- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,539
It's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. We don't lose anything if we don't eat it, and we don't gain anything if we do. But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:8-9 NLT
Many in the Corinthian church knew that the false gods in their city were mere statues, and that freed them to eat food offered to these gods with a clear conscience. What harm could a statue do to them? Yet as these Christians enjoyed their freedom, they created a crisis for other Christians who remained convinced that false gods held power. These Christians risked violating their consciences because of what they saw fellow believers eat.
The solution wasn’t necessarily to devise more rules for everyone. The simple path forward, according to Paul, is to remain aware of how your actions impact those around you. Even when you have freedom to act with a clear conscience, will you be creating challenges for someone else? It may be wise to limit yourself, often just for a limited time, so that others can be spared a crisis of conscience. Just as Christ laid down His freedom to liberate you, you have an opportunity to lay down your own freedoms to benefit others.
Prayer: Jesus, help me to see the ways my actions impact my fellow believers.
Many in the Corinthian church knew that the false gods in their city were mere statues, and that freed them to eat food offered to these gods with a clear conscience. What harm could a statue do to them? Yet as these Christians enjoyed their freedom, they created a crisis for other Christians who remained convinced that false gods held power. These Christians risked violating their consciences because of what they saw fellow believers eat.
The solution wasn’t necessarily to devise more rules for everyone. The simple path forward, according to Paul, is to remain aware of how your actions impact those around you. Even when you have freedom to act with a clear conscience, will you be creating challenges for someone else? It may be wise to limit yourself, often just for a limited time, so that others can be spared a crisis of conscience. Just as Christ laid down His freedom to liberate you, you have an opportunity to lay down your own freedoms to benefit others.
Prayer: Jesus, help me to see the ways my actions impact my fellow believers.
