Don't make your brother stumble

1 Corinthians 8: 7-12


7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

I think that there are many situations where this would come up in our lives. You would not walk in to a Jewish house and eat un kosher food, because you would not want a Jew that was weak in fait to fall. You would not eat pork where a Muslim could see, even though Jesus told us that nothing God has created is unclean. I think that this passage very clearly shows the tolerance that Jesus expects from us. We Christians know what we believe, and we should always speak openly about that, however our beliefs might make some things ok to us, but not to all. Jesus told the his disciples that they should go in to towns and preach the word, however if the word is not accepted there, they should leave and shake the dust from their sandals as they leave town. HE did not tell them to Judge the town, he did not tell them to condemn the town, nor did he tell them to openly go against the towns teachings, as a way to show that Jesus’ way was the right way, and any other teaching has no value. No! to sum it up, he said go save those that can be saved, and leave the others be. Basically, be tolerant. So to live our lives as Jesus, we should not through pride, and self righteousness blatantly break a rule that someone else holds as impure. Conversely, we should show tolerance to everyone, and follow the example that Jesus set for us. TO love our neighbor as we love ourselves, to Love our God with all our hearts and all our might, Judge not, least ye be judged. Jesus died for all of us, for the entire world. I think that is a point that is lost on some people. HE did not just die for the Christians. God gave his only son as a blood sacrifice for the world. It is up to each individual to Choose to follow Christ, it is not for us to judge. We will all stand before God and Jesus will judge each of us. Until that time comes we must remain tolerant, and help pull as many from the fire that we can. Not by thrashing their religion, but by showing an example in our actions, in our words, and in our lives, that a life in the way of the Lord, through the salvation of Jesus Christ, and the holy spirit, that life is full of happiness, love, and hope. By doing so, we will bring more people in to the fold, not by force, or fear, but by showing that Jesus is the one true salvation, and the everlasting life that is freely given to all who will answer the call.

Peace,
Rev. T