Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace

How to Avoid Conflicts 4

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2011-05-01

Synopsis: In this sermon, John Weaver continues his series on avoiding conflicts between Christians by examining the biblical meaning of 'offense' from Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. He argues that biblical offense is not about upsetting or angering someone, but about encouraging a weaker brother to exercise a liberty without having the same knowledge, causing him to stumble. The sermon clarifies that Christian liberty involves things indifferent (not sinful in themselves), that only the weak are offended, and that such offense stems from ignorance. Applications include enjoying God's creation responsibly and patiently teaching weaker brethren rather than condemning them.

[John Weaver] Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. We'll probably be looking more in 1 Corinthians 8 today, but I do want to begin by reviewing and also by reading a passage from Romans chapter 14. Remember, we have been dealing with this subject, how to avoid conflicts between Christians, and we have preached three messages. Today is going to be the fourth. I will bring the fifth and final message, Lord willing, next Sunday. But let me point out that the message today is actually going to be cut in half simply because I cannot cover all of it in one session. So you're going to have to be here to hear the rest of it. But at least I'm going to answer one important question for you, because we're going to be dealing with biblical offense and what it means to offend someone. So look in Romans chapter 14, beginning with verse one, God says him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believed that he made all things, another who is weak to give herbs.

[John Weaver] Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him. Who art thou that judges another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth, yet he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand."

[John Weaver] Now look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and let's begin reading there. The Apostle Paul says,"...now as touching things offered unto idols, We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing, yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, or as there be gods many and lords many, but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat as the thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weakest defiled.

[John Weaver] But meat commendeth us not to God. For neither if we eat are we the better, neither if we eat not are we the worse. But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit it meet in the idol's temple. Shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols? And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died." But when you sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

[John Weaver] Now, you must remember in the very first message in Romans chapter 14, I pointed out a number of things. First of all, that practical Christian living is based upon doctrine. And one of the reasons there are so many loose livers and so many ungodly people today That is among professing Christians is because there are so little doctrine taught and therefore they simply do not know the truth nor know how to apply the truth. We also learned in the first message that there are degrees of faith. There's a little faith. There's a great faith. There's a weak faith. There's a strong faith and all degrees in between. In fact, in verse John 2, John distinguished between believers by calling some babes or little children, other young men and other fathers in the faith.

[John Weaver] So all that is teaching us is this, that not everyone is on the same level doctrinally. That is, not everyone understands the same doctrine and not everyone understands how to make application. Hence, there's going to be a number of conflicts that arise. It's also critical for you and I to understand that a weak believer is still a believer. God does not tell us it's only a strong faith that saves. No, it is faith in Christ that saves. So, no matter how weak one is in the faith, he's still to be counted as a believer and we're to receive them, Scripture tells us, into friendship and into fellowship for God's honor and God's glory. Yet when we receive them, we're not to be critical and condemning and suppressing them. As Scripture says, we're to receive them, but not to doubtful disputations.

[John Weaver] In the second message, just by way of review, I pointed out how it is absolutely impossible to argue someone into the faith or to argue them into changing their positions. The Scriptures teaching us that the weak believers cannot be helped by criticism and condemnation. It is true. We are to teach the word of God. We are to instruct them in the faith and we're to do so patiently. Willingly and regularly and consistently, yet we have to understand it is God and God alone who gives illumination, who gives enlightenment and who gives understanding.

[John Weaver] The point I really want to emphasize is this. I do not care how excellent a teacher someone is. I do not care how patient that individual is. I do not care how great his outline is. It is only God who gives understanding. It is not in our power to make someone understand. And when we get angry and upset and we use such languages, what's wrong with you, dummy?

[John Weaver] Can't you see plain truth? Does absolutely no good because no one, whether saved or unsaved, can see any truth unless God opens their eyes. That's why in Acts 16, we read how the Lord opened Lydia's heart. With the result that she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul. And in the third message, I showed you how the conflicts were arising, not only in Romans 14, but in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, over meats and over festival days and meats that had been sacrificed to idols. In fact, the apostle tells us in Romans chapter 14 that the strong believers were condemning the weak believers because of their ignorance and because of their foolishness, and yet the weak believers were turning around and judging the strong believers because they did not believe that someone could eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol and yet be a real, genuine Christian. Now, you've got to also remember this, that I pointed out in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and I will emphasize this again today, that we are dealing with things which are indifferent.

[John Weaver] And when I say things which are indifferent, I mean by that things that are not sinful in and of themselves. Things that are not clear, distinct violations of the Word of God. Eating meat is not sinful. Meat is not sinful in and of itself. And any time you begin to place sin in anything material or anything that's made of matter, then you've gone into Greek paganism, Greek dualism. Sin, according to the Bible, resides in the human heart. It does not reside in anything that is material.

[John Weaver] So we have to understand also, and we did this hopefully in the third message, that there are ramifications for everything that we do. For Scripture tells us that no man liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself. And what people observe us and see us do will always have ramifications. And therefore, He's telling us in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians chapter 8, that we are always to consider the weaker brethren.

[John Weaver] Now, let me begin today By asking this question, what does it mean to offend? Or I could go a little bit further. What does it mean to offend someone biblically? We could reverse that and ask it like this. How is it that we? Are not to offend someone. Each of us have heard statements like this. I'm offended at that or be careful that you do not offend him. Or, if you offend him, he will probably leave. Well, we've not only heard those statements in all probability, we've made those statements ourselves. But what in the world does it mean to offend someone biblically? There are two Greek words that are used throughout the New Testament that are translated as offend. The first one is the Greek word skandalon. It is where we get our English word scandal from. And the second one is the word proskama. The Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, uses these words exactly as the New Testament does. The word that is used most often is the word skandalon.

[John Weaver] from which we get that English word scandal. So how do you scandalize someone? Let me tell you what a scandalon was. In Bible times and how it came to be used to mean an offense or a snare or a stumbling block. Do you realize when you were trapping animals? There was a stick that was put up on the trap that had the bait on it. And when the animal hit that stick and the stick fell. And the trap fell upon the animal. That stick that held the bait was called a scondylon. So when the animal was entrapped or snared. He was scandalized. So actually, the word came to mean then to entrap someone or something deceitfully. It meant to put a stumbling block in some way, in someone's way, to be an offense to cause them to fall.

[John Weaver] Now, if you've been paying attention not only in the last three messages, but even in the review today, You understand that the problem that arose in 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans chapter 14 were over meats and over festival days. In fact, they were upset because some Christians were eating meat that had been sold in the shambles. That's found in 1 Corinthians 10. Remember, I told you the shambles was nothing more than a discount meat market. And that meat that was not given to the idol in sacrifice, it was there put into the shambles and people were going there and buying that meat and eating it. Moreover, they were going into the idol's temple and eating meat as well. So here's this conflict then that arose between the strong and the weak.

[John Weaver] Let me begin by showing you what is involved. First of all, Christian liberty is involved, and the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. Just showing you that Christian liberty is involved, and the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. The Apostle Paul says, but take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. So here he's talking about this liberty. And by the way, the word liberty here literally means power or right. It is exactly the same word that is used in John 1, 11 and 12. Let me just quote it. Referring to Christ, he came into his own, but his own received him not, but to as many as received him, to them he gave power, or authority, and right to become the sons of God. So here the word liberty means power or right. So when we're talking about meat, When we're talking about festival days, we're talking about things that are indifferent.

