Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31, TLV

To the Glory of God.  “… whether we eat or drink …”  Whether we eat or drink, what? Context is so important. Let’s check it out.

If an unbeliever invites you over and you want to go, eat whatever is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. (vs. 27, TLV)

But if anyone says to you, “This is from an idol sacrifice,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—not your own conscience, I mean, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? (vss. 28-29, TLV)

What is eaten and/or imbibed has little to do with what the food is and more about whether or not the food was offered to idols. We know the power and Name of Jesus overcomes any demon (vs. 20), but eating the declared pagan sacrifice will confuse our loyalties to our host. Our rejection of the food confirms our loyalty to our Father, the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and His Son Yeshua.

This doesn’t have to do with whether or not to eat pork or shellfish.

“Everything is permitted”—but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permitted”—but not everything builds up. (vs. 23, TLV)

When GOD gave the dietary and hygiene laws to the Jewish people, they weren’t random tests of faith — to see if the Children of Israel would obey Him. They were “living instructions” to keep them healthy.

He said, “If you diligently listen to the voice of ADONAI [the LORD] your God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His mitzvot, and keep all His decrees, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians. For I am ADONAI [the LORD] who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26, TLV)

The science behind GOD’s dietary and hygiene laws were light years ahead of the time. Science and dieticians are only beginning to catch up with the wisdom of our Creator’s instructions.

Having said that, we are not under the penalty — spiritually — for those laws. Physically, well that may be another thing.

Hubby and I have kept Biblically kosher — not the complex rabbinical laws like mixing dairy with meat — for about 25 years. So, there are certain animals, fish, and game that we do not eat. We do not eat blood. It’s pretty straight forward.

However, when we choose to dine with unbelievers or brothers and sisters who do not keep kosher, and all that is served is not kosher, we eat it or eat around the non-kosher parts depending upon the situation. (Since I haven’t eaten these foods for so long my tummy usually gives me trouble later). This doesn’t happen often as most folks ask if there are any dietary restrictions. We bless the LORD for our food and bless our hosts for sharing their meal with us. This gives honor to GOD and opens the door for discussions.

The point? The Jewish followers of Jesus were venturing out into the pagan world. Some of the customs and practices were alarming to how they were raised as followers of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These men and women required practical guidelines and instructions in how to navigate these unknown waters. The biggest issue was eating the foods offered to idols, not because they were to be afraid of idols, but to make a stand on behalf of the unbeliever — to demonstrate that sacrificing to idols was wrong. There was and is only One true GOD.

So, what?

So, what does this have  to do with us? We should honor the LORD in all we do. When we share/witness to others we pay attention to where they are spiritually. Are they tied up in demonic activities, we may have to make a stand on certain issues. We just need to be prepared to say why — know what the word says about it. Not in judgment, but in love and logic to the glory of the Father.

Actually, everything we do should be to the glory of GOD, we just need instructions from time to time. Just like the believers in Corinth.