About Food Offered to Idols
1Now {I will write} about meat that is sacrificed
2The person who thinks he knows something does not yet know anything like he should.
3But the person who loves God is known by God.
4So {this is what I say} about eating meat: We know that an idol
5It’s really not important if there are things called gods, in heaven or on earth. (And there are many {things that people call} “gods” and “lords.”)
6But for us there is only one God. He is our Father. All things came from him and we live for him. And there is only one Lord. He is Jesus Christ. All things were made through Jesus, and we also have life through him.
7But not all people know this. Some people have had the habit of worshiping idols
8But food will not make us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less {pleasing to God}. And eating does not make us better.
9But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom to eat anything may make those people who have doubts about what they can eat fall into sin.
10You understand that it’s alright to eat anything, so you can eat in an idol’s temple.
11So this weak brother or sister is ruined because of your better understanding. And Christ died for this person.
12When you sin against your brothers and sisters in Christ like this and you hurt them by causing them to do things they feel are wrong, then you are also sinning against Christ.
13So if the food I eat makes another believer fall into sin, then I will never eat meat again. I will stop eating meat, so that I will not make my brother or sister sin.