“Do Not Use Your Freedom To Cause Others To Stumble!”

“Do Not Use Your Freedom To Cause Others To Stumble!”
Lilliput was at war with her neighbour Belfuscu. The war was bitter and violent, but the cause of the conflict was seemingly very childish. Lilliputians believed that an egg should be broken from the small end, while the people of Belfuscu believed it should be broken from the big end.
Sometimes we quarell, fight and tear each other into shreds over things that do not add value to our faith. Once upon a time a promising upcoming congregation almost went comatose over an arguement whether to drink or not to drink alcohol within the church premises.
Lilliput and Belfuscu were two seperate nations. There was just no reason why they should go to war because of how to break an egg. Each country ought to have done it their own way. In the same way there is no need to quarell whether to drink or not to drink alcohol within the church premises without considering which is moral and ethical from a Christian point of view.
Some people are spiritually mature enough to know that it is not what goes into a person that defiles the person, but others who are still groping and finding their way see it as wrong to eat certain foods or consume certain beverages.
These things may not, and do not really matter, but it is important for the strong to help the weak, not by doing something, but rather by doing nothing.
The weak Christian is the work of God that he is building up. “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
Christian maturity demands of us to forego our freedoms if it can cause harm to those who are weak in faith.
Do not condemn yourself by eating what is not from faith because “everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Rom.14:20-23).
My friend, whatever you want to do, let it be with the conviction that your action is in keeping with God’s will. Also learn to be tolerant of others, and for their sake limit your freedom to eat, or drink or do anything that you know has no restrictions.
Prayer of the week: Holy Spirit enable me to be tolerant of the weaknesses of others; even as they tolerate mine. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working week and have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!