The council in Jerusalem in ~49 A.D. made the most controversial decisions of their time regarding Gentiles coming to believe in Jesus. Should they follow the Laws of the Old Covenant given through Moses? (Acts 15:1-5) First, Apostle Peter reminded the council of the most important truth: through the grace of our Lord Jesus, we are saved, including the Gentiles. He asked them, “Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples that yoke…?” (Acts 15:6-11)
James, the brother of Jesus, agreed, adding that they should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God (Acts 15:19). The council, with careful words, wrote, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” (Acts 15:28-29, reference vs. 20) No explanation is given. Simply, “abstain from these things.”
Approximately 11 years later, 6 years after Paul writes these letters to the Corinthians, the council’s letter with the instruction “abstain from food sacrificed to idols” is remembered by the Jerusalem elders. (Acts 21:25) Again, no explanation is given. Two churches are rebuked in Revelation 2:14 and 2:20 for “eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality”. The reason to abstain is not given there either.
However, 1 Corinthians, written in 55-56 A.D., supplies us with reasons. “Therefore, 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.” (13) Also, “Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:19-20) More on that later.
Today, food sacrificed to idols is not an issue within congregations and amongst denominations. However, many exist that are just as contentious. Some denominations claim that others are from the devil because they do not do this and they do that evil thing. Why do you try to test God? Who appointed you head of Christ’s church? When did Jesus give you the keys? Does the exercise of your religious practices become a stumbling block to the weak, for whom Christ died? If you are such a superior, enlightened Christian, why not bring your teachings to those wandering the streets at night and invite them to eat with you, rather than condemning someone who calls on the name of Jesus and wound their weak conscience?