[John Weaver] Let me emphasize that we're not talking about things that are sinful. Things that are sinful in and of themselves are not things that are indifferent. In 1 John 3, verse 4, the Bible says, Whosoever committed sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. So a violation of God's law is not something that is indifferent. A violation of God's law is sin and rebellion. So what are things that are indifferent? Things that are indifferent are things which are not condemned in the Word of God, and they are things in which the consciences of believers do not uniformly hold as identical.

[John Weaver] In other words, there's no uniform faith. The illustration of meats, the illustration of festival dates. Now. Something that is indifferent is not sinful. Now listen carefully. It may not be wise. It may not be expedient. But it is not sinful. OK, now let me give you an illustration. Here's what I'm trying to. To emphasize. I've told you before, I've never had a beer in my entire life. And I have it.

[John Weaver] And I don't want one and I don't need one, but suppose. Let's suppose for some reason someone handed me a beer and I decided I would taste it now. Is the beer sinful in and of itself? No. No. Would I become a sinner if I drank the beer? And the answer is no. Alcohol is not sinful in and of itself. But let me ask you another question. Suppose I took that beer and drank it when five or six hundred people were watching me and many of them had real problems with that. Could a conflict arise? Oh, yeah.

[John Weaver] Now, here's what the Apostle Paul is saying. You take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours will become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

[John Weaver] Now, the Scripture makes it clear that you and I have been freed from traditionalism, ceremonialism, pragmatism, subjectivism. Do you understand that our consciences are to be bound only to the Word of God? We have been freed from the practices, the traditions, and the inventions of men. So when someone comes along and says, You must observe this tradition. And you must do this exercise and you must do it in the way that it is prescribed or else you will be a sinner and you will be under the judgment of God.

[John Weaver] That is not true, folks. That is not true. The only thing that can bind our consciences is the Word of God, not the traditions of men, not the teachings of the Pharisees, not the teachings of the Sadducees, not the teaching of anyone or anything, but just simply the Word of God. That's why in Galatians 5, in verse 1, the Scripture says, listen carefully, stand fast, therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Wow. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5 and verse 13 is equally clear when Paul writes, for brethren, you have been called unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion of the flesh, but by love serve one another.

[John Weaver] So the point I'm trying to make is this. Things that are indifferent are not sinful in and of themselves. They may become a source of conflict because some people do not have correct biblical knowledge and some people want to take their traditions and their inventions and bind them on the conscience of other people and make them do exactly as they do. When we're talking about Christian liberty, we're talking about things that are indifferent and things that are not sinful in and of themselves. Meat is not sinful. Not observing a certain day is not sinful. Observing a certain day is not necessarily sinful in and of itself. But when you begin to try to make that a practice and a pattern and a demand for everyone then there's going to be real problems. Secondly, I want you to note this. Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It's not the strong, it's the weak. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 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. Now watch. And their conscience being weak is defiled. Skip down to verse 9. But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. Look in verse 11. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died. Now verse 12, but when you so sin against the brethren and whom their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. So it's only the weak then who stumble and fall. To stumble and to go contrary to one's conscience is a sign of weakness. The Bible says in Proverbs 24 and verse 10, If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

[John Weaver] If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Now, notice if you would, the Apostle Paul is talking about these individuals having a weak conscience. Do you know what a conscience is? How do you know whether you have a weak conscience or a strong conscience? The Greek word for conscience is the word sunadesis. Sun is a preposition which means with. Adesis means to know. So your conscience is that which you know with. You look at our English word conscience. Con is a preposition which means with. Science means to know. Your conscience is that which you know with. So your conscience then is your mind. It is your understanding. It is that which you know with.

[John Weaver] So, when you therefore go contrary to that which you know, or to that which you believe to be true, it's a sign of weakness. You're giving up and you're giving in to that which you believe and that which you think to be true. Look back in your Bibles to Romans 14 and verse 5. Talking about certain days, look what he says, Romans 14, verse five. He says, one man is seen with one day above another. Another is seen with every day of life. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Lord, you ought to know what you believe. You ought to know whether or not you believe a day is special or a day is not special. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Now skip down to verse 22, Romans 14. Look what he says now. Keep this in the context, because we're talking about meets and days. He says in Romans 14, verse 22, Hast thou faith?

[John Weaver] Have it to thyself before God. In other words, if you've got faith in a special day, fine, keep it to yourself and have it before God. Watch. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the thing which he allows. Watch, and he that doubteth is damned, or condemned, if he eat that is those meats, because he eateth not of faith, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. So it is not necessarily a sin for some weak individual to think, well, this steak is not any good because it was offered to an idol, but it's a sin if he turns around and eats it knowing he believes that because he's not eating in faith. Whatever we do, we're to do in faith. So it's the weak believers who are offended. It's not the strong believers, it's the weak believers.

[John Weaver] So, let me put it to you like this. It's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless you are re-instructing and retraining your conscience in a more biblical understanding.

[John Weaver] Now, let me tell you what will happen. Here's the way that you have been raised. Here's the way that you have been taught all of your life. And all of a sudden you realize the way that you have been raised and the way that you have been taught is wrong. And you're going to retrain your conscience in that which is right And the very first time you go contrary to the way that you've been raised and the way that you've been taught, all of a sudden your conscience will scream bloody murder.

[John Weaver] And you will have to say to it, shut up. I'm re-instructing you. You will listen to the Word of God. You will bow to the Word of God.

[John Weaver] Now you see, you and I, having been raised in a quote-unquote Christian civilization. We would have some of these conflicts because not all of us were raised biblically. But can you imagine what it would be like for someone who had been raised in idolatry all of their lives to all of a sudden now go contrary to the way they had been raised? Of course, their conscience is going to strain. So, it's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless, of course, you are restructuring your conscience and bringing it into greater obedience to the Word of God. Okay.

[John Weaver] So, we've understood, we're talking about in the context of offending now. So, when we're talking about offending, we understand Christian liberty is involved. We also understand that it involves things that are indifferent. We also now understand it is the weak who are offended. So when someone says as a believer, I'm offended at that. What they're saying is I'm a weak Christian. Literally. That's what they're admitting. That's what they're confessing.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, I want you to listen. Those who are weak. Offended. And stumble. Do so because of ignorance. Those who are weak, offended and stumble are so and do so because of ignorance.

[John Weaver] Now let's go back to 1st Corinthians chapter 8 and let if you would please at verse 4. 1st Corinthians 8 verse 4. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice in the idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other god but one. For though there be that that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many and lords many, But to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour, even as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak, is defiled." Now, let me point out, and I did so in lesson number three, but I must do it again today, That the Apostle Paul is not speaking of the heathen in verse 7 when he says, how be it there is a not every man that knowledge he is speaking of Christians.

[John Weaver] He is not saying that there are Christians that do not know that God is the only one true living God. He's not saying that at all. What he is saying is there are or at least there were Christians in the Corinthian church. who knew that an idol was nothing and that there was but one God, yet somehow they thought that that idol had such an influence over the meat that somehow that meat then was rendered unclean and therefore it was defiled and could not and should not be eaten.

[John Weaver] Which, of course, is clearly a lack of knowledge. Now, go back to verse 4. I want you to look what the Apostle Paul does, and by the way, he identifies himself with the strong believers. He says in verse 4, concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, watch, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is none other God but one. Look in verse 6, but to us, That is, to we who are strong, and to us who know, there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him." He says, we know that an idol is nothing. And to us, there is only one sovereign God.

[John Weaver] who has absolute control over everything. That's why in Romans 11, in verse 36, the Apostle Paul said, For off him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. So everything is off God, through God, and ultimately to God's honor and God's glory. So what the Apostle Paul is saying If someone stumbles and falls and is offended, it is because of ignorance.

