Lesson 472

(Lesson 472)(11-30-12) 1 Corinthians 10:33, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

This lesson warns the Church to maintain the purity of Christ's doctrine. Herein, Paul addresses those who were attempting to mix Christianity with other pagan beliefs. He uses the metaphor that, to Christianity, the body and blood of Christ, (the Church) is the food and drink that sustains us, whereas the lost, and those who would deceive, feed from the abundance of meat sacrificed to idols.
We, as Christians, are to rigidly maintain the true tenets of the Church as they were established by Jesus Christ, disallowing the distortion brought about by the intermingling of differing religious traditions. We are not to abide the watering down of those principles that bind together the Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself.
Examples of such wrongful intermingling is demonstrated by Catholicism and Mormonism, et al.
Around the time of Constantine's reign, the already scripturally perverse Roman Catholic "Church", by the order of Constantine, incorporated into its tenets the general beliefs of Hellenism, a religious mysticism that involved, among other absurdities, the idiocy of Greek mythology.
Similarly, Joseph Smith distorted the pure gospel of Christ by adding his own, no doubt Satanically inspired and blasphemous "Book of Mormon", to Holy Scripture.
Although the connection may be difficult for some to understand, it is my belief the Paul's intention, is to warn the faithful against just such distortions of the pure doctrine of Christianity.~