The Folly of Ritualism. 1 Timothy 4:3-5.
Who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, For it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
Dear Joint Heirs with Christ,
The apostates are misled, Paul says, by ritualists who
Forbid (v. 3). The liars forbid marriage and certain foods. The reasoning they use is not given here and we will not speculate. The point is that marriage is God’s plan right from creation (Genesis 2:24), and everything we eat is created by God, obviously for our enjoyment. Those who know the truth understand that these are gifts from God.
Forget (v. 4). The things that God created are meant to be enjoyed with thanksgiving. To reject God’s gift is an insult to his goodness, so there is no way that such ritualism can be good for anyone. In the meantime, the gifts of God are for the taking and enjoyment with thanksgiving.
Forfeit (v. 5). Inanimate objects like food or human cultural norms like marriage are amoral – neither good nor bad. What determines their moral application is how they are related to the word of God and prayer. The word gives direction on how we are to live and relate to one another. Marriage, for instance, is governed by the teaching on faithfulness to one spouse (Matthew 19:9), the commandment against adultery (Exodus 20:14), and instructions on husband and wife relationships (Ephesians 5:22-33). Jesus taught that eating does not defile a man, and in so doing, declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). Prayer sets apart ordinary things for the glory of God.
When we pray and dedicate something, we set it apart for God. When we give thanks for food, we set it apart for our benefit. These are things the ritualists have thrown away. Do not be misled by outward piety. The condition of the heart is what matters and food is not the way to judge that.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.