The freedom of some believers at Corinth to eat meat that had been offered to idols was clearly a real stumbling block for believers with a weaker conscience. In this case the ‘strong' should not cause anyone to stumble by asserting their rights and by doing so ‘sin against Christ' but instead surrender their freedom so as not to be a stumbling block.
Whilst it may be difficult to envisage similar situations, where our ‘knowledge' that something is harmless destroys a weak brother for whom Christ died, it is clear that Paul's gospel makes loving room for those who hold widely divergent views. Does ours?
This is not an excuse for those with an over sensitive conscience to judge those who are freer, nor a justification to go weak on the clear commands of Christ. But it is a reminder to make sure our freedom is governed by love, and, that the strong should bear with the failings of the weak and not please themselves.
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John DUNKLEY BTh, Dip.Min. and Dip. Pastoral Studies. He is an ordained Baptist minister and has pastored a number of Baptist churches. He has also ministered at Westcare Baptist Mission - an inner city ministry and served as a voluntary Police Chaplain.
