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Not Offending Brothers
May. 17th, 2003 10:03 pmI think it was last night that my 13 y.o. brother was listening to John MacArthur as he did the dishes (he usually listens to the radio when he is washing supper dishes), and I was listening...I think I was probably doing something on the computer at the same time, though. Anyway, he was talking about the passage (I Corinthians 8, I think) that mentions how to decide whether or not to eat meat sacrificed to idols.
I am sure you all remember this passage, and have a general idea of what was taking place, but I'll go ahead and tell you what he said anyway, because part of it was an angle that I had not often considered. The situation: a believer going to eat at the home of an unbeliever. The believer knows it is possible that the meat being served is the economical kind--stuff that had been sacrificed to idols. While he personally may not buy it, he has liberty to eat it, and liberty to keep from offending his host...until his weaker brother points out the situation, and then he limits his liberty out of love for his brother. LOVE FOR HIS BROTHER. John MacArthur pointed out that his first duty was to show love to his brother, even at the expense of offending an unbelieving host. He talked about the unbeliever's possible observation of the situation had the stronger believer eaten the meat anyway, "He treats me just fine right where I am, but he treats his brother like he doesn't even love him."
This was where I started thinking (and probably didn't even hear the rest of the sermon). So often we as Christians are concerned about what the world thinks of us. I know I'm guilty of this...I always want to make sure there is "legitimacy" in my choices, so I tend to look to the world's standards. And if my focus and goals are right, I suppose I am free to do as I please in life...but what if it stumbles a brother? Rather than being afraid of offending unbelievers, our higher priority should be our brothers and sisters in Christ. That doesn't mean we can't demonstrate love to the rest of the world. It's just like a family, though--true character starts at home. If we're not showing our brothers in Christ love, can we really show the rest of the world love? I mean, that's HOW we show our love.
Of course, there are times we must confront sin (to refrain from doing so would NOT be loving), but there is a correct manner in which to do it. And in exercising our Christian liberties, we must also be careful to avoid offending "weaker" brothers. I have always wondered exactly what that meant, though. The Gospel is an offense to unbelievers, but for believers there are things we can do that will be stumbling blocks. We do need to avoid those. I guess they are things like drinking alcholic things (in moderation), or maybe dancing...things that some believers consider taboo.
I started thinking about what the N.T. says about loving our brothers, and I suddenly realized that the references to that are much more common than any references (if there are any) to showing love to those outside the church. Interesting. It grows, though...other people will see it and want it. We should make it attractive to them by how we act with each other.
So, can other people see that we (as Christians) love each other?
I am sure you all remember this passage, and have a general idea of what was taking place, but I'll go ahead and tell you what he said anyway, because part of it was an angle that I had not often considered. The situation: a believer going to eat at the home of an unbeliever. The believer knows it is possible that the meat being served is the economical kind--stuff that had been sacrificed to idols. While he personally may not buy it, he has liberty to eat it, and liberty to keep from offending his host...until his weaker brother points out the situation, and then he limits his liberty out of love for his brother. LOVE FOR HIS BROTHER. John MacArthur pointed out that his first duty was to show love to his brother, even at the expense of offending an unbelieving host. He talked about the unbeliever's possible observation of the situation had the stronger believer eaten the meat anyway, "He treats me just fine right where I am, but he treats his brother like he doesn't even love him."
This was where I started thinking (and probably didn't even hear the rest of the sermon). So often we as Christians are concerned about what the world thinks of us. I know I'm guilty of this...I always want to make sure there is "legitimacy" in my choices, so I tend to look to the world's standards. And if my focus and goals are right, I suppose I am free to do as I please in life...but what if it stumbles a brother? Rather than being afraid of offending unbelievers, our higher priority should be our brothers and sisters in Christ. That doesn't mean we can't demonstrate love to the rest of the world. It's just like a family, though--true character starts at home. If we're not showing our brothers in Christ love, can we really show the rest of the world love? I mean, that's HOW we show our love.
Of course, there are times we must confront sin (to refrain from doing so would NOT be loving), but there is a correct manner in which to do it. And in exercising our Christian liberties, we must also be careful to avoid offending "weaker" brothers. I have always wondered exactly what that meant, though. The Gospel is an offense to unbelievers, but for believers there are things we can do that will be stumbling blocks. We do need to avoid those. I guess they are things like drinking alcholic things (in moderation), or maybe dancing...things that some believers consider taboo.
I started thinking about what the N.T. says about loving our brothers, and I suddenly realized that the references to that are much more common than any references (if there are any) to showing love to those outside the church. Interesting. It grows, though...other people will see it and want it. We should make it attractive to them by how we act with each other.
So, can other people see that we (as Christians) love each other?
