QUESTION
Pastor Gavin,
As a Christian, is there
anything bad if I eat the food of a Muslim or other religion during their time
of celebration, for example eating Salah food?
M. F.
Warri
ANSWER
As believers you must
bear in mind that being a Christian does not and should not make you an enemy
to any man irrespective of the man's religion. Besides, LOVE for all men is a
cardinal virtue of our Faith. And this love transcends religion.
And love is expressed
not only in giving but also in receiving. Thus, you receive from those you
really love.
Hence, if you claim to
love someone but reject the food that the person gives to you because of his
religious affiliation, it is considered that you don't love the person in the
first place. So, how can you win such a person to the Christian faith? For the
person will feel rejected by you for not receiving from him.
One of the training most
Christian missionaries are given is that they should accept and receive the
food that their hosts give to them, even if they are idol worshipers.
Receiving such, denote that they love their hosts, and can in turn preach to
them.
What the scripture
clearly spoke against is FOOD THAT ARE SACRIFICED TO IDOL. Not because
it can have any effect on us or on our faith. But it is simply because of
others that are not believers and also because of those who are not mature in
the faith.
“But if any man say unto
you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed
it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness
thereof:” 1 Corinthian 10:28
Hence, we are not
expected to accept and eat foods that are sacrificed to any idols or gods,
because of the people around who would think that we are associating with their
gods and that we approve of their worship or sacrifice.
But if it is not
sacrificed to any idols or gods, you are free to receive such foods from Muslim
or any idol worshipper.
As for the Muslim
celebration called Salah, I don't know if they actually sacrifice the Salah
food to their gods. If they do, I won't advise you to eat. It is better to
respectfully reject the food.
But if you are in a
situation whereby you can't reject the food, eating it will not have any effect
on your faith, except you are not spiritually mature.
But avoid the error of
collecting the food and throwing it away behind closed doors. That is wickedness
and hypocrisy. If you don't want to eat it, say it to the person rather than
receiving the food and discarding it behind closed doors.
For Further Reading,
Study The Following Scriptures
1 Corinthians 8:4-13.
4 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.
5 For though
there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods
many, and lords many,)
6 But to us
there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and
one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 Howbeit
there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol
unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience
being weak is defiled.
8 But meat
commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither,
if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But take
heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them
that are weak.
10 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;
11 And
through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when
ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against
Christ.
13
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the
world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
1 Corinthians 10:19-33
19 What say I
then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to
idols is any thing?
20 But I
say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils,
and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot
drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the
Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we
provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All
things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are
lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no
man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience
sake:
26 For the
earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of
them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever
is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if
any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his
sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and
the fulness thereof:
29
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty
judged of another man's conscience?
30 For if I
by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give
thanks?
31 Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none
offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I
please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of
many, that they may be saved.
