...in your answer to the question "is it bad to wear short shorts", you posted scripture from 1 Corinthians 8:9-10. However, when I read this passage, I interpret a different message. What I interpret is individual success or achievement within freedoms is wrong and dangerous because it becomes a barrier for the weak. It displaces others, thereby forcing the weak into poorer conditions. That being said, is this [passage] advocating that individual success should not be pursued, and institution or structures that allow this to happen should be opposed (capitalism). This is how I interpret the passage. Is this the right way to interpret the passage? If not, how do you know for sure that I am wrong?
For your reference, the "answer" that this question is referring to can be found here.
Firstly, I would suggest that you look into a Bible Commentary for more information about this passage. I will give the gist of it, but an in depth reading of this whole chapter would give better insight. So before you read on, please go here and read 1 Corinthians 8.
This passage is NOT talking about the idea of "the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer". Instead, this passage is talking about food and the sacrifice of food to idols. In the culture in which the Jews lived, there was worship of idols and part of the worship came in the form of laying out food. Obviously, this is not condoned as God says that we are to worship no idols, therefore, Jews would not eat the food that has been sacrificed to pagan gods, claiming that it would make a person unclean.
In the New Testament, Jesus declares that what goes into a person does not defile them, but it's what comes out that makes a person unclean. (Read: Mark 7:18-20.) What He means is that what we eat cannot possibly make us unholy, but it is in our actions, thoughts and hearts that can show our wickedness. Therefore, He declared foods clean and challenges us to change our hearts instead of our food.
The passage that I quoted to answer the other question about short shorts (verses 9-10), addresses the fact that we could be a stumbling block for those weaker Christians who may not understand the Scriptures. You see, while Jesus was saying this (declaring all foods clean), there were still many people who associated the worship of idols with the sacrificed foods. In turn, they did not fully understand that following Christ meant our hearts needed to change. They still felt as though what they DID was the only way they showed their faith.
And so Jesus warns the "stronger" Christians that even though the foods are clean and we have the freedom to eat it, there are still some weaker Christians out there that didn't fully understand and see otherwise. We must be mindful of those who are weaker and take the time to teach and educate.
And so as I use this passage to explain my stance on wearing short shorts, my point is that our actions may cause someone who is weaker to stumble. A girl who is wearing shorts on a hot day on the beach is fully acceptable. But if what is wearing and how she conducts herself causes someone to lust after her and think impure thoughts, than we ought to not put ourselves in that position and cause someone to sin.
To answer the latter part of the question "Is this the right way to interpret the passage? If not, how do you know for sure that I am wrong?"
It is not the right way to interpret the passage because the you have not taken the time to read the chapter in context. You have not looked into the historical or cultural context (as in you have not understood WHY Jesus is talking about foods and WHY it is considered unclean in the first place). In order to correctly interpret and understand the scriptures, you need to research the back story. After understanding the who, what, when, where, and why's...you can then apply the passages into your life.
[answered by Pastor Kelly J. Tam]
