Caring With Our Conscience -- 1 Corinthians 8:9-12
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Caring With Our Conscience -- 1 Corinthians 8:9-12
dove Sun 16 Sep 2007, 1:27 am
I enjoy reading Dr. Charles Stanley articles, I thought of sharing one here.
How do you approach your decisions-- by thinking primarily of yourself? Or do you consider how your actions will affect the faith and lives of others? Just as we have to discipline our conscience for it to grow stronger, we must use discernment to avoid wounding a weaker believer.
Some Christians never stop to think that their choices can weaken or destroy someone else's faith. They justify their behavior, saying God doesn't convict them for it. While they don't necessarily indulge in sinful acts, their spiritual defenses have grown strong enough to let them do things they wouldn't have done in the early stages of their spiritual walk. These believers fail to realize that younger Christians are watching how they live out their faith. When "weaker" ones follow the example they see, their ship of faith may capsize because of a conscience that is troubled or confused rather than strengthened.
Paul blames the "stronger" Christian for these shipwrecks. He says we're responsible not only for our actions, but also for the effect of those actions. In the end, we are to care more about the "brother for whose sake Christ died" than about our own wants or desires (1 Corinthians 8:11).
Because our faith is on display before the world, God promises rewards but insists on responsibility. One of the rewards is freedom from condemnation. But that freedom doesn't mean license to do as we please without considering those who watch our example. Through the Spirit, we must discern the greater good and act on it.
Dr. Charles Stanley
How do you approach your decisions-- by thinking primarily of yourself? Or do you consider how your actions will affect the faith and lives of others? Just as we have to discipline our conscience for it to grow stronger, we must use discernment to avoid wounding a weaker believer.
Some Christians never stop to think that their choices can weaken or destroy someone else's faith. They justify their behavior, saying God doesn't convict them for it. While they don't necessarily indulge in sinful acts, their spiritual defenses have grown strong enough to let them do things they wouldn't have done in the early stages of their spiritual walk. These believers fail to realize that younger Christians are watching how they live out their faith. When "weaker" ones follow the example they see, their ship of faith may capsize because of a conscience that is troubled or confused rather than strengthened.
Paul blames the "stronger" Christian for these shipwrecks. He says we're responsible not only for our actions, but also for the effect of those actions. In the end, we are to care more about the "brother for whose sake Christ died" than about our own wants or desires (1 Corinthians 8:11).
Because our faith is on display before the world, God promises rewards but insists on responsibility. One of the rewards is freedom from condemnation. But that freedom doesn't mean license to do as we please without considering those who watch our example. Through the Spirit, we must discern the greater good and act on it.
Dr. Charles Stanley
dove- Christian Talk Member
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Re: Caring With Our Conscience -- 1 Corinthians 8:9-12
spiritfilled Mon 17 Sep 2007, 5:39 pm
Hey dove! it is nice to see you. I am sorry for my absence for a long time now. I went through your post and found it to be quite faith inspiring. May God bless you for sharing it with us here.
This is so true that we live in a times of deception. Last week, I tried to stop someone from marrying a divorced man and all she came up with excuses, "that person is married to a divorced man and God has said nothing to them". I felt so sorry that instead of making Bible their guide, they make sinners their guide in doing wrong and covering up their sins.
I wish all peopl should read Bible and apply it also in their lives.
See ya!
This is so true that we live in a times of deception. Last week, I tried to stop someone from marrying a divorced man and all she came up with excuses, "that person is married to a divorced man and God has said nothing to them". I felt so sorry that instead of making Bible their guide, they make sinners their guide in doing wrong and covering up their sins.
I wish all peopl should read Bible and apply it also in their lives.
See ya!
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Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717) wrote powerfully about the need for an intimate relationship with Almighty God, including this: “He who has a pure heart will never cease to pray; and he who will be constant in prayer, shall know what it is to have a pure heart.”
