Dining with demons. Participating with the demonic. Should the Christian do such a thing? Not at all.
Paul is returning back to the issue of meat sacrificed to idols. In this segment, he is addressing a very specific connection – the idolatry of the meat markets and eating there. This is seen more visibly in the Greek where Paul uses the definite article – THE. It is not just the meal at someone’s house, it is the THE meat market at the pagan temple. It is the pagan, idolatrous, demonic restaurant.
Paul talks about how the eating of the bread and wine at communion is participating in the body and blood of Christ. In the same way, eating the food given to idols is a participation with demons.
“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 altar? 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?” (1 Cor 10:14-22).
Paul wants them to know that idols are nothingness. But there is something to be said of uniting and associating with the demonic that are around the idols.
Therefore Paul encourages them to flee from idolatry. Historically, idolatry was Israel’s Achilles heel.
“Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?” (v. 22)
We do not desire to anger the Lord. Nor participate in demons.
But now, how does this reconcile with what he said earlier? That food is nothing, we are free to eat free from a defiling our conscience, and food does not draw us nearer to Christ?
The difference is the location and association. If you buy meat at the market, it may or may not be sacrificed to idols. You don’t need to stress about it, you are free.
But, when you are going to the pagan temple where the food is specifically designated for idolatrous worship to demonic deities, it is clear. You are participating in religious ceremonies dedicated to false gods.
So meat sold in the market that you don’t know it’s origins? Go ahead and eat.
Meat at someone’s house that may or may not be dedicated to demons? It depends. You are free, but if it causes someone to stumble through its association, don’t eat it.
Meat at THE temple that is clearly dedicated to idols and demons? Don’t.
It may seem like there are few modern parallels in Western culture where, while idolatry is abundant, it is less associated with idols. But there are matters where these principles apply.
Earlier this week a video came out showing people in Mamadani’s office. They were all joining him in the Islamic style of prayer to honor Ramadan.
People, this is not OK.
Do not associate with things that are not of Christ for the sake of false honor and everyone getting along.
Read your Bible and you will see that such practice is modern Christianity, not Biblical.