1 Corinthians 8:7, The Conscience Being Weak

1 Corinthians 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

Now is the crux of the matter, if eating food offered to idols will stumble another, let us be willing to abstain from all appearance of evil. Refrain from eating, lest the brother with the weak faith is stumbled.

William MacDonald said illustrated well, “For instance, as far as God is concerned, it is not wrong for a believer to eat pork. It would have been wrong for a Jew to do so in the OT, but a Christian is at perfect liberty to partake of such food. However, a Jew converted to Christianity might still have scruples about this. He might feel that it is wrong to eat a roast pork dinner. He is what the Bible calls a weak brother. It means that he is not living in the full enjoyment of his Christian liberty. Actually, as long as he thinks that it is wrong to eat pork, he would sin if he went ahead and did it. That is what is meant by the expression their conscience, being weak, is defiled.”

May the Lord grant His people His grace in the Christian community to look to the needs of one another when we would go about our daily living. Where our actions may weaken another’s faith, may we be willing to exercise self-restrain. Amen.