The interesting thing about this verse is Paul is referring to eating meat sacrificed to an idol. An activity that he has already stated was not a sin... Sacrificing an animal to an inanimate object has no impact on the meat....Paul even states that those offended by this, are weaker in their faith.
As a society, we focus on our rights so much that it may seem to us that we should press forward in the exercise of our freedom, and let the weak learn to be stronger.
However this verse says pressing on in an apporved activity, in spite of the negative consequences to a brother, changes it to a sin ... and a sin against Christ.
So an action that by itself is allowed, can become a sin if it wounds a brother.
That is a huge concept and it should dramatically impact our thoughts and actions.
I am free in Christ, and that freedom should be cherished as it came at a great price.
However if my freedom causes a child of God to stumble I must willingly abdicate that freedom for the preservation of my brother. This requires a change in my mindset, and a redefinition of the concept of liberty.
I now must consider my language, what movies I attend, what I eat and drink, the jokes I tell...everything - to be sure it doesn't place a stumbling block in front of a weaker brother.
Not because I am not free ... but because in my freedom, I have chosen to serve the law of Love.
Jesus made it clear that if my actions offend His child...then my actions offended Him.
The paradox of the Christian faith is that our freedom allows us to be a slave to Christ, and our liberty allows us to serve others.
Evaluate your activities today. Not in an effort to defend your actions, but in an effort to make sure nothing you do hinders the ultimate goal of leading others to Christ.
"It is our duty and our privilege to exhaust our lives for Jesus. We are not to be living specimens of men in fine preservation, but living sacrifices, whose lot is to be consumed"
-Charles Spurgeon
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