Trying not to use my freedom to cause others to stumble

[Darren2013]

I do believe as the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that everything is permissible but not all things are beneficial. We are under grace and have been set free from obligations in relationship to God. There's nothing that we can do that will condemn us in relationship to God.

 

But Paul does talk about believers being careful not to use their liberty to cause others to stumble.

 

For example I don't believe God has a problem with anyone using swear words but the reality is that I sometimes will be in the presence of conservative people and will need to watch my language. If I start my own talk show and if I am serious about reaching a wide range audience then I've got to tone down my language for any conservatives listening. It is a small sacrifice compared to the dividends I reap in return which is getting more listensrs. God doesn't care about the f word coming out of my mouth but some folks find that talk offensive.

 

God doesn't care if I eat meat but if I am out on a date with someone who is a vegetarian I run the risk of offending them if I eat meat in front of them. I mentioned this the other day on another thread about tailoring my diet on a date depending on what the other person likes to eat. I personally don't see it as a big inconvenience to refrain from eating meat in the presence of vegetarians. I don't need to eat meat in order to prove a point about how much liberty there is in Christ. Someone made a comment about how I need to just be myself. I think Paul understood that there is a balance and that not eating meat in the presence of vegetarians does not mean I am pretending to be someone I am not.

 

I think part of my New Years resolution is to be more conscious about the way I use my freedom. I believe I am free to watch lesbian porn in the privacy of my own home but some folks find those kind of things offensive so of course I must show only G rated movies in their presence. Having the freedom to do something doesn't mean it is beneficial when I'm not the only one living on this planet. It isn't really that hard to refrain from swearing or refrain from eating meat in the presence of those who have strong convictions about those things.

 

When I go back to the privacy of my home then I can eat all the meat and get drunk and look at all the lesbian porn I want to and not cause others to stumble.

Edited December 14, 2014 by Darren2013