1 Corinthians chapter 8 verses 9-13 (NIV)
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
These verses are a reminder that even though we may be free and unhindered in our Christian walk, and in the manner we live our lives, we need to be careful not to flaunt our views and behaviour to others who may have different views than us. This isn’t about the fundamentals of Christian faith, which we must defend at all costs, but with compassion and grace. It’s about other less important things where our opinions may differ, usually with other Christians, on such things perhaps as music, alcohol and maybe even the way we dress. We can remain confident in our lifestyle as long as God doesn’t tell us to change. But we need to consider how our behaviour will impact someone else. Thinking of how Queen Elizabeth dressed on her state visits to other countries. She dressed in a manner so as not to offend the culture of the country she visited. Thus too we must remember we are Christ’s Ambassadors and be careful not to point a condemning finger, or cause offence if it can be avoided.
Dear Lord,
I’m so aware of the compassion and grace with which You have dealt with me. May I do likewise dealing with others using discernment, wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen