Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Paul’s argument has three principal parts – continued

The second principle is if we understand that there is but one God and that idols have no real existence, we have to then understand also, that not all, especially and including “weak” Christians, have not yet fully grasped or comprehended this. Many Christians in Corinth were so accustomed to eating meat that had been offered first to idols that they could not eat it without remembering that association. Although, in fact, they need not have worried about it as Paul explained to them in verse 8, however their consciences were not telling them this fact. Therefore, “their conscience, being weak, is defiled.”

A weak conscience is one that cannot come to a decision on an issue where an individual is uncertain of the rightness of his or her actions. Our consciences, even if not fully attuned to all God’s will, will tell us to be willing in everything to live honestly in order to maintain a good conscience (Hebrews 13:18). “Commend us” as the Apostle used in verse 8, was used as a legal term, and so the sense of what Paul is saying can be understood that “food will not bring us before God’s judgement seat.”

The third principle is that care is always needed in the exercise of Christian freedom and not least because to hurt or sin against our fellow Christians is to hurt and sin against our Lord Jesus Christ (compare Matthew 25:31-46). If Christians who claimed to have knowledge, in this case, the knowledge that idols have no reality and meat is unaffected by being offered to them, if their liberty and knowledge ran rough shod over the feelings of their so called “weaker” brothers and sisters, they might be putting wrongful pressure on them to act in a way that was in opposition to their conscience. Such behavior was contrary to Christian love and, more serious still, was sinning against the Lord Jesus Himself by sinning against those for whom He died. “The liberty of yours” is more literally “your right in this matter.” However, Christian behavior is not based upon rights but upon duties, upon our actions. The “weak” are those who are weak in faith or in their understanding of the implications of their faith and the liberty into which it ought to bring them. In other words, they have not reached the point of maturity in their faith that frees their conscience from their perceptions. Some of the Corinthians seem to have wrongly thought they were helping the “weak” by boldly displaying their liberty before them by eating meat offered to idols. Christian freedom is not a freedom to do as we please but a freedom to control our actions for the benefit of others, based in our love for Christ and our brothers and sisters.

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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