Perceptions

What we do often says something about who we are, even when who we are is not what we do.

"Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. - 1 Corinthians 8:8-13

In today's reading from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, we discover the consequences of mimicry.

The topic is eating the food sacrificed to idols, a topic that may seem strange to us.  There is no real modern day equivalent.  But the message is still valid for us today.

He tells them that the food offered to gods that are not real, since there is only one God, will not harm them.  It is safe to eat.

But that doesn't mean he wants them to eat it.

He will leave it up to them to decide, but he wants them to know people will see what they do and may not understand that it is not what it appears.

Now most of us might not concern ourselves with what other people think.  Don't do as I do, do as I say, right?  But that can lead to assumptions about us, can't it?

What a pain that is!

In my grandson's high school, and in schools across the land, students are staging a 17 minute walkout in honor of the 17 people killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  The walkout is supposed to call attention to the violence in the schools, but reports in the media tell us that students are split over the event.

Some think walking out is just about supporting the victims of violence, while others are concerned about the message they are sending, since the event is linked to others with specific agendas.

When we all watch the students walk out on March 14th, what will we see?

Will we see students protesting against gun violence, wanting more security in schools,  or something else?

I think Paul's message will be loud and clear.  Perceptions of what you do will be out of your control.

Polarization leads to division, but it is also great for ratings, and it sells.  The media love it when we are at odds, because everyone is charged up and paying attention, letting emotions reign supreme.

We have become addicted to social media rants, and I wonder what Paul would say about that.

In a way, we are still consuming sacrifices to idols, only today, the idols are alive and active, even if they aren't real.

So, what do we do?  Do we eat the meat and join the march, or do we fast?

Whatever we do, someone will see it as a statement. 

More to come...