I enjoy grilling a steak. In fact, I enjoy grilling in general. During Spring, Summer, and Fall the aroma of searing meat frequently fills my backyard. So when I read the apostle Paul’s lengthy admonition in I Corinthians 8, I always pause and ruminate. How does God, through Paul, expect me to incorporate these words into my daily walk as a Christian? Growing up in West Texas whenever preachers reached for this text, they quickly pointed out that Paul was speaking about something deeper, something richer, something more than a prohibition on eating meat. No preacher wished to trample on the hallowed ground of Texas BBQ. We normally applied this passage to interpersonal relations within the context of body-life. How do I get along with my brothers and sisters? This is an appropriate use of the passage; however, might we apply this passage to our Christian witness in the public square?
During recent weeks, our nation has increasingly examined the state of race relations, scrutinizing certain cultural icons. Proponents of Black Lives Matter, and other like organizations have renewed calls to remove statues of confederate soldiers and leaders, as well as some brand logos. Daily, my Facebook feed fills up with comments decrying these “attacks” on their cultural heritage. At some point in their post, they normally ask, “Where will this stop?” I wonder. I wonder if this is an appropriate time to apply I Corinthians 8 to my actions in the public square? Could God, again through Paul, be encouraging me to respond differently to these times?
My first-century brothers and sisters faced a rather difficult issue, can I eat the meat offered in the local market? As I understand, the ancient Greco-Roman practice was to offer a sacrifice at the local temple. Then the temple authorities would sell the meat to a vendor in the local market, who would then sell it on to their customers. Consequently, one never really knew the source of the meat, rancher, or temple priest? Some early Christians, coming out of a pagan background, struggled with the possibility of eating meat offered to idols. In I Corinthians 8:4-8, Paul clearly shows that the idols have no real existence and consequently no effect, spiritual or otherwise, on the meat. Evidently, Paul felt no compunction about sitting down to a good meal, complete with some sort of meat. But under the unction of the Holy Spirit, Paul goes on to lay a significant challenge before us. In verses nine through thirteen, he tells us to consider our weaker brothers and sisters more important than eating meat. We have the right to eat meat, but love compels us to take a different course. Paul gladly gives up his rights in order to secure the fellowship of believers. Normally, we have applied this passage to a variety of interior body issues; one cup or multiple cups, weekly or monthly communion, and a variety of other disputes. But, what if we look outside our walls into the greater community and applied this passage to how we relate to others in and out of the faith community as we reexamine race relations.
How might I be gracious when dealing with someone raising an issue that I never considered offensive? There are things that never give me pause, products emblazoned with seemingly benign, icons I consider non-threatening, which may daily wound my fellow citizens and believers. I might feel the urge to argue that I have every right to hold on to them. In fact, our Bill of Rights might very well provide me a basis for such an argument; but, what about a Pauline approach, one which surrenders rights for a higher calling. Instead of insisting on my rights, what if I laid them aside for a more unified society? In our society, we regularly clamor for our rights. We emblazon our vehicles with bumper stickers that read, “Come and Take It,” emphasizing our willingness to fight for our rights. Paul calls us to a more pacific approach, one that considers others as more important than our personal rights. We might find ourselves listening, empathizing, and considering more frequently. We might also find ourselves defending, moralizing, and ranting less frequently. For those of us who claim Christ as our model and master, we must think carefully about defending our rights. After all, New Testament authors frequently refer to themselves as slaves. This willingness to consider others first might be the salve our nation needs as it seeks to heal the open wounds of racism and prejudice.
When engaging in the on-going conversation concerning monuments and other social icons, we ought to consider what our fellow citizens see and feel. Do they incur moral and spiritual injury through my rights? I may have a “right,” but does my exercising that “right” elide injury to the corporate body? As we sort through these contentious issues, we must tenderly seek a path that leads to unity and healing. As men and women of color, my fellow citizens and often my brothers and sisters in Christ, navigate our society they must confront images and icons that remind them not only of the darker portions of our past but also, of the daily slights and injuries inflicted upon them in support of my rights. Our intransigence in dealing with these wounds reopens them daily and greatly increases the rifts that so sorely vex our society. All citizens deserve the right to transact the daily activities of life with their spirits intact and uninjured. In the first century, Paul encouraged kindness in interpersonal relations.
What could be more kind than setting aside my freedoms in order to ease the passage of others through our society? Two hundred and forty-four years ago we embarked upon a grand experiment, one, which theorized that a disparate group of people might come together, and form a working country. During the ensuing two centuries, we’ve often struggled with our corporate identity. What does it mean to be an American? What does right look like in our culture? Now we must expand our vision to include more of our citizenry, understanding that past actions, standards of behavior, no longer serve the corporate good. Insisting on my rights, especially when those rights demean my fellow citizens, serves no useful purpose and does not reflect well upon the Lord. Instead, let us embrace a kinder approach that puts other’s needs ahead of my own. Perhaps it is time lay aside meat for a more just nation.
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