The Corinthian Church had just one questionable practice: whether to eat meat which was offered to idols. The Apostle Paul took three chapters (8-10) to deal with this subject which seems absolutely irrelevant to us today. Has anyone struggled with eating meat offered to an idol lately? Of course not, but you probably struggled with other American questionable practices, and those practices can only be solved by applying the principles of I Corinthians 8:1-13.
So what are the principles Paul lays out — if used — will bring a resolution to these thorny issues? It all settle around the law of love; Love Is More Important Than The Use Of Christian Liberty 8:7-12.
Paul’s exhortation to the weaker brother: Doing things without a clear conscience is sin, but we do need to leave room for the stronger brother who doesn’t see a practice as sin, vv. 7&8.
Paul’s exhortation to the stronger brother: Don’t do things that will cause a weaker brother in the faith to stumble and even be destroyed in their faith, vv. 9-12.
Causing a weaker brother to sin will be sin in itself and offend God, v. 13.
We don’t come across these issues often, but when we do, let’s all apply the law of love and defer to the weaker, those who are still growing in their faith. Who can you encourage today in their faith?
Sixty-six books in a year 