Flee the actual idols that are there in Corinth; the physical things to which you give your devotion, Paul says. But also strive to be free from the heart that desires them—the heart that wants to keep hold of the things that the world offers—which are, in fact, things that we can control. He then places the decision to do so in their hands, having laid out for them the evidence of his exhortation. “The cup of blessing was drunk as often as wine was drunk at a meal.” (Sacra Pagina, Vol. 7, R.F. Collins, 379) 

This cup, though, was not for any one person’s edification but was a reminder that all believers have died in Christ. The same is true for the bread that the Corinthians eat. They are not merely food and drink consumed to satiate a physical desire but, in fact, carry spiritual significance. This may or may not be a reference to the practice of communion, but it at least indicates that the Corinthians were to consider meals together as holy—not intended to fill the belly but the soul—to bring them together as one into the body of Christ. In them, there is no place for conspicuous consumption. To state this another way, the eater must never eat with the intention of separating himself or herself from fellow Christians; we must always have each other in mind. 

Paul turns the Corinthian’s attention back to Israel as he did in the beginning of the chapter—particularly to sacrificial system that is practiced in temples. Whether the sacrifice is made to the LORD, to Zeus, or to Baal, there are certain things that these sacred acts have in common, and one of them is that the priests performing the rituals on behalf of the laity take a portion of the sacrifice for themselves. This practice should be taken as proof that the person is a priest and associates that person with the one to whom the sacrifice is being offered. So in eating food that has been sacrificed to idols, the Corinthians in question are participants, indirectly, at the idol’s altar. To them, this may be merely a physical act or it may be intended to demonstrate their social standing, but considering what Paul was just written in verses 14-22, the apostle would say that this meal was spiritually significant and—thus—dangerous because it opens the door to unwanted and distracting spiritual influences. 

These idols have no power to compel, but they—through their worshippers primarily (remember the influence of Moab’s prostitutes on Israel’s men)—can influence and distract Christians from their calling to be like Christ Jesus. They have no power, so it is permissible, but it can still distract, so it isn’t beneficial. And in verse twenty-four Paul tells us how to determine what we do in public and where and what we eat and drink: If our act might hinder another person’s journey to righteousness, it’s best we ignore Nike and don’t do it. Fortunately, Paul provides the Corinthians with a detailed example:

We are not our own, and we and our loved ones must not be our only concern. The Christianity practiced today in our bit of the world has strayed so very far from Paul’s teaching here that it should make us pause. Our Christianity most often focuses on the end of things; “I need to be right with God so that I can go to heaven.” We each focus our faith—and the fruits of our faith—on ourselves. If this had been Paul’s perspective he would have told the Corinthians that if other people—Christian or otherwise—are negatively influenced by their choice to eat meat sacrificed to idols and gods, those other people just need to grow up. But that is not what Paul teaches here. 

Altering our behavior is not for our sakes but for the sake of others. Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial to other people or builds up the body. I’ve preached this before, and the message is usually met with sound of silence. I don’t mean to say that Paul’s teaching here in chapter ten is hard to understand but that it is hard to accept when we consider the state of modern Christianity and its focus on the hereafter and each of us working to get into heaven as opposed to helping others mature in righteousness in the here and now. Paul’s closing remarks in chapter ten bear repeating:

And in 11:1 Paul completes his exhortation, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.”