1 Corinthians 8 begins the climatic and central essay of the whole letter about how we relate to the culture. If you think it difficult to live as a Christian in modern America consider that if you went to buy meat in ancient Corinth, or any other Gentile city for that matter, chances are that it would have been sacrificed in a pagan worship service to some idol before you found it in the marketplace. Paul notes that you have a right to eat the meat, especially since idols are nothing, but that he refrains from eating meat when there might be a new believer present who had just been saved from a life of idol worship and who still feels that the meat has been offered to idols. This has been used as an excuse for letting people with strong consciences to get their way but it was intended to protect those with a weak conscience, often new believers, from being led astray. One modern example is drinking alcohol. You can feel free to drink in front of those with a strong conscience who say that it is always wrong to do so but you should not drink in front of a new believer who has just been saved from a slavery to alcoholic drink. Thus with more rights come more responsibilities and to more knowledge one should add love.
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