what meat shouldn't I take?

I'm not sure where you are going with this thread, but as far as meat to the idols, Paul was talking about real meat offered to real idols. You have to keep the context of the Scriptures at the forefront of your mind.

As far as meat, Paul said:

Romans 14:14, "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

So there is no meat that is unclean, therefore unlawful for a Christian to eat. Remember, Paul was laying the foundations for Christianity in this letter.

Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 6:13, "Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body." Again, he was providing instruction.

I'm not sure how you made the jump from meat offered to idols to being a member of a motorcycle club. Scriptures clearly teach that we are to worship only the Lord. We can make anything an idol, including our family, job, TV, church, etc.

Can you provide some additional information on what you are looking ofr?

 

Oh wow. That's gonna take some thought. Good question!

For a start anything that would involve addictions (ex. gambling) or anything involving disrespect of others

 

Okay, I got it.

Here is a broad brush stroke: avoid anything that takes your focus from the Lord. Of course, I must stress a balance is required.

Specifics? Anything God calls sin. I.e., drunkeness, murder, fornication, adultery, and lust just to name a few.

 

oh, and the passage on meat being offered to idols is referring to things which we CAN partake in without violating Scripture.

So I don't think that we can include those things which are obviously sin. It was not a sin for those early Christians to eat meat that had been offered to idols. They were basically told to not ask....BUT if it was told to them that this meat had been offered to an idol, THEN they were to refrain for the sake of the consciences of those people watching them. They were to uphold a higher standard for the sake of other people.

 

well stated bapmom

My rule about things of modern life that I should or shouldn't be partaking in is to think about what God will think when he sees me doing them. That gets me everytime. It's kind of like those bracelets youth had a few years ago that were WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). It works.

 

I feel you shouldn't worry about the college you're going to unless they require something from you that would make your unChirst like.

Being around non-believers is something that you will have to deal with each and every day. As long as your faith is strong enough, and being around them don't bring you to do things that you wouldn't otherwise do, I wouldn't see a problem with it.

An example from my life.. I don't go out to the bars every week, however I do go out from time to time to meet friends and dance. I have a friend that is a total non-believer, and I only see him generaly when he is out at the bar.

We have had many discussion, and he is starting to ask the "right" questions. I believe over time, with God's help his eyes will be opened.

My point is, if I looked at going out to the bar once in a while as a "bad" thing, and didn't I am not sure we would have had the talks.

Now, if I started going out every week, every day, or it became an interfere with me and God, then it becomes a bad thing.

But under this example, ANYTHING can become a bad thing. Like someone else mentioned before, Work, Family, Life... It doesn't have to "BE" bad for it to become bad.

Jamie

 

Maybe God put you at a school for that reason!!!!!!

Never turn your back on a non-believer. They need us most.

 

It's never right to do wrong to do right. When in doubt....don't.
Phi 4:8,9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

Just pray about it and let the Lord lead you. He'll tell you where to go as long as your open to listening.

 

God can turn the bad into good so I will expect to see some of this superior quality art coming the Christian way from a new source, think of the possibilities!

 

It means just that. Don't eat food offerred to idols. Food that you buy in the secular market typically doesn't qualify as being offerred to idols.

If you travel to other parts of the world (yes, believe it or not, there are other cultures besides American culture), such as India, you might happen upon food that is given as a offering to gods, and then served to guests. In this situation, a person should refrain from consuming food that one knows has been offerred to an idol.

 

Our Pastor showed us the painting today from a famous Godly artist Holman Hunt "The Light of the World" told us a story of how someone said to him there was no latch on the door, he said, "the latch was on the inside" Looked the picture up and came across a few different interpretations, anyway it's thought provoking art, thought I'd share it with you.

http://www.rejesus.co.uk/expressions/faces_jesus/gallery/hunt.html

http://www.etss.edu/hts/hts3/info17.htm

 

One should already know what things bother the consciences of those with whom he worships. Love isn't concerned with self at all, so as long as one follows after charity he should be in good shape.

 

I can't believe you people are missing what Paul said. He said it is OK TO EAT FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS. He also said, that if it OFFENDS A BROTHER who has a WEAK CONSCIENCE in this area, then refrain while that brother is around.

Please don't transform this law of consideration of a brother's feelings into a law against eating food offered to idols!

FOR WE KNOW THAT IDOLS ARE NOTHING . . .