Causing Others to Stumble

Some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to idols, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don't eat, and we are not better if we do eat. But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, won't his weak conscience be encouraged to eat foods offered to idols? Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ dies, is ruined by your knowledge. Now when you sin like this against the brothers and would their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won't cause my brother to fall. 1Cor 8:7-13

 

What sensitivity we need. What do I do that causes others to stumble? Is there something that I consider free that to them is a stumbling block? One thing that comes to mind is drinking alcohol. Some of us believers drink alcohol and are not hindered by it, not resorting to drunkenness.

 

Demanding that I do what I believe I am free to do is called sin by Paul. When I hurt a weaker believer I hurt Christ. Now, I can keep on regardless and think little of the 'weaker brother,' thinking they should toughen up. yet this is not the spirit of the law. We are called to walk in love towards one another. Love covers, love lifts up, supports, love never ends in good deeds.

 

I have friends who only eat vegetables and believe this is best for them, yet I eat meat. I can eat vegetables or meat. If I am to walk in love then I do what love demands, not the flesh demands. Amen!