LET US BE CAREFUL LEST WE MAKE OUR BROTHER TO OFFEND
I remember my now adult son when he was 3 years. He saw me trying to shave so, he took the empty pack that contained the shaving blade and started to do what he saw me doing. It is the same today; younger people or new Christians tend to emulate what they see other supposed mature Christians do.
We may do well to examine 1st Corinthians 8:1-13. This scripture deals with our knowledge and how it could impact other brethren. There is liberty in Christ Jesus, but we must not allow it to become a stumbling block to them that are weak. In this instance, in the scripture mentioned above, it was a case of eating things offered to idols. Also, Galatians 5:13 reads, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty, only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” We as Christians must not abuse our liberty in Christ. Also, we must not allow our weak brother to die, for whom Christ died.
Today there are many idols, and the kinds of meat offered are different. The important thing here is that your liberty must not lead to the death of your brother for whom Christ died. Today many Christians, get involved in certain liberties that not only destroy them but may lead to the death of their weak brother for whom Christ died.
The problem about liberty is that very often it is abused, and the consequences can be damaging. With respect to the present discussion, we shall look at liberty and how it affects our lives, the weaker brother or sister. Let us consider alcohol, immorality and financial issues and their consequences. Today, many Christians including ministers of the gospel of Christ go from drinking once in a while to becoming secret drunks. Some get taken captive by immorality, ranging from fornication, to adultery, pornography to polygamy, homo-sexuality and worse. Some have become greedy, defraud their brethren, embezzle and steal. Suffer not as a thief, reads 1st Peter 4:15.
Every Christian must remember that there are young Christians or babes in the Lord; there are also those who are weak in the faith and must be encouraged by stronger Christians. Therefore, we must be careful to maintain right Christian life and conduct in order not to lead any of our brethren astray.
Imagine what would happen to a young or a weak brother if he should find out you [a supposedly] mature Christian] are consuming alcohol secretly and that you may even be a secret drunk. If the weak brother or new convert finds you with a glass of wine, what will your answer be? If this brother begins to drink alcohol after seeing you do so, imagine how his life may turn out. He may think it is right and secretly start doing the same things he saw you doing. He may be taken captive by the god of drunkenness. This person may be your son or family member. It would be better for a mill stone to be tied around your neck and for you to be drowned in the sea.
Suffer yourself to be defrauded, but do not defraud or take your brother to court or to the law. Money today is an idol to some. Many worship it and do whatever to amass it. Some sell drugs, some sell their bodies or body parts, or sell other humans to become rich. Others come up with diabolical schemes to get money; even preachers are doing the same. Imagine the weak brother or young convert who sees older Christians doing such things and copying them. Remember that these are people whom Christ died for on the Cross.
Immorality is another area where people eat meat that could be deadly to a brother. Maintain holiness and purity for your soul and that of others. When a brother sees another engaging in immorality and starts in that path; you have made your brother to stumble. Let me be clear, you who allow the weak brother or sister to fall or become a stumbling block to him or her for whom Christ died will be held responsible for their life because of how your deed influenced them.
When ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8: 12). Finally, if meat, greed, immorality, drunkenness or the like will make my brother to offend or sin; I will do no such thing while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to sin or offend. We are in the last days and must watch our every testimony and how our life and deeds impact others. Also, we must learn to honor the word of God. If we are faithful to repent, God is faithful to forgive. The choice is yours and it is mine. Read Lamentations 3:40-41 which reads, “ Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord; let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the heavens.”
Translation moment 21
LET US BE CAREFUL LEST WE MAKE OUR BROTHER TO OFFEND