All food is good; it is created by God for human consumption (Genesis 9:1-3).  However, in the Ephesian church, some believers objected to eating certain kinds of produce … but for different reasons.  Some from a Jewish background had never eaten food which God prohibited to His people for public health reasons.  The Apostle Peter had the same problem until the Lord told him that those rules, in Leviticus 11:1-47, no longer applied to believers in Jesus (Acts 10:9-16).  Others, from a pagan background, did not want to eat food which had been offered to idols.  For some, it became not only an issue of personal conscience, but also divided people from each other within the churches with different groups thinking that their approach was the more spiritual.  So the Apostle Paul clarified that it was important to respect the conscience of people who trusted Jesus and not disturb their faith by forcing people to act against their conscience (1 Corinthians 10:23-33).

But that was what some false teachers wanted to do – defining the holiness of God’s people by what they did or did not eat (1 Timothy 4:1-3).  Their controlling approach was turning churches into cults.  Those tensions were quite common in the Early Church but were so divisive, a hinderance to gospel proclamation and to incorporating the newly converted.  Paul knew it was important for Timothy to teach that faith in Christ did not depend upon what they ate, but upon their relationship with the Lord Jesus according to the gospel (Colossians 2:16-17).

Everything that God has made is good and edible food should not be rejected if it is received with gratitude.  Everything is made holy to the Lord when the believer accepts what the Scripture says about the kind, good and generous character of the Lord, and His promise to provide all that we need (Philippians 4:19).  Instead of being self-important because we deny ourselves godly blessings, or criticise others who receive them (Romans 14:19-21), we are to respect the conscience of other believers and honour the Lord because He has given us all things for our blessing.

One of the devil’s tactics is to cast a shadow over the good things which God has made.  As in the Garden of Eden, he tempts us to think that God is withholding the best.  Religion says that we please God by what we do or do not do; but the Bible puts our relationship with Christ at the heart of our faith.  Unless Scripture commands, we should not elevate our personal preferences to be divine commands for others.  Holy living does not start with what we do, but with what Christ has done for us.  It was that liberty that the Early Church needed to learn, and perhaps we need that instruction too.  Let us give thanks for everything that comes, because God’s gracious hand is behind it (Colossians 3:17).