Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols

Here is an interesting topic that most, if not all, Christians don’t think applies to them. At least not in the western church and not directly. We often take the teachings on this subject as purely academic, but believe it or not, this is still a major concern to this day.

The first thing that needs to be addressed is this: Are there modern examples of meat that has been sacrificed to idols? The answer to that question is a definite yes. There are two major examples. The first is meat that is “halal” or “lawful” for Muslims to eat. The second is in Hinduism though this highly depends on the specific beliefs of individual areas of Hinduism since it’s such a diverse religion (considering that, depending on the source, there are anywhere from 33 to 330,000,000 Hindu gods). I’m not going to go into Hinduism beyond saying that it is possible to run into food sacrificed to idols if you travel to Nepal, India, Indonesia, or any other predominantly Hindu countries. However, I do want to look a bit more at Islam’s use of animal sacrifice.

Animal sacrifice in Islam doesn’t typically happen how we traditionally think of animal sacrifice, but what often isn’t realized is that every bit of meat that a Muslim consumes has to have been dedicated to Allah in order for it to be “halal.” One of the requirements for meat to be considered “halal” is that “Bismillah Allahu Akbar” must be said as it is being killed. This phrase means “In the Name of Allah, Allah is Great.” Ultimately, this means that all meat Muslims eat has been sacrificed to Allah. Which means that I have consumed meat sacrificed to idols. I have eaten meat while serving in the military in Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, and possibly Kuwait (I don’t remember if I ate meat there and it was only a 2 hour stay). Does this mean that I have sinned? Before we delve into that, it is interesting to note that it is possible to find halal meat in the US even without going a Muslim’s house. This doesn’t even include going to a middle eastern store. Walmart has some 160 locations that sell halal meat. Thus, it is possible to go into a Walmart and buy food that has been sacrificed.

So, the first question that needs to be asked is: Does the Bible forbid eating food sacrificed to idols? Surprisingly, the answer to that is no. The closest thing to the Bible forbidding this is in the Jerusalem Council found in Acts 15. The Jerusalem Council came about because some Christian Jews were telling the Gentile Christians that they must follow the Law (the Old Testament) this was to include more than just the moral teaching found in the Law. It also included things like circumcision which was given to the Israelites as a sign of the covenant that they had with God. Paul and Barnabas disputed sharply with these Jews, and eventually were sent to Jerusalem to bring the matter before the Apostles and elders there. After a discussion, James (Jesus’ brother) stood up and said,

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.

Acts 15:19-21

This seems to be a full-on prohibition of anything polluted by idols. The issue that arises is that we have other verses that argue the exact opposite. The focus in this passage seems to be around not causing the Jewish believers to stumble by doing what they believe is wrong. Yet, the closest Old Testament verses to the forbidding of eating food sacrificed to idols don’t actually forbid it. They forbid idol worship and comment on the fact that people were eating the sacrificial food which, in many cases, was an act of participation in the worship of the idol itself (for an example of this look at Exodus 34:15 or the golden calf in Exodus 32).

If the Bible doesn’t directly forbid eating food sacrificed to idols, then what does it actually teach? Well, there are a couple of things that need to be looked at. Both of them are brought up by Paul in 1 Corinthians. In fact, 1 Corinthians is the primary place where we see this topic discussed in detail. The first is this idea that we ought not to cause our brother to stumble by eating meat that has been sacrificed. The second is that we ought not to be participants with demons. We will look into these two areas in more detail in a bit, but first I want to talk about the general overview of what is happening in 1 Corinthians.

In 1 Corinthians we have Paul correcting a lot of false ideas and practices in the church of Corinth. They were having issues that ranged from inequality at feasts, to marriage, and even to incest. Overall, there is a significant undertone of a lack of love for God and for each other being demonstrated. This is in affect for our relevant passages today as well. In chapter 8 Paul begins to address food sacrificed to idols. That said, he also is discussing the idea of freedom in Christ in general. What we have in 1 Corinthians 8-10 is an “inclusio” which is basically a literary device used frequently in Scripture to “bracket” in a teaching. For example, there might be a phrase that is said at the beginning of a teaching and then, a few verses or paragraphs later, the same phrase (or very similar phrase) will be used to close in the “bracket.” This typically signifies that the whole passage is talking about the same thing. In our instance, Paul uses food sacrificed to idols as an example of our freedom in Christ and when that freedom should be not exercised for the sake of others. 1 Corinthians 8 starts out with this:

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 8:1

Really all of 1 Corinthians 8 is the opening bracket for this “inclusio.” Chapter 9 and much of chapter 10 fall inside this bracket which is closed with a return to the discussion of food that has been sacrificed to idols in chapter 10. Basically, what I am saying is that even though chapter 9 and the first half of 10 don’t fall under the labels of food sacrificed to idols, they are still teaching on this same idea of our freedom in Christ and how to use said freedom.

