This is the third of four articles on what it means to glorify God. In this article, we will focus on glorifying God with our knowledge. Depending on who you ask, the sum of humanity’s knowledge has increased dramatically over the last century.  Whereas consensus largely agreed that human knowledge doubled once every century, now estimates generally estimate this is happening every 12-18 months.  What does this mean for followers of Christ?  What is knowledge?

In the first three verses of I Corinthians 8, Paul lays out a definition of true knowledge.

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. ² If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. (I Corinthians 8:1-3) 

 

In the minds of the Corinthians, being spiritual was equated with having knowledge. It would have been natural for Greeks to appeal to knowledge, as philosophy was a significant part of Greek culture. However, Paul wants to make it clear that Christianity is not limited to what one knows, it is focused primarily on who one knows. One of the first things we are told is that true knowledge is humble, aware of its limitations.  William Kay writes, “Knowledge is proud that it has learnt so much.  Wisdom is humble that it knows no more.” Furthermore, out of this humility is born a focus on others. Whereas the world views knowledge as a means of self-advancement, a Christian understanding of knowledge considers how the knowledge we gain might be used to build up those around us. Finally, we see that true knowledge is dependent on God. We know God only because of God’s self-disclosure. It is true that creation speaks to the existence of a creator, but the nature and disposition of that creator is unknown to us apart from God’s willingness to reveal it.  Furthermore, what we know about God does not save us.  It is God’s knowledge of us that saves us. Paul writes later in this epistle, ^“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (I Corinthians 13:12) Even as Christians, we know God in part. Do we know enough about God to have a saving relationship with Him? Absolutely. Yet even as we exist here in earth knowing God in part, God fully knows us. That is the source of our salvation.

This brings us to the practical issue at hand, the reason why Paul has embarked on this train of thought.

⁴ Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” ⁵ For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— ⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

If you go to visit the ruins of an ancient temple today, there are often restaurants close by ready to profit off the influx of tourists. In the Corinthians Christians’ day, the temples themselves were the restaurants. It makes sense, as something has to be done with the meat from all of the sacrifices. It was not uncommon for the meat from pagan temples to make its way to the market. What should a Christian do? Is it idolatrous to partake of meat that was sacrificed to a pagan deity? Paul instructs the Corinthians to rely on their knowledge that such deities do not exist. It is not an act of worship to partake of food offered to a deity that you know is not real. The central truth for Christians remains, ^“ Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (I Corinthians 8:6) If we know that the pagan gods are not real, and that there is one true God, the Father, then where our meat came from is of no concern. This is how Paul challenges his readers to view the situation in terms of their personal conviction, but things are not always about us.

What about new believers, for whom perception may still be reality? While Paul is clear about the truth of their being only one God, the God of Israel, he insists we consider not just our own personal theological convictions, but also the needs of others. In other words, our decision-making process is not limited to what we know but must also include care and concern for those around us.

⁷ However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸ Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. ⁹ But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰ For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? ¹¹ And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. ¹² Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (I Corinthians 8:1-13)

 

The real issue is not even whether the other gods exist, the real issue is whether we have knowledge of God’s heart. If we truly know the heart of God, we know that God focuses on others as part of His very nature. God created not to address a need of His own, but to share His goodness with others. We need look no further than the cross to see the depth and intensity of God’s care and concern for those He created. Some in Corinth would not abstain from meat to benefit their brothers or sisters in Christ. No doubt they felt to do so was unnecessary, because everyone knows (or should know) that the pagan gods the meat was sacrificed to do not exist. But they fail to reckon with the fact that God sacrificed His own Son for these people. All our “rights” should be filtered through the lens of Christ. It is not enough to know something is permissible, we must also ask is it harmful to those around us? Elsewhere Paul enjoins the believers in Philippi to:

^“5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7) 

So, we adopt the attitude of Christ, refusing to stand on our rights and privileges, using what we know as an excuse to do things that might spiritually harm those around us. More than that, we do so with the knowledge that how we treat our brothers and sisters is tantamount to treating Jesus the exact same way. Jesus himself says in the gospel:  

 

            ⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ (Matthew 25:41-45)

And when Paul, formerly known as Saul, is found to be persecuting Christians he hears the voice of Jesus ask, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)

Richard Hays writes, “Every congregation will profit from looking at themselves in the mirror of I Corinthians 8 and asking whether there are ways in which they are using knowledge as a weapon rather than as an instrument of love.” After all, knowledge is not something we utilize to get our own way, rather it is a tool we use to build up those around us. This is how we glorify God. In the words of Paul, “This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. ² If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”

How do we glorify God with what we know? First, we realize that no matter how much we know there is still so much left to learn, and that is ok. After all, it is God’s knowledge of us that truly saves, not our knowledge of Him. Second, we view knowledge as something to be used for the building of the community, not our own personal advancement. Finally, we recognize that all knowledge is rooted in God. Knowledge of God’s heart for others sets the tone for how we view the world around us. May we always glory in the knowledge of the God who has revealed Himself to us in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ!

-Justin Simmons lives in Glenmora, LA and is the preacher at the Glenmora Church of Christ.