I was recently introduced to the biblical "contradiction" of the Holy Spirit putting the requirements of abstaining from foods sacrificed to idols etc. on new believers in Acts 15:28-29 and the other portions of scripture that speak about how a Christian can and should eat things sacrificed to idols (sold in the market place; 1 Cor. 10:25; and 1 Cor. 8, etc.).
Any thoughts???
Thanks,
Matthew

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Matthew Scheffer
Christ The Redeemer (non-denominational)
http://www.christredeemer.com
Spokane, WA

(Act 15:28) For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

(Act 15:29) That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.


(1Co 10:19) What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

(1Co 10:20) But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

(1Co 10:21) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

(1Co 10:22) Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

(1Co 10:23) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

(1Co 10:24) Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

(1Co 10:25) Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

(1Co 10:26) For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

(1Co 10:27) If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

(1Co 10:28) But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:




I don't see the contradiction.

We are not to go eat at the temples of idols on purpose. If something is set before us we can eat it knowing that there is only one God while we give thanks to God for the meat. But if it is revealed that the meat was sacrificed to an idol we are not to eat.

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R. Martin Snyder (Moderator)

1689er
Harmony Baptist Church (Member)
PuritanCovenanter MSN Blog
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"Our object should not be to have scripture on our side but to be on the side of scripture; and however dear any sentiment may have become by being long entertained, so soon as it is seen to be contrary to the Bible, we must be prepared to abandon it without hesitation."
William Symington

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It seems we can eat it even if we know, as long as it doesn't bother our cosnciences or is associated with false belief. It is just food. It is not the eating that is a problem but those extra things that go along with the eating. Do away with the paganism and enjoy the meal! If a stumbling brother is near, however, maybe order another dish!

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Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

The four prohibitions of the Synod of Jerusalem all have to do with Gentile Idol-Worship. The prohibition of fornication is moral, the other three (meat not handled in a way consistent with OT practice, i.e., not properly drained of blood, or strangled, and sacrificed to Idols) were temporary prohibitions having to do with Jewish sensibilities, and the break the gentiles were to make with their former lives. In other words, those dietary restrictions decreed by the Synod were all related to Idol-Worship. The prohibition of fornication, which is moral and abiding, was also given in that context, that of idol worship. The fourfold decree then amounts to telling the Gentiles to quit their former ways of worship as members of the Christian Church. While those dietary restrictions were not of themselves to continue in force, the idol worship, and practices related to it, were to stop.

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Rev. Todd Ruddell
Pastor, Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCGA)
Wylie, TX
www.christcovenantreformedpc.org

Our best marks can contribute nothing to our justification, ...that is proper to faith. Faith cannot lodge in the soul alone, and without other graces; yet faith alone justifies before God.--G. Gillespie

Well Said Rev. Todd.

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Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church

Student of Theology
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
My Blog

The prohibition against eating blood (and things strangled which still have the blood in them) seems more than cultural, as it predates Moses. Read the first for verses of Gen. 9

So you have a situation where you can eat pork and shrimp, but you can't eat blood. Then under Moses some practices are prohibited that were originally OK, like not marrying your half sister or eating pork, and the prohibition against consuming blood is the same, as in Deut. 12:14-15

And then we have it in the NT as well.

When I was in South Africa I avoided some tasty Malay food when I thought Christians were around. The people I was with wouldn't eat it because it was Halal, i.e. meat prepared under a Muslim cleric. I didn't see the difference between eating that and eating something Kosher, and I thought the people were being inconsistant, but so as not to offend them I only ate the stuff when they weren't around. But blood seems not to fit into that category.

Food for thought (sorry, couldn't resist).

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Tim Vaughan, 48 years old, member PCA church but currently attending EV Free church. San Luis Obispo County, California.