Now that we have a broader overview of what is going on in 1 Corinthians, and more specifically in chapters 8-10, it is now time to see what Paul says on eating food sacrificed to idols. Let’s pick up in 1 Corinthians 8:4 which says:

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth – as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” – yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:4-13

One of the important things to note is that Corinth was a highly religious city. It was nearly impossible to go somewhere in the city that didn’t have some level of connection with idols. In fact, many celebrations, social events, and funerals were done in pagan temples. These temples regularly had rooms specifically for such gatherings. This is important considering what we just read because Paul mentions a scenario involving a believer eating in a temple. The food in a temple would almost certainly have been sacrificed to whatever deity that temple was worshipping. Not only that, but much of the food sold in the marketplace would have been sacrificed as well.

So, what is Paul saying in these verses? Well, he is essentially saying that idols are nothing, and there is only one God, therefore, eating food sacrificed to idols is neither bad nor good. It’s just eating. Yet Paul is very careful to make sure that we understand that our knowledge can harm weaker believers and that doing so is sinful. In Corinth’s case, many of the believers would have just come out of idol worship. Thus, it would have been easy for a more mature believer to cause one of these newer believers to stumble by eating sacrificial food. We should never use our knowledge, our freedom, in a way that might harm our brothers and sisters. Paul even goes so far as to say that he will never eat mean again if it might cause his brother to stumble.

Ok, so basically, 1 Corinthians 8 has Paul saying that food sacrificed to idols is fine since idols are nothing, but we ought to avoid causing anyone to stumble based on our freedom to eat said food. What then does he say in 1 Corinthians 10?

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the alter? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience. I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10:14-32

I went a bit beyond what I will actually be talking about, but it’s always good to have more context. Anyway, how is this passage different than what Paul was talking about in chapter 8? Well, it starts off on a different note. Paul starts talking about not being participants with demons (who are behind the idols). It is impossible to follow God and follow something else. In this case, Paul is talking about traditional idolatry, but it applies to anything that takes God’s place. Jesus said,

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Matthew 6:24

This is very similar wording to what Paul used on idolatry in the 1 Corinthians 10 passage above. But, based on his previous passage on eating sacrificial food, I don’t think Paul is arguing that eating the food in and of itself is the same as worshipping an idol. I believe that Paul is making sure that the previous ok that he gave on eating food sacrificed to idols (because idols are nothing) does not turn into a participation in the sacrificial rituals themselves and thus worshipping a false god. Our God is fundamentally a jealous God. He will not share His glory with any other so called “god.” This is especially true considering that these other “gods” aren’t truly gods but are actually demons masquerading as gods. We must be careful that pursuing our freedoms does not lead us into idolatry. This isn’t just limited to participating in sacrifices to other gods though as seen in what Jesus said in Matthew 6. Anything can become an idol and the pursuit of that thing, even if it is something good, can be sinful if we elevate it above God. Money is what typically comes to mind. It isn’t bad to have money or even to desire more money, but if I pursue money more than I pursue God, then I am worshipping money and not God. While money is the common example this is true of other areas as well. These areas include, but are not limited to, sex, comfort, entertainment, food, alcohol, and freedom. None of these things are inherently bad; however, if done or used in excess, or in a way that they weren’t meant to be used, these can easily become sinful and be rightly named as idols.

So, what does all of this truly mean for us today? The first takeaway is that this isn’t just something the early church had to deal with. Idol worship still continues to this day and so does animal sacrifice. Since these are still applicable to us, what do we need to do about it? Well, Scripture doesn’t forbid eating of food sacrificed to idols; however, it does forbid causing your brother to stumble, and partaking in the worship of demons. Thus, we need to do everything we can to avoid these two things. If doing something might cause a brother to stumble, then it must not be done. Do not let your freedom cause a brother to sin for doing so means that you not only sin against your brother, but also against Christ. Finally, do not worship anything other than God. This includes participation in rituals for pagan gods. There is a growing idea in the church that we can redeem all things for Christ, but this idea isn’t seen in Scripture. For example, yoga, no matter how innocuous it may seem, is fundamentally a method of worshipping a pagan god. It is a spiritual practice directed at a being that is not God. There is nothing wrong with stretching, but yoga and stretching a two completely different things. But I digress, yoga is a blog for another time. I will end with this: Do not participate, in any way, with demons for doing so will invite God’s jealousy.

As always feel free to contact me with any questions at ljandersonbooks@outlook.com or comment below. Also, follow me on Facebook and Twitter to receive new blog posts and any updates regarding other writing projects. Finally, if you have found my writing to be beneficial for your walk with Christ, please consider donating. I really appreciate any help!