[John Weaver] Do you not remember how our Lord spoke of this even in the Old Testament? Help me out. In Hosea 4 and verse 6, what did he say? My people are destroyed for what? Lack of knowledge. Lack of knowledge. So, it's the weak then who stumble, it's the weak who fall, it's the weak who are offended.

[John Weaver] Now, let me try to answer the question, what it is to offend someone. How do I offend you, biblically speaking? How do you offend me, biblically speaking? And by the way, I'll point this out more next week. But you can only offend a weak brother. You can only offend a weak brother.

[John Weaver] Now, let's go to verse 10. Look what the apostle says. I want to show you what it means to offend someone. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, that's the strong person. If any man see thee which hast knowledge, said it meet in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered unto idols?

[John Weaver] Now the word translated emboldened, is the same word which is used elsewhere in the New Testament and it's translated as edified. What do you do when you edify someone? You build them up or you strengthen them. By the way, this is about the only place in the New Testament where this word is used in a bad sense. The Greek word actually refers to the erection of a house or a building.

[John Weaver] So let's look at verse 10 again and then let me explain it like this. He says, For if any man see thee which has knowledge, said it meet in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened, edified, strengthened to do those things which are offered unto idols. So the Greek word then refers to the erection of a house or a building. The weak brother sees the strong brother exercising his liberty and therefore he is emboldened, he is encouraged to lay a foundation there and to erect a building there without having the knowledge of the strong brother. Years ago, I helped a man who was a brick mason. He was an excellent brick mason. And I only helped him a couple of days.

[John Weaver] And I thought, you know, this is a piece of cake. I can do this. So I was going to build myself a barbecue pit. So I mixed the mortar. I already had a foundation. I mixed the mortar. And I started, and I had my first wall of bricks up. And I let the mortar set, and I called my friend the brick mason over to look and see what I had done.

[John Weaver] And by the way, man, I had the level on it. I had that wall plumbed. I mean, I had it just right. It was only, you know, three feet high, something like that. I never will forget what he did. He put his hand on his chin, and he walked around, and he looked. Finally, he said, hmm. And he took his foot and kicked. And the whole thing just crumbled.

[John Weaver] Because the mortar was not mixed properly. I found out it wasn't a piece of cake, so I tried to erect a building. Are you listening? Without having his knowledge. and mine crumbled and fell. That's exactly what the Apostle Paul is talking about now. I want you to look at verse 10. And I want you to look at verse 7 and then let me explain it. Look in verse 10.

[John Weaver] He said, for if any man see thee which has knowledge said it meet in an idols temple shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols. Now go back to verse 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, the way to understand the first word, conscience, in verse 7, is to understand it as a custom practiced or habit. For there is not in every man that knowledge, for some with custom, practice, or habit of the idol in this hour. It is a thing offered to an idol, and their conscience at which they know with, being weak, is defiled." In other words, here were people who were in the habit of worshipping this idol prior to their conversion. And they were in the habit of eating that meat with religious significance. That it was somehow given to this idol and therefore that idol has some type of influence on it.

[John Weaver] And now the Apostle Paul says, for some strong brother to come by and go to that feast in the idol's temple and enjoy a good steak. When that weak brother sees it, him doing that, he's emboldened. He's encouraged to go there and to set up his house and to do the same thing, but he does not have the knowledge that the strong brother had and therefore. His building collapses.

[John Weaver] Now, I don't know if you put two and two together yet, but let me put it together for you. Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage someone, a weak brother, to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding. Let me say that again. Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding. One does not sin by exercising his liberty. He only sins when he encourages a weak brother to do what he is doing without having his knowledge. What I want to show you the rest of the time today is this, that we have perverted the biblical doctrine of offense, and we've made it to mean something entirely different from what the Scripture teaches.

[John Weaver] Let me give you some illustrations. All of us have heard this. Many of us have said this. Don't say that. It offends me. Translated, that means this. Shut up, I don't want to hear it. They're not encouraging us to do the same thing that they're doing without having their knowledge. No, no, no, no. We just don't want to hear it. How about this one? In fact, I had, I laughed because I actually had a woman tell me this one time.

[John Weaver] She said, I find your beard offensive. I laughed in her face. I said, dear lady, my beard could not possibly offend you because you could not do what I'm doing, even if you had my knowledge. But what did she mean when she said, I find your beard offensive? Here's what she meant. Shave it off. I don't like it. That's what she meant. Please me. How about this one? Be careful not to offend him. Don't make it. Be careful not to offend him.

[John Weaver] Let me translate that for you. Don't make him mad or he might cuss you out. That's what it means. How about this one? He's offended. He's not coming back to church. You know what that really means? He doesn't like the way things are being done, and if he can't have his way, he's not coming back. That's what it really means. You don't offend someone by upsetting them. You don't offend someone by making them mad or angry. You don't offend someone by doing something that they do not like. No, no, no.

[John Weaver] You see, the problem is we've lost our theology of rebuke because we have misunderstood and misinterpreted the word offense. For instance, look in your Bibles to the book of Luke 17 very quickly in verses 1 and 2. Luke 17, verses 1 and 2. Watch carefully. Luke 17, verses 1 and 2. Here we go. When we read a passage like this, I will tell you what we automatically do. Luke 17, verse 1.

[John Weaver] Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come, but warn him through whom they come. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, that he should offend one of these little ones. When we read a passage like that, we automatically interpret the word offend to mean to upset, to make mad, or to make angry, or to do something that someone does not approve.

[John Weaver] It has no such meaning. Christ upset and angered the Pharisees many times, yet He did not offend them in the biblical sense of the word. The truth is, using the word in another sense, Christ is an offense to many. They stumble over His deity. They stumble over His resurrection. They stumble over His Lordship and His sovereignty. I could say it like this. Jesus Christ is a divinely ordained offense to those who refuse to submit to the Father and rebel against the truth. God ordained that those who refused to bow to Him through Jesus Christ will stumble and fall.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 8. Isaiah 8 and verse 14. Isaiah 8 verse 14. Then we'll go to Romans 9, Isaiah 8, look in verse 14, we're talking about Jesus Christ. In fact, we can read verse 13, sanctify the Lord of hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread and he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of office to both the house of Israel and for a gin and

[John Weaver] for a slinger to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. What is the truth of God to people who refuse to believe it's a snare? It's a jinn. It's a stumbling block. Look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 9 and verse 33. Romans 9, verse 33. Romans 9, look in verse 33.

[John Weaver] Look what God says, as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. What is Jesus Christ to this world? He's a stumbling stone. He's a rock of offense. Look in Galatians 5 and verse 11. Galatians 5 verse 11.

[John Weaver] Look what Paul writes. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased. Did you hear that? Then is the offense of the cross ceased. Have you ever wondered why most people do not really want to hear the gospel? It offends them. In that sense of the word, they stumble over. It's a stumbling stone. Look in your Bibles, the first Peter Chapter 2. First Peter Chapter 2, look at verses 7 and 8. First Peter 2 verses 7 and 8.

[John Weaver] In fact, let's go back to verse 6 because there is the quote from Isaiah 8. 1 Peter 2, verse 6, God says, Wherefore, also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. And to you, therefore, who believe, he is precious. But unto them which be disobedient, The stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even of them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed." Christ is a stumbling block and an offense to the wicked.

