Continuing from the previous article (looking at 1 Corinthians 8:9-13), the previous study had suggested that our decisions should not be about our rights or our rules, but rather about our relationships with others. Let’s read a little more of this passage from 1 Corinthians.
For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
1 Corinthians 8:10-11 NIV
For the Christian eager to follow Jesus as correctly and completely as possible, the “easiest” interpretation here is to just not eat any meat that was sacrificed to idols. (This is probably less of a challenge for most of us today, as compared to first-century Christians in Corinth.) By extension, it’s easy to project this principle to the avoidance of anything that might cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble.
Because different Christians have different weaknesses, though, this approach can also lead us to constrain our behavior so much that we miss out on enjoying the abundant life that Jesus offers. In fact, taking this to an extreme could cause us to even miss out on serving in His Kingdom as He calls us to. For instance, imagine if Paul had separated himself so much from an idolatrous culture – because someone might have been tempted to sin – that he remained in Jerusalem and never spread the good news about Jesus to cities like Corinth, Athens, or Rome!
There’s a risk of taking a principle – even a good principle from the Bible – and making it into “just another rule”. Jesus countered legalistic and rule-based attitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. Rather than allowing anger to fester without limit as long as we didn’t murder someone, Jesus pointed out how unrighteous anger was inappropriate among us. Rather than allowing our hearts to long for someone else’s spouse as long as we didn’t sleep with them, Jesus instructed us to be respectful in our hearts, as well.
Now, this doesn’t mean that Christians should do whatever our sinful nature wants. That’s the opposite extreme. However, instead of more rules, I see passages like this as prioritizing our love for others – especially those in the body of Christ – over our own preferences.
We hear people today demanding that they have rights to do this or that, and maybe we’ve been those people. In this complicated, fallen world, there are times when we may need to exercise our rights for a good reason.
However, in following Jesus, there is an even higher calling than getting what we deserve. Remember, after all, that we deserved the penalty for our sins, and that Jesus’ sacrifice for us was an unearned gift of grace. In return, sometimes we need to choose to give up our own preferences and desires in exchange for a greater good. There are more than enough blessings in following Jesus. We don’t need to insist that we always get our way when others are likely going to be hurt by us doing so. This is especially true when the issue isn’t merely a risk of someone being “offended”, but rather when their faith is on the line.
Paul continues in his letter to the Corinthians.
When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
1 Corinthians 8:12-13 NIV
Think of it this way, if you’re in an air-conditioned house on a hot summer day, and a friend or family member comes in from working in the yard, all tired and thirsty, is it your right to take the last cold drink from the refrigerator, open it in front of the other person, and drink it? If you paid for it, or if you were the one to put it in the fridge, or if you had saved it up for yourself, maybe so. However, is it loving and kind to do so, when all the other person has as an alternative is an old can of warm pop to drink? Not so much.
So, let’s not just decide that we “can’t” do one thing or another (when considering non-sinful behaviors) because we can envision a scenario where someone might “theoretically” struggle as a result. In addition, let’s not make up rules for other people – limiting their freedoms – because of our own weaknesses. Instead, when considering whether or not to do something that seems a little “iffy”, I suggest asking three questions:
- First, is the behavior clearly sinful, according to what God has taught us? If you’re deciding whether or not to lie, steal, or murder, that should be a no-brainer.
- Secondly, is the Holy Spirit guiding you in a particular direction? If so, that’s great! Some people struggle to understand His leading, so if you hear His voice or feel His direction, follow Him. Don’t be stubborn and do the opposite of what He is telling you to do. Trust Him, instead.
- Finally, and most applicable to this passage, when someone else is with you, or is likely to see you doing something, think about what would be most loving to them. Be caring and kind, and consider what decisions on your part would be best for their spiritual walk. Remember, even going out with friends for the evening is an opportunity to help others grow in Christ.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 17, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, March 17, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 Corinthians, by Richard E. Oster, Jr. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 