Diwali Sweets

By -
"Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31)

The festival of Diwali is celebrated all over India during this season by Hindus. Exchange of sweets is a salient feature of this festival. Over 80% of Indians worship idols. When invited to join us for our birthday parties and Christmas dinners, they gladly join us and share the food we serve after we offer thanksgiving prayer. But when they invite us to their festival dinners, we hesitate. Some believers eat freely whatever is served, while others are apprehensive. Apostle Paul addressed these issues while writing to the young Churches. In his first Epistle to the Corinthians, he discussed this subject at length in Chapters 8 and 10. Here is what we learn—

  Strictly speaking, idols are nothing (8:4; Isa 37:19; Jer 16:20; Gal 4:8). As such any food offered to them cannot be contaminated. But to the idol worshipper, the food becomes sacred when offered to idols. No Christian can accept food from an idol-worshipper if it is given in this sense or with this understanding (10:20,21,27). We can politely refuse it with a smile.

 A Christian under no circumstance can join a dinner inside "an idol's temple" (8:10). This public act will dishonour Christ and discourage new Christians who have denounced idols to serve the living God.

 When invited to a family dinner of an idol-worshipper we can go and eat "asking no questions" (10:27). We may freely buy and eat "whatever is sold asking no questions," because the earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord (10:25,26). All animals and birds and plants belong to the Lord, and they are for us to enjoy because we belong to Him! Everything is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer of thanksgiving (1 Tim 4:4,5).

The underlying principle that Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 and Romans 14 is that no knowledge of the truth or liberty in Christ should be used to "wound the weak conscience" of our brothers and sisters or to "become a stumbling block" to them (1 Cor 8:9,12). While there is nothing wrong, in the absolute sense, in eating whatever is served to us, it is a sin if our eating makes a brother to stumble (1 Cor 8:13,11). Let's do all that's possible, of course within Biblical boundaries, to bless our Indian brothers and sisters and bring them to our sweet Jesus!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bold Voice

By -
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches"  (Rev 3:13)  Precious Child, I want to bring you out of your apprehensions to witness for Christ. You are afraid that people might mock at you. Your throat chokes every time you want to open your mouth to share the Gospel. The fear of ridicule silences you. Don't feel bad about it, My child. This was the problem of the disciples of Jesus also even though they had walked with Him for over three years. Can you imagine how a key figure like Peter could ever deny and disown Christ? Their weakness overpowered their willingness. The problem was solved by My coming. That's why Jesus wouldn't let them go out until they got filled with My power (Acts 1:4). When I came upon them, the cowards became challengers! Be filled with Me. Don't consider your timidity or boast of your oratory skill. Depend on Me. I will grant you boldness in all situations to speak forth the message of the Cros...
Read more

Utter Confusion!

By -
"They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you keep your head in all situations" (2 Tim 4:4,5) I am an ardent fan of John the Baptist. There is no harm in admiring him because all who started as John's fans became Jesus' followers. A comparison of John with many Christian ministers of today makes me hang down my head in shame and sorrow.  John was filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb (Lk 1:15); but the modern prophets communicate with the spirits of men who have gone to the tomb.  The Word of God came to him (Lk 3:2); but many of their revelations contradict the written Word of God.  He was a desert-dweller, dead to the lust for popularity (Mt 3:1); but they are city-lovers, hunting for recognition and lusting limelight.  John was a voice from God (Jn 1 :23); but the modern preachers are an echo of someone of similar brand.  He did not seek pulpits but people sought him and...
Read more