[John Weaver] Yet He is not encouraging men to do that which he is doing without having his knowledge. There is the sense in the word that people just get mad and get angry at the preaching of the gospel. That is true. But when you look at the word offense in 1st Corinthians 8 and Romans Chapter 14 to biblically offend, you can only offend a weaker brother, and that is by emboldening him or encouraging him to do that which you're doing without having your knowledge. Now, please understand this. The word offend does not mean to make mad or to make angry or to upset. Do you remember in Galatians chapter 2, Paul confronted Peter and here's what Paul said, I said unto him before them all and I mean he dressed Peter up one side and down the other. Do you think Paul kind of upset Peter? Probably did.

[John Weaver] Might have hurt his feelings. Might have made him mad. But he did not offend him. Not in the biblical sense of the word. In the context of Romans 14, in the context of 1 Corinthians 8, you can only offend a weaker brother, and you only do that when you're encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to make just a couple of applications, and I'm going to stop right there, but I please want you to remember that I'm not anywhere near through with this message, and I'm going to try to tie everything together so that you can see what it really means to offend. Therefore, you will not be able or willing or desirous to offend a weak brother hereafter, and you will understand That, of course, offending does not mean to make mad. OK.

[John Weaver] The first application is this, it should be duly emphasized again. That those who are strong in the faith. Those who have the most knowledge or the ones who enjoy the most of God's creation. Let me put this another way. Those who are strong in the faith understand how to use God's creation without abusing it. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. I want to show you several passages in this application. 1 Corinthians chapter 3. Every one of us stay so busy that sometimes we do not have the time to wake up and smell the roses or the coffee, whatever you want to use. And Alice can tell you that for a multitude of years, when we traveled, all we did was just simply go there, preach, come back, go there, preach, come back, just busy, busy, busy. until I began to read some of these passages. And I decided while I was there, you know, this is God's world, this is God's creation. And I should enjoy it. God put it here for me, just like he put it here for you.

[John Weaver] I want you to see what the Bible says. Look in First Corinthians, chapter three, and let's begin reading their verse 21. Therefore, let no man glory in men, For all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and you're Christ's, and Christ is God's. How much has God given us in Jesus Christ? Everything. Everything. Look in 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 31. I quoted it, but I want you to see it. 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 31. Look if you would at what he says. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 31. And they that use this world as not abusing it. For the fashion of this world passeth away. Do you realize there is a proper way to use and to enjoy God's creation? where to use it without abusing it. Now, turn in your Bibles to First Timothy, chapter six. First Timothy, chapter six, and look, if you would please, at verse 17. The first part of this verse may not apply to most of us because we're not rich, but the last part does.

[John Weaver] We're rich in a lot of ways, but not necessarily always in worldly goods, but look what he says. First Timothy chapter 6 verse 17. Charge them that are rich in the world that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, look, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. How much has God given us to enjoy? All things. All things are ours. And we are to learn to use this world without abusing it. Since it is the strong believers who have the most knowledge according to Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Since it is the strong believers that understand Christian liberty. It is the strong who enjoy most of God's creation. Because they understand that God has given us richly all things to enjoy.

[John Weaver] However, I might also add. It is our responsibility. To patiently consider and educate and teach the weaker brethren. We're not to despise them, belittle them or browbeat them. We're to help them. As we enjoy God's liberty. And God's creation now. Very quickly, one second application that is this. You have to understand it's the weaker brethren who do not understand. And it's the weaker brethren who judge. The tendency of the strong is to condemn. So we have to fight against the tendency to condemn those who are ignorant.

[John Weaver] Yes, and I'm using that word biblically. They are ignorant of the truth of God, the Word of God, the doctrine of God, the application of God. We have to be sure that we don't condemn them, but we help them and teach them. Let me say it like this. It's easy to condemn and it's easy to judge. It is far more difficult to search out the truth and seek the truth and seek the Lord to give us understanding and illumination and enlightenment. One takes time and has a great deal of labor and work and the other is very easy to do. So we have to fight the tendency of the flesh to condemn and to judge, and learn to study, and seek the Lord for wisdom and understanding.

[John Weaver] But let me impress you with this. Biblically speaking, according to Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, you can only offend a weaker brother. And to offend him, Biblically, means to encourage him, to embolden him, to do exactly the same thing that you are doing without having your knowledge. And I will explain that further next week. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace, for your mercy, for your kindness to us. We pray, Father, that you would indeed teach us, that you'd build us up in the most holy faith, that you would make us strong in the faith as Abraham was.

[John Weaver] that You would enable us to enjoy Your creation and everything that You've given us. For You've given us richly all things to enjoy. All are ours. This world, things present and things to come, all are ours. And we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. And we give Thee the praise and the honor and the glory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen. Amen.

[John Weaver] This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abracorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, P-M-B 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912 You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

How to Avoid Conflicts 4

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	6211818355
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace
Genre	Sermon
Date	2011-05-01
Dictation Name
Book	Book 153: How to Avoid Conflicts — Chapter 4
Source Timed Segments	69

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the series on avoiding conflicts, noting that practical Christian living is based on doctrine, there are degrees of faith, and weak believers are still believers to be received without condemnation.

Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. We'll probably be looking more in 1 Corinthians 8 today, but I do want to begin by reviewing and also by reading a passage from Romans chapter 14. Remember, we have been dealing with this subject, how to avoid conflicts between Christians, and we have preached three messages. Today is going to be the fourth. I will bring the fifth and final message, Lord willing, next Sunday. But let me point out that the message today is actually going to be cut in half simply because I cannot cover all of it in one session. So you're going to have to be here to hear the rest of it. But at least I'm going to answer one important question for you, because we're going to be dealing with biblical offense and what it means to offend someone. So look in Romans chapter 14, beginning with verse one, God says:

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:1-4

"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs."

"Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand." Now look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and let's begin reading there. The Apostle Paul says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

"Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 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." "But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

Now, you must remember in the very first message in Romans chapter 14, I pointed out a number of things. First of all, that practical Christian living is based upon doctrine. And one of the reasons there are so many loose livers and so many ungodly people today—that is among professing Christians—is because there is so little doctrine taught and therefore they simply do not know the truth nor know how to apply the truth. We also learned in the first message that there are degrees of faith. There's a little faith. There's a great faith. There's a weak faith. There's a strong faith and all degrees in between. In fact, in 1 John 2, John distinguished between believers by calling some babes or little children, other young men and other fathers in the faith.

So all that is teaching us is this, that not everyone is on the same level doctrinally. That is, not everyone understands the same doctrine and not everyone understands how to make application. Hence, there's going to be a number of conflicts that arise. It's also critical for you and I to understand that a weak believer is still a believer. God does not tell us it's only a strong faith that saves. No, it is faith in Christ that saves. So, no matter how weak one is in the faith, he's still to be counted as a believer and we're to receive them, Scripture tells us, into friendship and into fellowship for God's honor and God's glory. Yet when we receive them, we're not to be critical and condemning and suppressing them. As Scripture says, we're to receive them, but not to doubtful disputations.

In the second message, just by way of review, I pointed out how it is absolutely impossible to argue someone into the faith or to argue them into changing their positions. The Scriptures teaching us that the weak believers cannot be helped by criticism and condemnation. It is true. We are to teach the word of God. We are to instruct them in the faith and we're to do so patiently, willingly and regularly and consistently, yet we have to understand it is God and God alone who gives illumination, who gives enlightenment and who gives understanding.

The Question of Offense

Weaver introduces the central question: what does it mean to offend someone biblically? He notes two Greek words, skandalon and proskomma, and explains skandalon as a trap stick used to snare animals, meaning to entrap or cause to stumble.

