1 Corinthians 10:14-22
About the Text
(14) What was idolatry like in Corinth? The pagans in the city of Corinth fashioned figures mostly out of stone, to which they would offer food as part of a religious ritual. The remains of such statues and the temples that housed them, are still in existence today. They are found in regions that formerly belonged to the ancient Roman empire. The pagan religions at the time 1st Corinthian was written were a mixed bag. There were emperor worship, Roman/Greek deities such as Zeus, Egyptian cults, and astrology and magic, which became popular.
(16) What does the cup and bread refer to? The Lord's Supper, that Christian celebration using bread and wine to remember the story of Jesus Christ by.
(16) Why does it mean that the Lord's Supper is a "participation" in the blood and body of Christ? The answer is found in the original Greek language. The word "participation" is a translation of the Greek word, "koinonia." "Koinonia" is best translated "fellowship," where it usually is in most other occurrences in the New Testament. What this verse means, in other words, is that when Christian celebrate the Lord's Supper, they form a close, common bond between themselves. That is why Paul writes on in verse 17, "Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf."
(20) In what way were these pagan religious sacrifices offered to demons? Apparently, these ancient religious practices actually evoked supernatural powers. They were popular, even among some of the Corinthian Christians. But Paul warns that these powers were not of God. These Christians needed to know that they weren't performing some harmless ritual with a statue, but rather they were playing with dangerous demonic powers.
Today, many non-Christian religious practices are becoming popular. In San Francisco alone, their are over six hundred cults, many of them tracing their roots to the same ancient pagan religions during Paul's day. There is also the New Age Movement, with its channeling, crystals, and mystical meditation practices. There are also the deceptively "harmless" toys like Ouija boards and tarot cards. The practice of the occult has also crept into entertainment such as some rock concerts, magic shows, and the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. Also, since the 1700's, the Masons and other "lodge" movements and secret societies became popular, even among some Christians. The message of God for today is that Christians must discerning in their activities, being careful not to play with demonic powers that masquerade as "harmless" fun. Such participation, says verse 22, will arouse the anger of God.
Insights
The Bottom Line
quot;Flee from idolatry." (1 Cor. 10:14) Jesus Christ paid the enormous price of death on a cross in order to win us salvation. All who believe in Him, regardless of our sinfulness, will receive deliverance from the world's darkness. Therefore, Christians must not return to those dark forces. Although it seems that horoscopes and psychic hot-lines are harmless entertainment, they are in reality tapping into demonic powers. Even if a Christian says "I don't really believe in it. I just do it for fun," his curiosity in those practices could reveal in him a budding belief in those powers. Christians have no place calling on spiritists (those who hold seances), consulting tarot cards, playing with Ouiji boards, rubbing the belly of a Buddha for good luck, or participating in the New Age movement. Of course, we should not be so superstitious as to avoid having a tourist's picture taken in front of Japan's giant Buddha. It's the participation in the ritual itself - that's the problem. When you call upon any supernatural powers other than Jesus, you fall dangerously into idolatry.