1 Corinthians 8:1-13

 1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge.
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something
does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known
by God.   4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is
nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5For even if there are
so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and
many “lords”), 6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things
came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through
whom all things came and through whom we live.   7But not everyone knows this.
Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they
think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak,
it is defiled. 8But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do
not eat, and no better if we do.   9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your
freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if anyone with
a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple,
won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak
brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12When you sin
against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against
Christ. 13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat
meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

MEDITATION
1. Is there something in my life that when I exercise my freedom, it becomes a
stumbling block for others?  Drinking? Clothing? Music? Lifestyle? Political
viewpoints? Legalism?
2. Lord, is there someone stumbled because of my freedom?  As I pause to
listen, bring the person to mind...

Personal Note:
It seems that Christians growing up in conservative circles are the ones who claim that they are refraining from drinking, certain clothing, music, lifestyle, strong political viewpoints, legalism in order to "not" stumbling the weak.  I observe that their claims stumble more brother and sisters.

For example, a church policy may be "No dancing in the church".  Without explanation about how this rule was enforced so that brothers and sisters won't be stumbled into sexual temptation, the church may be mistaken for legalism.  We see in the Bible that David dances and God does delight in joyous dancing in praising Him.

My point is that church leaders needs to continually be in touch with the current culture to see what stumble brothers and sisters.  The measures that prevent brothers and sisters from stumbling 10 years ago may become stumbling blocks today.