Now, let me begin today by asking this question, what does it mean to offend? Or I could go a little bit further. What does it mean to offend someone biblically? We could reverse that and ask it like this. How is it that we are not to offend someone? Each of us have heard statements like this. "I'm offended at that" or "Be careful that you do not offend him." Or, "If you offend him, he will probably leave." Well, we've not only heard those statements in all probability, we've made those statements ourselves. But what in the world does it mean to offend someone biblically? There are two Greek words that are used throughout the New Testament that are translated as offend. The first one is the Greek word skandalon. It is where we get our English word scandal from. And the second one is the word proskomma. The Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, uses these words exactly as the New Testament does. The word that is used most often is the word skandalon.

from which we get that English word scandal. So how do you scandalize someone? Let me tell you what a skandalon was in Bible times and how it came to be used to mean an offense or a snare or a stumbling block. Do you realize when you were trapping animals, there was a stick that was put up on the trap that had the bait on it. And when the animal hit that stick and the stick fell, and the trap fell upon the animal, that stick that held the bait was called a skandalon. So when the animal was entrapped or snared, he was scandalized. So actually, the word came to mean then to entrap someone or something deceitfully. It meant to put a stumbling block in some way, in someone's way, to be an offense to cause them to fall.

Now, if you've been paying attention not only in the last three messages, but even in the review today, you understand that the problem that arose in 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans chapter 14 were over meats and over festival days. In fact, they were upset because some Christians were eating meat that had been sold in the shambles. That's found in 1 Corinthians 10. Remember, I told you the shambles was nothing more than a discount meat market. And that meat that was not given to the idol in sacrifice, it was there put into the shambles and people were going there and buying that meat and eating it. Moreover, they were going into the idol's temple and eating meat as well. So here's this conflict then that arose between the strong and the weak.

Christian Liberty and Things Indifferent

The issue involves Christian liberty (power or right) and things indifferent—matters not sinful in themselves, like eating meat or observing days, which are not uniformly held by believers' consciences.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 10:25

Let me begin by showing you what is involved. First of all, Christian liberty is involved, and the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. Just showing you that Christian liberty is involved, and the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. The Apostle Paul says, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." So here he's talking about this liberty. And by the way, the word liberty here literally means power or right. It is exactly the same word that is used in John 1:11-12. Let me just quote it. Referring to Christ, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power"—or authority, and right—"to become the sons of God." So here the word liberty means power or right. So when we're talking about meat, when we're talking about festival days, we're talking about things that are indifferent.

Scripture Reading — John 1:11-12

Let me emphasize that we're not talking about things that are sinful. Things that are sinful in and of themselves are not things that are indifferent. In 1 John 3:4, the Bible says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." So a violation of God's law is not something that is indifferent. A violation of God's law is sin and rebellion. So what are things that are indifferent? Things that are indifferent are things which are not condemned in the Word of God, and they are things in which the consciences of believers do not uniformly hold as identical. In other words, there's no uniform faith. The illustration of meats, the illustration of festival days. Now, something that is indifferent is not sinful. Now listen carefully. It may not be wise. It may not be expedient. But it is not sinful. OK, now let me give you an illustration. Here's what I'm trying to emphasize. I've told you before, I've never had a beer in my entire life. And I have it.

And I don't want one and I don't need one, but suppose—let's suppose for some reason someone handed me a beer and I decided I would taste it. Now, is the beer sinful in and of itself? No. No. Would I become a sinner if I drank the beer? And the answer is no. Alcohol is not sinful in and of itself. But let me ask you another question. Suppose I took that beer and drank it when five or six hundred people were watching me and many of them had real problems with that. Could a conflict arise? Oh, yeah.

Now, here's what the Apostle Paul is saying. You take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours will become a stumbling block to them that are weak. Now, the Scripture makes it clear that you and I have been freed from traditionalism, ceremonialism, pragmatism, subjectivism. Do you understand that our consciences are to be bound only to the Word of God? We have been freed from the practices, the traditions, and the inventions of men. So when someone comes along and says, "You must observe this tradition. And you must do this exercise and you must do it in the way that it is prescribed or else you will be a sinner and you will be under the judgment of God."

That is not true, folks. That is not true. The only thing that can bind our consciences is the Word of God, not the traditions of men, not the teachings of the Pharisees, not the teachings of the Sadducees, not the teaching of anyone or anything, but just simply the Word of God. That's why in Galatians 5:1, the Scripture says, listen carefully,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:1

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Wow. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:13 is equally clear when Paul writes, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

So the point I'm trying to make is this. Things that are indifferent are not sinful in and of themselves. They may become a source of conflict because some people do not have correct biblical knowledge and some people want to take their traditions and their inventions and bind them on the conscience of other people and make them do exactly as they do. When we're talking about Christian liberty, we're talking about things that are indifferent and things that are not sinful in and of themselves. Meat is not sinful. Not observing a certain day is not sinful. Observing a certain day is not necessarily sinful in and of itself. But when you begin to try to make that a practice and a pattern and a demand for everyone then there's going to be real problems. Secondly, I want you to note this. Listen carefully.

The Weak Are Offended

It is the weak Christians who are offended and stumble, as seen in 1 Corinthians 8:7-12. A weak conscience is one that goes contrary to its own understanding, and it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience without retraining it biblically.

It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It's not the strong, it's the weak. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 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." Now watch. "And their conscience being weak is defiled." Skip down to verse 9. "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." Look in verse 11. "And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died." Now verse 12, "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." So it's only the weak then who stumble and fall. To stumble and to go contrary to one's conscience is a sign of weakness. The Bible says in Proverbs 24:10, "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Now, notice if you would, the Apostle Paul is talking about these individuals having a weak conscience. Do you know what a conscience is? How do you know whether you have a weak conscience or a strong conscience? The Greek word for conscience is the word suneidesis. Sun is a preposition which means with. Eidesis means to know. So your conscience is that which you know with. You look at our English word conscience. Con is a preposition which means with. Science means to know. Your conscience is that which you know with. So your conscience then is your mind. It is your understanding. It is that which you know with.

So, when you therefore go contrary to that which you know, or to that which you believe to be true, it's a sign of weakness. You're giving up and you're giving in to that which you believe and that which you think to be true. Look back in your Bibles to Romans 14 and verse 5. Talking about certain days, look what he says, Romans 14, verse five. He says, "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Lord, you ought to know what you believe. You ought to know whether or not you believe a day is special or a day is not special. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Now skip down to verse 22, Romans 14. Look what he says now. Keep this in the context, because we're talking about meats and days. He says in Romans 14, verse 22, "Hast thou faith?

Have it to thyself before God." In other words, if you've got faith in a special day, fine, keep it to yourself and have it before God. Watch. "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." Watch, "And he that doubteth is damned"—or condemned—"if he eat," that is those meats, "because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." So it is not necessarily a sin for some weak individual to think, well, this steak is not any good because it was offered to an idol, but it's a sin if he turns around and eats it knowing he believes that because he's not eating in faith. Whatever we do, we're to do in faith. So it's the weak believers who are offended. It's not the strong believers, it's the weak believers.

So, let me put it to you like this. It's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless you are re-instructing and retraining your conscience in a more biblical understanding. Now, let me tell you what will happen. Here's the way that you have been raised. Here's the way that you have been taught all of your life. And all of a sudden you realize the way that you have been raised and the way that you have been taught is wrong. And you're going to retrain your conscience in that which is right. And the very first time you go contrary to the way that you've been raised and the way that you've been taught, all of a sudden your conscience will scream bloody murder.

And you will have to say to it, "Shut up. I'm re-instructing you. You will listen to the Word of God. You will bow to the Word of God."

