Here’s the key to a part of Paul’s theology – we have freedom in Christ because He is real and this place is not. At least that’s one way to put it in the language of today.

Chapter 8 lays it out this way:

An idol isn’t real.

Food sacrificed to an unreal idol is ultimately just barbecued (or boiled or …)

Because the food is only barbecued – eat up.

Unclean food doesn’t exist because Jesus made all things clean.

We can eat what we want without guilt.

We mustn’t take our freedom as a badge of honor to shove into a new believer’s face.

We must be gentle with those just starting out.

We wise then with what you eat and when and where you eat it from.

We are to do all things in love. We have the right to teach and explain and lead them in the ways of the Lord, but we do things out of love. All is permissible – not everything is beneficial.