Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-04-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
ON the New York Observer
INTERNATIONAL LESSON
sr KIv. HENRY n. n.GRour, D. D.
ArRIL 81 Abstinence for the sake
of Others.-l Cor. s: lib.

GOLDEN TExr-If meat make my bro
tier to offend, | will eat no flesh while
the world standeth.-l Cor. s: l3.
II would seem that the occasion for
this Epistle was found, not only in re-
ports which had reached the Apostles
ears respecting the state of things in the
church at Corinth, but also in certain
questions the Corinthian Christians had
referred to him for decision. One of
these related to eating meat which had
been offered to idols. And it is TO this
that he makes answer in this chapter.
At first we should say the question is OF
no concern to us. Aud yet, in the
principles involved, the Apostles an
swer may be found TO come close to
our own selves.
When sacrifices were offered to hea
then gods, il was the custom to burn
pa is upon the alter, and to divide the
remainder. the best parts, between the
priest and the offerer. The latter were
eaten at home or at feasts, or were sold
in the markets. The Christians, then
would then have to decide whether in
their own houses or in those of their &C.
quantances, or at public feasts, they
would partake of such meats. Some
said Yes others No The fret said, An
idol is nothing we know too much to
think of it as having any reality what
harm can there be in eating The Others,
in there weakness, may have had a
lingering feeling that the idol gods had
some existence and power; or they may
have felt that to eat of such meats was
somehow TO be implicated in idolatry.
Aud so the question was referred to the
APOSTLE and here we hsvc his answer.
It islikely that those who particularly
AL dressed him were the more intelli.
gen. Christians who believed there
conld be no harm iu eating. This ex
plain, the opening sentence: I'VE know
that ss al hIre ia7rLiJy;" We are too
well Informed to believe an idol has any
reality, But then, he says, we must rc.
m-mi cr that knowledge is not always
IL safe guide. 1t puHeth VI; aud a
man who Is Inflated with high opinion
Of his know ledge i, liable to err He
ioes not look at talngs Alright. Love
is superior to k1owledge; it builds up
10 righ. judgments and conduct More.
over, If any man love God. ne IS
kn wa ocGol; God wa;ch,s over, ay.
proves, guides him. Takes care that
your unloving knowledge does not mi.
lead you'
With This iuterposed caution; which
really contains the principle is to settle
the whole question, Paul starts anew
" We ka5i0 that an idol is nothing in
the world True, there are 50 called
gods and lords many; but we know
there is but one God. the great father
Of all, and one Lord Jesus Christ, Of and
by and for whom are all beings and
things. Knowing this we can never bc
drawn into any fesr or respect for idol.
meat offered to such bas been offered to
nothing. This the apostle admits
1t is plain that in this view there is no
harm or sin in eating.
But nov, and thi, is the Apostle
next point, "Howae,t there is not iu
every man that knowledge some being
used until now TO the idol Rcr. Yer.
sat a. Of thing sacrificed to an idol -
they cannot rid thcmsclves Of that re-
membrance, sn Of super.titiou4 feel
ing that after all there may be some
real power present IN the image. And
TO them the eating seems 10 bring them
into relations with ldolatry. The con
science Of such an one is Il, fled. Ho is
not sure that he docs right in eating
he condemns himself he violates his
moral conyictiors To him 20 eat Is
therefore asin. II is sin to do any.
thing which we feel % BE- wrong. And
he who does that not Only burdens his
conscience, but hlrdens his own
heart and 50 starts on downward
way.
Paul has thus cleared his ground. and
passes to more positive answers to the
question proposed I've. s-l3l.
|. lie reminds his questioners thst to
abstain involves the abstainer in no in
jury or loss(v. 81. Il Is not meat, eaten
or rejected, which commtnds us to God
We are morally no better FOR eating,
snd morally no worse for not eating.
Grant, he would -sy, that il is right to
eat; it is also right to abstain The
liberty il you're, but you can surrender
il. Aud the surr, nder will, at the
worst not irjure your own soul.
Q. Then, be furtl er reminds his qucs.
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