Now you see, you and I, having been raised in a quote-unquote Christian civilization, we would have some of these conflicts because not all of us were raised biblically. But can you imagine what it would be like for someone who had been raised in idolatry all of their lives to all of a sudden now go contrary to the way they had been raised? Of course, their conscience is going to strain. So, it's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless, of course, you are restructuring your conscience and bringing it into greater obedience to the Word of God. Okay.

Ignorance as the Cause of Stumbling

Those who are weak and offended stumble because of ignorance—a lack of knowledge that an idol is nothing and that all things are of God. The strong know this, but the weak do not.

So, we've understood, we're talking about in the context of offending now. So, when we're talking about offending, we understand Christian liberty is involved. We also understand that it involves things that are indifferent. We also now understand it is the weak who are offended. So when someone says as a believer, "I'm offended at that," what they're saying is "I'm a weak Christian." Literally. That's what they're admitting. That's what they're confessing.

Thirdly, I want you to listen. Those who are weak, offended, and stumble do so because of ignorance. Those who are weak, offended and stumble are so and do so because of ignorance. Now let's go back to 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and let's look, if you would please, at verse 4. 1 Corinthians 8 verse 4. "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 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, let me point out, and I did so in lesson number three, but I must do it again today, that the Apostle Paul is not speaking of the heathen in verse 7 when he says, "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge." He is speaking of Christians.

He is not saying that there are Christians that do not know that God is the only one true living God. He's not saying that at all. What he is saying is there are—or at least there were—Christians in the Corinthian church who knew that an idol was nothing and that there was but one God, yet somehow they thought that that idol had such an influence over the meat that somehow that meat then was rendered unclean and therefore it was defiled and could not and should not be eaten. Which, of course, is clearly a lack of knowledge. Now, go back to verse 4. I want you to look what the Apostle Paul does, and by the way, he identifies himself with the strong believers. He says in verse 4, "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols," watch, "we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one." Look in verse 6, "But to us"—that is, to we who are strong, and to us who know—"there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." He says, "We know that an idol is nothing." And "to us, there is only one sovereign God."

who has absolute control over everything. That's why in Romans 11:36, the Apostle Paul said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:36

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

So everything is of God, through God, and ultimately to God's honor and God's glory. So what the Apostle Paul is saying: If someone stumbles and falls and is offended, it is because of ignorance. Do you not remember how our Lord spoke of this even in the Old Testament? Help me out. In Hosea 4:6, what did he say? "My people are destroyed for" what? "Lack of knowledge." Lack of knowledge. So, it's the weak then who stumble, it's the weak who fall, it's the weak who are offended.

The Biblical Definition of Offense

Biblical offense occurs only when a strong brother encourages a weak brother to exercise the same liberty without having the same knowledge, as illustrated by the weak brother being emboldened to eat idol meat and thus defiling his conscience.

Now, let me try to answer the question, what it is to offend someone. How do I offend you, biblically speaking? How do you offend me, biblically speaking? And by the way, I'll point this out more next week. But you can only offend a weak brother. You can only offend a weak brother.

Now, let's go to verse 10. Look what the apostle says. I want to show you what it means to offend someone. "For if any man see thee which hast knowledge"—that's the strong person—"if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered unto idols?"

Now the word translated "emboldened" is the same word which is used elsewhere in the New Testament and it's translated as "edified." What do you do when you edify someone? You build them up or you strengthen them. By the way, this is about the only place in the New Testament where this word is used in a bad sense. The Greek word actually refers to the erection of a house or a building.

So let's look at verse 10 again and then let me explain it like this. He says, "For if any man see thee which has knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened"—edified, strengthened—"to do those things which are offered unto idols." So the Greek word then refers to the erection of a house or a building. The weak brother sees the strong brother exercising his liberty and therefore he is emboldened, he is encouraged to lay a foundation there and to erect a building there without having the knowledge of the strong brother. Years ago, I helped a man who was a brick mason. He was an excellent brick mason. And I only helped him a couple of days. And I thought, you know, this is a piece of cake. I can do this. So I was going to build myself a barbecue pit. So I mixed the mortar. I already had a foundation. I mixed the mortar. And I started, and I had my first wall of bricks up. And I let the mortar set, and I called my friend the brick mason over to look and see what I had done.

And by the way, man, I had the level on it. I had that wall plumbed. I mean, I had it just right. It was only, you know, three feet high, something like that. I never will forget what he did. He put his hand on his chin, and he walked around, and he looked. Finally, he said, "Hmm." And he took his foot and kicked. And the whole thing just crumbled.

Because the mortar was not mixed properly. I found out it wasn't a piece of cake, so I tried to erect a building. Are you listening? Without having his knowledge. And mine crumbled and fell. That's exactly what the Apostle Paul is talking about now. I want you to look at verse 10. And I want you to look at verse 7 and then let me explain it. Look in verse 10.

He said, "For if any man see thee which has knowledge sit at meat in an idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols." Now go back to verse 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, the way to understand the first word, "conscience," in verse 7, is to understand it as a custom practiced or habit. For there is not in every man that knowledge, for some with custom, practice, or habit of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience—that which they know with—being weak, is defiled. In other words, here were people who were in the habit of worshipping this idol prior to their conversion. And they were in the habit of eating that meat with religious significance, that it was somehow given to this idol and therefore that idol has some type of influence on it.

And now the Apostle Paul says, for some strong brother to come by and go to that feast in the idol's temple and enjoy a good steak, when that weak brother sees him doing that, he's emboldened. He's encouraged to go there and to set up his house and to do the same thing, but he does not have the knowledge that the strong brother had and therefore his building collapses. Now, I don't know if you put two and two together yet, but let me put it together for you. Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage someone, a weak brother, to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding. Let me say that again. Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding. One does not sin by exercising his liberty. He only sins when he encourages a weak brother to do what he is doing without having his knowledge. What I want to show you the rest of the time today is this, that we have perverted the biblical doctrine of offense, and we've made it to mean something entirely different from what the Scripture teaches.

Misinterpretations of Offense

Weaver argues that modern usage perverts the biblical doctrine: saying 'I'm offended' often means 'I don't like it' or 'shut up,' not a biblical stumbling. Christ upset Pharisees but did not offend them biblically; He is a divinely ordained offense to unbelievers.

Let me give you some illustrations. All of us have heard this. Many of us have said this. "Don't say that. It offends me." Translated, that means this: "Shut up, I don't want to hear it." They're not encouraging us to do the same thing that they're doing without having their knowledge. No, no, no, no. We just don't want to hear it. How about this one? In fact, I had—I laughed because I actually had a woman tell me this one time.

She said, "I find your beard offensive." I laughed in her face. I said, "Dear lady, my beard could not possibly offend you because you could not do what I'm doing, even if you had my knowledge." But what did she mean when she said, "I find your beard offensive"? Here's what she meant. "Shave it off. I don't like it." That's what she meant. "Please me." How about this one? "Be careful not to offend him." Don't make it. "Be careful not to offend him."

Let me translate that for you. "Don't make him mad or he might cuss you out." That's what it means. How about this one? "He's offended. He's not coming back to church." You know what that really means? He doesn't like the way things are being done, and if he can't have his way, he's not coming back. That's what it really means. You don't offend someone by upsetting them. You don't offend someone by making them mad or angry. You don't offend someone by doing something that they do not like. No, no, no.

You see, the problem is we've lost our theology of rebuke because we have misunderstood and misinterpreted the word offense. For instance, look in your Bibles to the book of Luke 17 very quickly in verses 1 and 2. Luke 17, verses 1 and 2. Watch carefully. Luke 17, verses 1 and 2. Here we go. When we read a passage like this, I will tell you what we automatically do. Luke 17, verse 1.

