Is Idol Food Idle Talk?

Pastor Mark Biltz recently warned his listeners that they could be eating food offered to idols. And they may not even know it. His concern grows from the thousands of meat production companies that specialize in Halal food.
Halal food has been presented to Allah for his blessing. In order to receive the sanction of Allah a specific prayer must be made and a specific process followed. There is no doubt that the food is purposely consecrated to the god of Islam- who is for all Jews and biblical Christians a false god. Pastor Biltz wonders if that makes those who eat Halal food, even ignorantly, partakers of idol food. It is an interesting question.
The New Testament speaks to that very issue. When the apostles and elders of the church confronted the first challenge to church unity they resolved: “we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.” (Acts 15:19-20) Gentile believers were not permitted to eat idol food. That seems clear enough. But further clarification became necessary.
In Rome and Corinth believers were troubled about the ramifications of eating idol food unknowingly. Much of the meat purchased in first century markets was cut from larger portions that had been part of pagan sacrifices. What about eating this meat?
1. There is only God and He is Lord over all. 1 Corinthians 8: 4-6
2. Yet some believers may be offended if another eats meat previously offered to an idol. 8:7-12
3. Therefore, we must avoid offending our brother. 8:13
What if we don’t know about the meat purchased?
4. Eat anything sold or offered by a neighbor without asking questions because everything is God’s. 1 Corinthians 10: 25-27. Paul says in Romans 14:14 that nothing is unclean in itself. It is a matter of one’s personal conviction.
5. Therefore, if you know that the meat was part of a pagan ritual, do not eat because it may cause an offense to one who thinks it is tainted food. 10: 28-29
Where does Halal food fit in this process?
First, we must understand that God, not Allah, is Lord over all. Nothing He created for us to use is unclean. “For everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. . ." 1 Timothy 4:4
Second, it is okay to eat any food purchased by or served to us. We do not need to know its spiritual history. In fact, we are not guilty of eating idol food if we do not know it is idol food. (Principle 4 above)
Third, if we are told it is Halal and eating it will create an offense to our conscience or another believer’s conscience, we must abstain.
One final thought. Would this question be on the table if the issue was meat from India or rice from China?

Most Meaningful Books of 2010

Here are the ten books that most affected me in 2010. In the order in which I read them. Particularly influential were The Reason for God, Crazy Love, Respectable Sins, Hitler’s Cross, and A Call to Spiritual Reformation. I believe that every Christian leader should read Hitler’s Cross.
The Reason for God Timothy Keller
Crazy Love Francis Chan
The Gospel-Driven Life Michael Horton
Respectable Sins Jerry Bridges
A Gospel Primer Milton Vincent
There is a God Antony Flew
The Cross Centered Life C.J. Mahaney
Hitler’s Cross Irwin Lutzer
What is the Gospel? Greg Gilbert
A Call to Spiritual Reformation D.A. Carson