Given the weak conscience of some, the church must let itself be guided not first of all by knowledge, but by love. This is the central appeal of 1 Corinthians 8:8–13. If a believer would let himself be guided by knowledge alone, there would be no obvious reason to abstain from food that was offered to idols. After all, food in itself makes no difference to one’s standing before God.
8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.