"Things sacrificed unto idols"!

During the days of the Apostles the heathen temples contained public cafeterias where one could eat food that had been offered to the demon-gods.

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. (I Corinthians 8:4)

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; (I Corinthians 8:10)

We have been in India and have seen the idols placed along the river banks. We know very little about the idols of India. We are much more familiar with the idols of Western civilization. So we will discuss the various idols of the Western world.

To eat something is to incorporate it into one's personality so that it becomes part of him. The following areas of personality and behavior are part of the personality and behavior of numerous people of Western culture. Yet they often are harmful and actually are, in many instances, part of the demon world.

The believers have been commanded to use their time wisely because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). To participate in the areas of behavior we are discussing is often a waste of the believer's time—time that should be spent in seeking and serving the Lord.

This list of idols is not intended to be in order of importance.

Food Sacrificed to Idols

Violence. Violence is one of the chief gods of our day. A great portion of television programming is devoted to the present fighting among nations, murder, robbery, and rape in the large cities, and television dramas with violence as their theme. Murder and fighting are before us constantly.

Stress is placed upon carrying a gun for self-defense, or learning different forms of fighting so that the individual can protect himself. Some Christian people train their sons in various forms of self-defense. It may be better for the child to teach him to trust in the Lord than how to injure an opponent. Why should we teach our children to be violent when this is not the way of the Lord?

In the United States, as well as in some other countries, the violent man is glorified. He is the masculine hero who carries a machine gun in each hand or is expert in karate. He is not God's hero.

God's Hero is the Lord Jesus Christ. Of all men who have lived on the earth the Lord Jesus was the strongest in character, the most courageous. We should imitate Him in every aspect of His Person, not the reckless, wild, lustful adamic man of violence.

Whoever admires and seeks to imitate the violent adamic man is eating food offered to idols. The demons are gratified when human beings injure and kill each other.

Those who live by violence shall die by violence.

God's true saints are not violent people and they do not admire or practice violence.

To be continued.