This will be the last post in this passage as we are looking at Paul’s warning for the Corinthians. this passage usually carries with the the present day experience of communion for the modern church in my mind, and that may be directing my thoughts incorrectly. You see, the communion of the Lord in the first century was a meal, a full fledged meal, somewhat like a pot luck in my mind. Food items and wine were brought together to a central home where believers gathered to partake in a meal. The Lord’s supper was not a ceremony as I experience in a modern church, where all are solemn, and the congregation waits for a chip or wafer, and a little cup of grape juice or wine. This is foreign to the record I read in the New Testament.

Against this backdrop, let’s consider Paul’s concern in this passage.

First, Paul identifies believers with Christ through the supper, the intake of a meal. Secondly, Paul identifies Israel with demons through the intake of a meal.

Then Paul seeks to provide a correction to the audiences possible thought that food or demons are the issue of discussion. The food isn’t the issue. The demons aren’t even the issue.

Verse 20, Paul seeks to correct any misunderstandings and focuses into the issue he is warning them about. It is the believers actions that are the topic of concern. Paul speaks of pagans offering up to a demon, and joining in this action is the problem. Paul isn’t concerned about what demon, or how many demons, or the circumstances behind the food that is being up, but that believers are joining these practices. That believers are influenced by the pagan way of worship, by pagan beliefs during worship.

A believers devotion to God is being tested here, and if a Christian chooses to worship as the pagans do, the believers worship does not necessarily change the object of the pagans worship into the true God. It simply shows the believer as having left behind the true God to join in with those who do not know God.

We leave Him for a shared experience with pagans, and this is the action that provokes God to jealousy. How audacious and chilling some of our actions may appear from God’s point of view!

May we conform to the true worship and pull away from the worship that is “popular”, that is accepted by all, that is common and repetitive.

May the Lord continue to teach us.

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