“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” – 1 Corinthians 8:9
In some ways, being a Christian would be a whole lot easier if Jesus had given us more rules to follow: “Do this. Don’t do that. Go here. Don’t go there.”
And following Christ gets more complicated when we start dealing with the gray areas, where we don’t have a clear command in Scripture. For example, here are five things that the New Testament doesn’t specifically say are sins: drinking beer; smoking cigarettes;dancing; listening to secular music; and gambling in Las Vegas. Are any – or all – of these sins? Maybe. Maybe not.
For guidance on matters not mentioned in Scripture, Paul takes on a pressing question in 1 Corinthians 8. The Corinthian Christians wanted to know: “Is it okay for us to eat meat that was used in a pagan sacrifice?”
You see, in ancient Greece, there were idols all over the place. So it was darn near impossible to find any meat at the marketplace that wasn’t either used in a pagan sacrifice or prayed over in the name of some false god. What was a Christian to do?
As Paul answers the Corinthians’ specific gray-area question, he also answers the same, foundational question: When we’re exercising our freedom in Christ in a gray area, how far is too far? Paul answers: It’s too far when the exercise of our freedom becomes a stumbling block to a weaker Christian.
So, Paul says, eating food sacrificed to idols is not inherently sinful – but what is PERMISSIBLE is not necessarily BENEFICIAL. What is permissible for you might be harmful for the Christian across the table from you. Verse 9 gives us this timeless principle: “Be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”
Immature Christians’ superstitions and misguided beliefs don’t disappear as soon as they walk out of the baptistery. So, when deciding whether or not to exercise your freedom in Christ in a gray area, ask yourself these three questions:
Question #1: Will doing this bring glory and praise to God?
Question #2: Will doing this set a good example for other Christians, building them up in love?
Question #3: Will doing this help draw unbelievers unto Christ or push them further away?
Remember, it’s not about you. It’s about those around you. Jesus loves young Christians, so He is patiently and methodically strengthening and maturing their consciences. And as He does, it’s never a good idea to get in the way of Jesus’ good work in the life of another believer.
Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services: in person or online at 8:45 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.
