Liberty Yes, but Think of Others

This morning as I continue to study the word “liberty” I am led to a passage in 1 Corinthians where Paul is instructing to “Do all to the Glory of God”. He is specifically speaking to eating at someone’s home and partaking in food that may or may not have bee used as a sacrifice. In his letter, Paul had already addressed the eating of sacrificed food in public and that it should not be done for the sake of others.

“²⁷If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁸But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— ²⁹I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?” — 1 Corinthians 10:27-29 (ESV)

Paul indicates here that in the private home, we should be the gracious guest and accept what is given for what it is, and not what it “may” represent. When presented without any description, then there is nothing to discuss. As the receiver, I am just here to partake and not to question the validity of that which is served.

Now when the host announces the origin of the meal and it is contrary to our beliefs, we should abstain so that they are able to see the glory of God in all that we do. My goal is to spread the gospel to all and bring glory to God in the process. When I am accepting of something that I know to be out of bounds, I may cause the host to stumble in the glory of God. I am not to do anything that would cause another to stumble in their faith. As a follower of Christ I live under the New Covenant and have been granted liberty to eat and partake in things that under the old covenant, may have been forbidden.

“⁷However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. ⁹But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” — 1 Corinthians 8:7-9 (ESV)

I am not to do anything that may cause another to stumble in their faith. If that means that I should abstain from something that I am not prohibited from partaking to maintain the conscious of another, then that is what I should do. I have to remember that my role is to bring glory to God and spread His Word to all. When I openly cause another to stumble I am not fulfilling my role.

What are you doing that you know to be right that may cause another to question? Are you thinking of only your own rights and liberty and not theirs? What if you thought of others first and their salvation and bringing glory to God instead of holding fast to those things that are allowed that may cause others to stumble in their faith?