When Theology Changes

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

In the first century, food was a big deal and had a lot of moral implications. If you track the early Christian approach to the morality of eating different kinds of food, you can see how it is approached differently across different continents and decades.

1. Jesus declares all food clean (Galilean countryside, AD 32) - Mark 7:19

2. Jerusalem Council declares some food unclean (Jerusalem, AD 49) - Acts 15:29

3. Paul declares all food clean (Greece and Rome, AD 57) - 1 Cor 10:27

4. The Spirit reveals some food unclean (central Turkey, AD 90) - Rev 2:14

It may feel unnerving for those of us who like a neat and clean “God said it, I believe it, that settles it” approach to scripture rather than a more progressive revelation that fits the various cultures we find ourselves in. In the Web of Belief approach of City Church (see What Doesn’t Change) we recognize that some things are more central in the web and some things are less important. In the first century, what food we eat was in the outer rung of the web. So it was okay that one of the strands of the web got cut out or reattached in a different spot. Some people call this “deconstruction.” If you look in nature, you’ll see how a spider web can handle plenty of small adaptations to its web and still serve its function (see picture at bottom). It’s the same with our faith. As long as we keep the central thing the central thing (living for God, through Christ), then we’ll be ok.

Take some time to reflect on the imperfect spider web below and on the scripture verse for today, asking God to show you how your faith has already and can be again adapted in healthy ways while maintaining its center on Christ.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31