Causing others to stumble
So I was just reading about the idea of sin on myfourwalls and looking through the comments and one of them got me to thinking.
The comment was essentially along the lines of drinking is not a sin, but when you add Paul's insight of do not cause others to stumble, the commenter deduced that you shouldn't drink alcohol in front of those that do think it is a sin. This is where I see the problem. It just seems to me that if we continue to support bad theology we can never expect change in others. I just think that it is perpetuating legalistic tendencies.
Any thoughts??
9 comments:
Thought:
If it is Paul's theology that the stronger (one with more freedom) should give way to the weaker (one with less freedom) than should we really call that "bad" theology?
If we ask Paul about alcohol; he told Timothy of a medicinal value and also warned in many places against the sin of drunkenenss.
As someone who doesn't drink and truthfully doesn't think anyone should drink I am more on guard personally against the sin of a judgemental attitude than taking a drink.
My hope is that in situations where the possibility of drinking is available and where some there are taking advantage of that personal freedom in a non-sinful manner, that my not drinking will not be judged as judgemental and no one will try to change me to a drinker.
Is that possible? Or on further reflection is that a horrible run-on sentence?
But I am not saying that it is bad theology to drink or not. I think that we would all agree that bad things are more likely to happen in a drunken state. My main concern is, do we bend our actions because of someone else's convictions?
Yes.
When I consider the discussion by Paul in 1 Corinthians 8 about eating meat that climaxes with 1 Corinthians 9:22, I see that we MUST at times change our actions so that they do not distract from the gospel. I see this as a living out of Ephesians 5:21 within the family of God in line with Jesus' commands to love each other. Surely there is submission in love.
To balance this submission to another's convictions there is the strong encouragement of Paul in Colossians 2 that in my mind guards the non-loving, judgemental legalist from taking advantage of those that are submissive in love.
In practical terms: I can imagine times that I might bend my personal conviction against drinking socially and drink, so that it does not distract from evangelism or Christian fellowship. If faced with legalistic judgement for these actions I would point to Colosians--and say "back off"!(hopefully in love.)
i guess i would like for you to further argue your case, why abstaining from drinking is promoting legalism and how continuing to do something that another disagrees with will produce any pos+ results (in the incident noted anyways.)
and do you think there is ever an incident when one should bend their convictions? why?
Well my thought process is essentially along the lines of just because you think it (whatever it may be) is wrong does that mean that I also have to think it is wrong as well. Then if I don't think it is wrong do I have to not do something I enjoy because you think it is wrong (gotta love over using pronouns). I guess where I am going with this is some many times you see people changing what type of Christians they are depending on who they are around. I am in no sense saying that you should serve wine with dinner if there is an alcoholic at the table. I just don't think that there is anything wrong with enjoy a bottle of wine with friends.
I will be the first to admit that this thought process is not very well thought out. It just struck me the other night as I sipped on my glass of wine.
Why should I stop doing something I enjoy?
1) If it is sin. This is not meant to accuse or even open a debate on alcohol. But a general observation that sin is aways enjoyable, for a time. Personal enjoyment can not be the only criteria for decision making.
2) If it is illegal. I might not of thought of this one but personal Bible study ran through several passages where Chrisitans are told to respect authority of all kinds including governmental as to the Lord.
3) If it is hurting someone else. This is back to my previous post on the question of causing stumbling by interacting with biblical admonitions for community living.
4) If it is not helping someone else. I believe we must have a higher standard than merely personal freedom. I am reminded of Paul's statements in 1 Corinthians 10:23 and following.
5) If it is hurting me. No matter how much I enjoy steak there will be a time in my life, hopefully far in the future, that some doctor will tell me no more steak because something I enjoy is hurting me.
joebum ask a great question,("when should we bend convictions?") that I have NOT answered. There is a big difference between things I enjoy and convictions. Convictions involve not only personal feelings but indepth and prayerful interaction with Scripture to determine a personal standard on important issues.
Please excuse the length of this post (I actually have more thoughts on your topic of hypocritical Christians) I spent lots of time driving on Wed and had too much time to think in the vacuum of my lil blue truck!
...more time in the lil blue truck...
On further reflection there is a weakness with my #4. Yes, as Christians should avoid selfish and pointless enjoyments (I think)--but there is something to the idea that God the Father wants His kids to be happy and that He finds joy in our enjoyment of the blessings of life. ???
russell freakin' banks. how are you?
RB. How's It Going? I have finally joined the blogging community. Mine is rom12records.blogspot.com.
You guys really have a lot of great thoughts and questions here. I recently taught through this subject with the youth and was blown away by their insights and concerns.
Romans 14 and 15 paint a picture of a weaker brother and a stronger brother. There are a few commands to the "stronger" brother. 1.) Welcome the one who is weaker in faith, but not to quarrel over opinions (14:1), which we usually do. 2.) We who are strong have an OBLIGATION to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. This command is followed up with the example that Christ set for us. There are SOOOOO many different opinions on the drinking issue as well as a few others. But I am so thankful for what the scriptures give us in these two chapters in Romans. We find a crazy comment at the end of chapter 14 that says, "...whatever does not proceed from faith is a sin." So how do you do everything in faith? Everything?!
All I know is to cling to the God-Breathed scriptures because we find that we are not to judge the one who partakes and not to despise the one who abstains (14:3). We also see that we are to be fully convinced in our own minds (14:5). So whatever place you have landed in reference to drinking, or eating meat, or eating fast food, or holy days, or meat sacrificed to idols...you better be fully convinced in your own mind of your decision from the time you have spent in scripture. Otherwise your decision does not proceed from faith...which is a sin (14:23).
The thing that I have to always keep in mind, is that I might indeed be the WEAKER brother at any given point. Scary. Well, be good. More Later.
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