July
28th
7:
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with
conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto
an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 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. 9: But take heed lest by
any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that
are weak. 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;
11: And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom
Christ died? 12: But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound
their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 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
is giving teaching regarding the subject of food offered to idols.
Previously he has said that there is only one God and that the idol
is not a god at all. And so therefore the meat has not changed at
all. Its still plain meat. However not everyone has this freedom of
thinking. There are some who have a conscience about food that has
been offered to idols and if they eat it they have a bad conscience
and loose fellowship with God. What we eat does not actually make us
any better before God or worse. The problem is that christians who
feel at liberty to eat food offered to idols must not allow their
liberty to become an obstacle to those whose consciences are weak. If
a christian with a weak conscience sees a christian with a strong
conscience sit down for a meal in a temple to idolatry will not the
conscience of the weak christian be strengthened to eat and in doing
so his relationship with God will be spoiled. If we sin against our
brothers and hurt their weak conscience then we are sinning against
Christ. So if my eating of meat offered to idols offends my brother
then l would rather not eat this meat till the end of the world in
case l make my brother to sin against God.
- What should we do when we encounter christians that have a difference of opinion which may be a conscience issue for them?
- How should we empathise with other Christians?
- What is the over riding principle in all of our christian interactions?
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