"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." When we read a passage like that, we automatically interpret the word "offend" to mean to upset, to make mad, or to make angry, or to do something that someone does not approve. It has no such meaning. Christ upset and angered the Pharisees many times, yet He did not offend them in the biblical sense of the word. The truth is, using the word in another sense, Christ is an offense to many. They stumble over His deity. They stumble over His resurrection. They stumble over His Lordship and His sovereignty. I could say it like this. Jesus Christ is a divinely ordained offense to those who refuse to submit to the Father and rebel against the truth. God ordained that those who refused to bow to Him through Jesus Christ will stumble and fall.

Look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 8. Isaiah 8 and verse 14. Isaiah 8 verse 14. Then we'll go to Romans 9. Isaiah 8, look in verse 14, we're talking about Jesus Christ. In fact, we can read verse 13,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 8:13-14

"Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and

for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." What is the truth of God to people who refuse to believe? It's a snare. It's a gin. It's a stumbling block. Look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 9 and verse 33. Romans 9, verse 33. Romans 9, look in verse 33.

Look what God says, "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." What is Jesus Christ to this world? He's a stumbling stone. He's a rock of offence. Look in Galatians 5 and verse 11. Galatians 5 verse 11.

Look what Paul writes. "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased." Did you hear that? "Then is the offence of the cross ceased." Have you ever wondered why most people do not really want to hear the gospel? It offends them. In that sense of the word, they stumble over it. It's a stumbling stone. Look in your Bibles, 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2, look at verses 7 and 8. 1 Peter 2 verses 7 and 8.

In fact, let's go back to verse 6 because there is the quote from Isaiah 8. 1 Peter 2, verse 6, God says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:6-8

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

Christ is a stumbling block and an offense to the wicked.

Applications

Strong believers enjoy more of God's creation because they understand liberty and use the world without abusing it. They must patiently teach weaker brethren rather than condemn them, fighting the fleshly tendency to judge.

The first application is this, it should be duly emphasized again, that those who are strong in the faith, those who have the most knowledge are the ones who enjoy the most of God's creation. Let me put this another way. Those who are strong in the faith understand how to use God's creation without abusing it. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. I want to show you several passages in this application. 1 Corinthians chapter 3. Every one of us stay so busy that sometimes we do not have the time to wake up and smell the roses or the coffee, whatever you want to use. And Alice can tell you that for a multitude of years, when we traveled, all we did was just simply go there, preach, come back, go there, preach, come back, just busy, busy, busy, until I began to read some of these passages. And I decided while I was there, you know, this is God's world, this is God's creation. And I should enjoy it. God put it here for me, just like he put it here for you.

I want you to see what the Bible says. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, and let's begin reading there verse 21.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

"Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."

How much has God given us in Jesus Christ? Everything. Everything. Look in 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 31. I quoted it, but I want you to see it. 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 31. Look if you would at what he says. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 31. "And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." Do you realize there is a proper way to use and to enjoy God's creation? We're to use it without abusing it. Now, turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 6. 1 Timothy chapter 6, and look, if you would please, at verse 17. The first part of this verse may not apply to most of us because we're not rich, but the last part does.

We're rich in a lot of ways, but not necessarily always in worldly goods, but look what he says. 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 17. "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God," look, "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." How much has God given us to enjoy? All things. All things are ours. And we are to learn to use this world without abusing it. Since it is the strong believers who have the most knowledge according to Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8, since it is the strong believers that understand Christian liberty, it is the strong who enjoy most of God's creation. Because they understand that God has given us richly all things to enjoy.

However, I might also add, it is our responsibility to patiently consider and educate and teach the weaker brethren. We're not to despise them, belittle them or browbeat them. We're to help them as we enjoy God's liberty and God's creation. Now, very quickly, one second application that is this. You have to understand it's the weaker brethren who do not understand. And it's the weaker brethren who judge. The tendency of the strong is to condemn. So we have to fight against the tendency to condemn those who are ignorant.

Yes, and I'm using that word biblically. They are ignorant of the truth of God, the Word of God, the doctrine of God, the application of God. We have to be sure that we don't condemn them, but we help them and teach them. Let me say it like this. It's easy to condemn and it's easy to judge. It is far more difficult to search out the truth and seek the truth and seek the Lord to give us understanding and illumination and enlightenment. One takes time and has a great deal of labor and work and the other is very easy to do. So we have to fight the tendency of the flesh to condemn and to judge, and learn to study, and seek the Lord for wisdom and understanding.

But let me impress you with this. Biblically speaking, according to Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, you can only offend a weaker brother. And to offend him, biblically, means to encourage him, to embolden him, to do exactly the same thing that you are doing without having your knowledge. And I will explain that further next week. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace, for your mercy, for your kindness to us. We pray, Father, that you would indeed teach us, that you'd build us up in the most holy faith, that you would make us strong in the faith as Abraham was.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Biblical Definition of Offense

Summary: Offense is not about upsetting someone but about causing a weaker brother to stumble by encouraging him to act without proper knowledge.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding.'

Christian Liberty and Things Indifferent

Summary: Christian liberty involves matters not inherently sinful, like food and days, where believers may differ without sin.

Evidence: Weaver explains: 'Things that are indifferent are things which are not condemned in the Word of God, and they are things in which the consciences of believers do not uniformly hold as identical.'

Weak vs. Strong Believers

Summary: Only weak believers are offended in the biblical sense; their weakness is shown by stumbling when going against conscience.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It's not the strong, it's the weak.'

Ignorance Leads to Stumbling

Summary: Stumbling results from a lack of knowledge, not from malice; the weak do not understand that idols are nothing.

Evidence: Weaver notes: 'If someone stumbles and falls and is offended, it is because of ignorance.'

Conscience and Knowledge

Summary: Conscience is that which one knows with; acting against it without retraining is weakness, but retraining by Scripture is necessary.

Evidence: Weaver explains: 'Your conscience is that which you know with... when you go contrary to that which you know, it's a sign of weakness.'

Misuse of 'Offense' in Modern Language

Summary: People often claim offense to silence others or express dislike, which is not the biblical concept.

Evidence: Weaver illustrates: 'Don't say that. It offends me. Translated, that means this: Shut up, I don't want to hear it.'

Enjoying God's Creation Responsibly

Summary: Strong believers, with knowledge, can enjoy all things God gives without abusing them, using the world properly.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Timothy 6:17: 'who giveth us richly all things to enjoy' and 1 Corinthians 7:31: 'use this world, as not abusing it.'

Patience with Weaker Brethren

Summary: The strong must not condemn but patiently teach the weak, fighting the tendency to judge.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'We're not to despise them, belittle them or browbeat them. We're to help them as we enjoy God's liberty.'

Key Arguments

Offense is not about anger or upset

Summary: Biblical offense does not mean making someone mad; it means causing a weak brother to stumble by emboldening him to act without knowledge.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'The word offend does not mean to make mad or to make angry or to upset.'

Only weak believers can be offended biblically

Summary: The strong are not offended; offense is a sign of weakness because it involves acting against one's conscience.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'You can only offend a weak brother.'

Offense requires emboldening to act without knowledge

Summary: The mechanism of offense is the strong brother's example encouraging the weak to do something he doesn't understand, leading to defilement.

Evidence: Weaver explains: 'Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge.'

Things indifferent are not sinful in themselves

Summary: Matters like eating meat or observing days are not inherently sinful; sin is transgression of God's law, not material things.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'Eating meat is not sinful. Meat is not sinful in and of itself.'

