Yes — eat the meat when nothing is said about its origin; if the host specifically tells you it was offered in sacrifice, decline it for his sake.
Les teaches that meat sold in the market should be eaten without asking questions, because a dumb idol cannot affect it. But if someone points out that the meat was offered to a pagan god, the believer should not eat it — not because the meat is polluted, but to make a difference to the person who told him.
1 Corinthians 10:25–28 — Paul gives the direct rule for both market meat and a feast: eat without asking unless someone says it was offered in sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 8:8 — Paul states that food itself does not make a person better or worse before God.
Scripture directly addresses the question in 1 Corinthians 10:25–31. Paul writes, "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake" (1 Corinthians 10:25). The same rule applies when a believer is invited to a feast: "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" (1 Corinthians 10:27). The only stated exception is when someone tells you the meat was offered in sacrifice. Paul says, "But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it" (1 Corinthians 10:28). This refusal is not about the meat itself being contaminated; Paul also says, "But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse" (1 Corinthians 8:8). Scripture also warns against letting Christian liberty become a stumbling block. Paul writes, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak" (1 Corinthians 8:9). And he states the overarching principle: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Les Feldick walks through the real-life situation behind these verses. In the Middle Eastern market, meat from animals sacrificed at pagan temples often ended up for sale to the public. So Christians were buying meat that had already been connected with an idol without knowing it. Les says Paul's response is simple: "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake." The believer should not go around trying to investigate every piece of meat. The situation changes when someone points it out. As Les puts it, if a host or guest says, "This is meat that I had got back from the temple," the believer should reject it for that man's sake — to show him that the Christian does make a difference. The same principle applies if a young, weak believer is watching: don't eat it if it will cause him to stumble. Les repeatedly emphasizes that the idol itself has no power over the meat. A "dumb idol" cannot affect it, so the decision is never based on the meat being contaminated. It is based on the circumstances and the people present.
Les explains that in the Middle East, meat offered to idols often ended up for sale in the open market. He describes carcasses from pagan sacrifices being sold on meat hooks, so a housewife might buy a small piece without knowing its history. Paul's instruction is that whatever is sold in the market should be eaten without asking questions for conscience sake.
If someone points out, "This is offered in sacrifice to an idol," the believer should not eat it — for the sake of the person who said it. Les says this could be an unbeliever who needs to learn that the Christian makes a difference, or it could be a weak believer who would be troubled by seeing a mature Christian eat it.
Les says the idol is a "dumb idol" and cannot affect the meat. In the same way, he says "so far as the idol having any power on it, forget it." The believer is free to eat the meat without worrying, because those idolatrous gods can't do anything to a believer.
At a pagan wedding feast, Paul never tells believers to stay away. They are free to go and eat. But if a brand-new Christian is at the same table and has not matured enough to understand that an idol has no power, the mature believer should not eat the meat if it causes that young believer to be shaken. Paul says, "Take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak."
Les states outright that the Bible never demands that a believer be a vegetarian. Paul said it makes no difference whether you eat or do not eat. The only reason to abstain is for the sake of another person, not because the food itself is wrong.
Meat in the Market
Les describes how meat from pagan sacrifices was commonly sold in the open market, showing why Christians naturally wondered whether they could eat it.
Eat Not for His Sake
Les teaches that when someone specifically says the meat was offered to an idol, the believer should not eat it for the sake of the one who said it.
The Weaker Brother
Les explains that if eating this meat causes a young believer to stumble, the mature believer should refrain, even though the idol has no real power over the meat.
Weak Conscience
Les explains that weak believers had reservations and defiled consciences because they knew where the meat had been, rooted in pagan superstition.
Christians Asked Paul
Les shows that Christians asked Paul directly about eating meat offered to idols, and Paul responded that meat does not commend us to God.
Willing to Abstain
Les teaches that Paul could eat idol-offered meat freely, but was willing to give it up if it became a stumbling block to another person.
The Pagan Wedding Feast
Les teaches that believers were free to attend a pagan wedding feast and eat, but should not do so if a new believer at the table would be hurt.
Not Vegetarian
Les teaches that the Bible never demands vegetarianism and that Paul said eating or not eating makes no difference before God.
1 Corinthians 8:8: But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
Paul says food itself does not affect a believer's standing with God.
1 Corinthians 8:9: But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
Christian liberty must not be exercised at the expense of a weak believer's conscience.
1 Corinthians 8:10: For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
A mature believer's example can embolden a weak believer to violate his own conscience.
1 Corinthians 8:13: Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Paul was willing to give up meat entirely if it would cause a brother to stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:25: Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
Market meat is to be eaten without asking questions about its origin.
1 Corinthians 10:27: 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.
At an unbeliever's feast, eat what is set before you without asking questions.
1 Corinthians 10:28: 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.
The only exception is when someone specifically tells you the meat was offered in sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Eating and drinking, like everything else, must be done for God's glory.
No. Paul writes, "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake" (1 Corinthians 10:25). Les says believers should simply eat without investigating, because meat from pagan sacrifices commonly ended up in the market.
The refusal is not because the meat has been changed or because an idol has power. It is for the sake of the person who told you — to show an unbeliever that a believer makes a difference, or to keep a weak believer from stumbling.
No. Les points out that the Bible never demands vegetarianism. Paul says eating or not eating doesn't change a person before God.
Les teaches that believers were free to go and eat, because idolatrous gods can't do anything to a believer. The only time to abstain is if a weak believer at the table would be shaken.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Lord's Table — 1 Corinthians 10:16