful arguments, and will at the same time help people take each other in consideration. As Paul told Timothy on what I believe is a related matter, the goal of these commandments is love. (1 Tim. 1:3-7)