Don't Judge Scruples
Rom 14:13,14 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
Again he's referring to judging with regards to disputable matters. Matters of which we have freedom in the Lord. But as he said in 1Cor 10 concerning disputable matters, "Everything is permissible— but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible— but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." 1Cor 10:23,24 While there are many options in the Christian life, we need to avoid cause others from stumbling over issues of which we ourselves may have a clear conscience.
"Food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ." 1Cor 8:8-12
However one of the difficulties is when one's convictions concerning ceremonial matters becomes a matter of legalism, as was the case with the cult of the circumcision, which Paul had to deal with. And what of Peter who was reluctant to obey the Lord's command to kill and eat animals which were unlawful under the Law of Moses and said to the Lord, "Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." Acts 10:14 What of his conscience? Seems that matter of conscience themselves take second place the work of the ministry. Yet even in this case it seems the Lord led Peter away from ministry to the Gentiles and gave it to the apostle Paul instead, as Peter also agreed. Beware, scruples can limit your usefulness.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
Rom 14:13,14 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
Again he's referring to judging with regards to disputable matters. Matters of which we have freedom in the Lord. But as he said in 1Cor 10 concerning disputable matters, "Everything is permissible— but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible— but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." 1Cor 10:23,24 While there are many options in the Christian life, we need to avoid cause others from stumbling over issues of which we ourselves may have a clear conscience.
"Food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ." 1Cor 8:8-12
However one of the difficulties is when one's convictions concerning ceremonial matters becomes a matter of legalism, as was the case with the cult of the circumcision, which Paul had to deal with. And what of Peter who was reluctant to obey the Lord's command to kill and eat animals which were unlawful under the Law of Moses and said to the Lord, "Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." Acts 10:14 What of his conscience? Seems that matter of conscience themselves take second place the work of the ministry. Yet even in this case it seems the Lord led Peter away from ministry to the Gentiles and gave it to the apostle Paul instead, as Peter also agreed. Beware, scruples can limit your usefulness.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources