- Read: Romans 14:1-23
- Memorize: Romans 14:22
At first glance this chapter seems to be an odd insertion about vegetarians, but look closer at the text. The issue at hand is not meat or vegetables, but rather using our freedom to serve others. This is a continuation of the discussion of love in Chapter 13. (see 14:15) If we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we won't offend them by standing up for our rights. Paul gave examples of this that were clear to first century Christians, but they are a little confusing to us, so I will present to you a couple of twenty first century examples.
A few years back a friend of mine heard that Jack In The Box had given money to an homosexual group. To my friend, eating at Jack In The Box was supporting homosexuality, so she stayed far away. I understood the principle from 1 Corinthians 10:25 and surrounding verses* to free us from this burden on our consciences. If we truly could not purchase goods from businesses that use their proceeds for ungodly causes, then we would be extremely limited in where we shop. (In Red Bluff, I think that I can count on one hand the number of business that do things God's way.)
I could have stood up for my right, and told my friend she was wrong, pushing her to eat at Jack in the Box, but instead I was very careful not to offend her. I did not talk about eating there when she was around and I made sure that if I got food from Jack in the Box that I disposed of the packaging before I would see her. I didn't want my exercise of freedom to be a stumbling block for her. We should love our brothers and sisters in Christ by giving up our rights so that their consciences are not offended. We can and should teach the truth to strengthen their faith, but at the same time we must protect their purity by abstaining from anything that their consciences say is wrong.
A few years back a friend of mine heard that Jack In The Box had given money to an homosexual group. To my friend, eating at Jack In The Box was supporting homosexuality, so she stayed far away. I understood the principle from 1 Corinthians 10:25 and surrounding verses* to free us from this burden on our consciences. If we truly could not purchase goods from businesses that use their proceeds for ungodly causes, then we would be extremely limited in where we shop. (In Red Bluff, I think that I can count on one hand the number of business that do things God's way.)
I could have stood up for my right, and told my friend she was wrong, pushing her to eat at Jack in the Box, but instead I was very careful not to offend her. I did not talk about eating there when she was around and I made sure that if I got food from Jack in the Box that I disposed of the packaging before I would see her. I didn't want my exercise of freedom to be a stumbling block for her. We should love our brothers and sisters in Christ by giving up our rights so that their consciences are not offended. We can and should teach the truth to strengthen their faith, but at the same time we must protect their purity by abstaining from anything that their consciences say is wrong.
Comment:
- Why should we give up our rights to accommodate someone who is weaker in their fatih?
- What is another modern example, real or hypothetical (made up), of someone giving up his rights for someone else?
*Check out 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 for Paul's discussion on this topic and ask if you have any questions.
1.Because we should seek the right of others?
ReplyDelete2.idk
idk is NOT an acceptable answer :) If you can't think of any real life examples, then make one up!
ReplyDeleteWell, drinking alchol is one. Some Christians are like NO you arne't supposed to drink alchol period. But others take that in the Bible it says that you are allowed to drink; just not allowed to get drunk because it is wrong. So if you have a friend that feels that any drinking is wrong then when they are over or you are around them then you should'nt drink in front of them.
ReplyDeleteGreat example Sarah!
ReplyDelete