[:en]SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 8
“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9)
“Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall” (1 Corinthians 8:13)
FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (vs. 1-13)
The church was composed of the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jewish believers did not want to have any contact with heathen idolatry. However, most of the meat in Corinth was slaughtered at the temples. Part of the meat was kept by the priest while the rest was sold at cheaper price to the poor Christians. So, if there was a feast, it was likely that the meat had been dedicated to the idol. So, the question arose whether the Christians should participate in the Feast. Would eating such meat defile the Christians and cause the weaker Christians to stumble? Paul said that conscience is the judge within us. And conscience is strengthened by knowledge. As we grow in spiritual understanding, the spiritual knowledge can either be a weapon to hurt people or a tool to build people up. Therefore, knowledge must be balanced by love without compromising the truth.
GUIDELINES ON QUESTIONABLE THINGS:
- “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up” (v. 1). Mature believers who are strong in faith should not have a proud attitude. His knowledge must be balanced with love. His knowledge should be a tool to build up and not to tear down.
- Some Christians do not understand the blessings of liberty we have in Christ. They do not know that food in itself is not sinful. So, Christians must be patient with each other. Encourage the reading of His Word so that the truth can set him free.
- The new Christians have a weaker conscience. So those Christians who have a stronger conscience must avoid doing things that may offend the weaker Christians and lead them into sin. In other words, Christians must do everything possible not to offend other Christians so that we can win the lost to Christ.
- Christians have liberty in Christ. But the liberty must not become a stumbling block to others. We must put Christian love into daily living. We must not assert our rights causing others to backslide or reject Christ. “Love” must be the governing principle to follow but it should not compromise the truth.
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