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WEAK CONSCIENCE

Text: 1 Cor. 8:12 

But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

There are things you do because you have better knowledge and clear conscience, but such  could be destroying the faith of fellow Christians.
(1Cor.8:11).

Apostle Paul was writing to the church in Corinthians on his stand about eating food offered to idol. He mentioned first of all that idol is nothing in this world. Hence, some brethren eat food offered to idol with clear and strong conscience before God, due to their knowledge about the fact that idol is nothing in this world.

Meanwhile, those with weak conscience do not know this fact. They however imitate those eating meat offered to idol, and thereby got themselves defiled.

Apostle Paul wrote thus: "For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?" (1 Corin. 8:10-11).

You will often hear many Christians and leaders in the church saying, "I don't care what people may say about my outlook, or my lifestyle, God sees my heart."

Such was the case of the Corinthian believers who had knowledge. They were eating meat offered to idols because they had knowledge that it does not affect their faith. Others with weak conscience imitate them in eating meat offered to idols and they sinned. This is because, "...whatever is  not done from faith is sin" In other words, whatever you do that is not from heart of conviction is sin unto God.

Those believers with weak conscience in Corinthians church, were eating meat offered to idol without conviction that they were doing the right thing. This is sinful.

You need to be careful how you use your liberty to destroy other believers with weak conscience. There are things you shouldn't do for the sake of your fellow Christians. This is love. True love sees to it that you don't destroy the faith of your brothers through your knowledge.

That's the reason Apostle Paul  compared love to knowledge, 1 Corinthians 8:1. He said, "Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. *Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."* 

The Lord is asking you today, "...through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?" (1Cor. 8:11).

Many Christians, knowingly or unknowingly destroy brethren with weak conscience in the name of what they know (knowledge). Such are not walking in love. *Your lifestyle can destroy the faith of others, you must be careful how you live.* 

When you walk in  knowledge only, you may be less concerned about your brethren, but when you allow love to rule your heart, then you will be able to build up, and not tear down the brethren.

Remember, Knowledge Puffs up, but love edifies.

Bible  Reading:

Romans 8:1-13.

PRAYER FOCUS

1.) Father, help me to always walk in love towards you and my brethren.

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