Ignorance is the root cause of stumbling

Summary: The weak lack knowledge that idols are nothing and that all things are from God, leading to defiled consciences.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 8:7: 'Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge... their conscience being weak is defiled.'

Conscience must be retrained by Scripture

Summary: Going against conscience is wrong unless one is actively retraining it to align with biblical truth.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'It's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless you are re-instructing and retraining your conscience in a more biblical understanding.'

Modern claims of offense are often unbiblical

Summary: Statements like 'I'm offended' are frequently used to manipulate or silence, not reflecting the biblical concept.

Evidence: Weaver gives examples: 'Don't say that. It offends me' means 'Shut up, I don't want to hear it.'

Strong believers enjoy more of God's creation

Summary: Knowledge of liberty allows the strong to use and enjoy all things without abuse, as God intended.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'Those who are strong in the faith understand how to use God's creation without abusing it.'

Scripture References

Romans 14:1-4

Context: Weaver reads this passage to introduce the topic of receiving weak believers without disputing over doubtful things.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Context: Weaver reads the entire chapter to show the conflict over meat offered to idols and the principle of not causing a weak brother to stumble.

1 John 2:12-14

Context: Weaver references John's distinction between little children, young men, and fathers to illustrate degrees of faith.

Acts 16:14

Context: Weaver cites the Lord opening Lydia's heart to show that only God gives understanding.

1 Corinthians 10:25

Context: Weaver mentions the shambles (meat market) to explain where meat sold to idols came from.

John 1:11-12

Context: Weaver compares the word 'liberty' (power/right) to the authority given to become sons of God.

1 John 3:4

Context: Weaver defines sin as transgression of the law to distinguish it from things indifferent.

Galatians 5:1

Context: Weaver quotes this to emphasize standing fast in liberty and not being entangled in bondage.

Galatians 5:13

Context: Weaver quotes this to show that liberty should not be used for the flesh but to serve one another in love.

Proverbs 24:10

Context: Weaver quotes this to support that fainting in adversity indicates small strength, linking to weak faith.

Romans 14:5

Context: Weaver reads this to show that each person must be fully persuaded in his own mind regarding days.

Romans 14:22-23

Context: Weaver reads this to emphasize that whatever is not of faith is sin, and one should not condemn himself in what he allows.

Romans 11:36

Context: Weaver quotes this to affirm that all things are of, through, and to God.

Hosea 4:6

Context: Weaver references this to show that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Luke 17:1-2

Context: Weaver reads this to address the common misinterpretation of 'offend' as merely upsetting someone.

Isaiah 8:13-14

Context: Weaver reads this to show Christ as a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to unbelievers.

Romans 9:33

Context: Weaver quotes this to reinforce that Christ is a stumbling stone and rock of offense.

Galatians 5:11

Context: Weaver quotes this to show that the offense of the cross ceases if circumcision is preached.

1 Peter 2:6-8

Context: Weaver reads this to show Christ as a chief corner stone and a rock of offense to the disobedient.

1 Corinthians 3:21-23

Context: Weaver reads this to show that all things are ours in Christ.

Historical References

Greek word skandalon

Context: Weaver explains that skandalon originally referred to the stick holding bait in a trap, used to snare animals, and came to mean a stumbling block or offense.

Greek word proskomma

Context: Weaver mentions this as another Greek word translated 'offend' in the New Testament.

Septuagint usage

Context: Weaver notes that the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) uses skandalon and proskomma in the same way as the New Testament.

Greek word suneidesis (conscience)

Context: Weaver breaks down the Greek word for conscience, meaning 'to know with,' to explain its function.

Shambles (meat market)

Context: Weaver refers to the shambles in 1 Corinthians 10 as a discount meat market where meat offered to idols was sold.

Idol temples in Corinth

Context: Weaver discusses the practice of eating meat in idol temples, which was a point of conflict in the Corinthian church.

Galatians 2:11-14 (Paul confronts Peter)

Context: Weaver references Paul's public rebuke of Peter to illustrate that upsetting someone is not the same as biblical offense.

Important Quotes

Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding.

Significance: This is the central definition of biblical offense that Weaver argues throughout the sermon, distinguishing it from common misunderstandings.

The word offend does not mean to make mad or to make angry or to upset.

Significance: Weaver directly refutes the common equation of offense with emotional upset, a key point in his argument.

It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It's not the strong, it's the weak.

Significance: This clarifies that only those weak in faith can be biblically offended, shifting the focus from the strong to the weak.

Things that are indifferent are things which are not condemned in the Word of God, and they are things in which the consciences of believers do not uniformly hold as identical.

Significance: Weaver defines the category of indifferent matters, which is essential for understanding the context of offense.

It's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless you are re-instructing and retraining your conscience in a more biblical understanding.

Significance: This provides a balanced view on conscience, allowing for growth in knowledge while warning against violating conscience lightly.

Those who are strong in the faith understand how to use God's creation without abusing it.

Significance: Weaver applies the principle of knowledge to the enjoyment of creation, showing the practical benefit of strong faith.

We have perverted the biblical doctrine of offense, and we've made it to mean something entirely different from what the Scripture teaches.

Significance: This statement summarizes Weaver's critique of modern misuse of the term 'offense' and sets up his corrective teaching.

You can only offend a weaker brother, and you only do that when you're encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.

Significance: A concise restatement of the sermon's main thesis, reinforcing the limited scope of biblical offense.

Discussion Questions

How does the biblical definition of 'offense' differ from the way we commonly use the word today?

Context: Weaver argues that biblical offense is not about upsetting someone but about causing a weak brother to stumble by encouraging him to act without knowledge.

What are some examples of 'things indifferent' in our contemporary church context, and how should we handle disagreements over them?

Context: Weaver defines things indifferent as matters not sinful in themselves but where consciences differ, like food and days.

Why is it important to recognize that only weak believers can be biblically offended? How does this affect our response when someone says, 'I'm offended'?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that offense is a sign of weakness, not strength, and that the strong are not offended.

How can we retrain our consciences to align with Scripture without violating them in the process?

Context: Weaver says it's not safe to go against conscience unless we are actively retraining it biblically.

In what ways might we be guilty of 'emboldening' a weaker brother to act without knowledge? Can you think of personal examples?

Context: Weaver explains that offense occurs when we encourage a weak brother to do what we do without our understanding.

How does the truth that 'all things are yours' (1 Corinthians 3:21-23) change the way we enjoy God's creation?

Context: Weaver applies the principle that strong believers can enjoy creation without abuse because they understand liberty.

What are practical ways to 'patiently consider and educate' weaker brethren without despising or condemning them?

Context: Weaver urges the strong to help the weak grow in knowledge rather than judge them.

How does the example of Paul confronting Peter (Galatians 2) illustrate the difference between biblical rebuke and causing offense?

Context: Weaver uses this example to show that upsetting someone is not the same as offending them biblically.

Applications

Distinguish biblical offense from emotional upset

Summary: Recognize that making someone mad or uncomfortable is not necessarily a biblical offense; offense is specifically causing a weak brother to stumble by acting without knowledge.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'The word offend does not mean to make mad or to make angry or to upset.'

Enjoy God's creation responsibly

Summary: Strong believers should use and enjoy all things God has given, without abusing them, because they understand their liberty in Christ.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Timothy 6:17 and 1 Corinthians 7:31, saying: 'God has given us richly all things to enjoy' and 'use this world, as not abusing it.'

Patiently teach weaker brethren

Summary: Instead of condemning or despising those with weaker faith, we should patiently instruct them in the truth, helping them grow in knowledge.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'We're not to despise them, belittle them or browbeat them. We're to help them as we enjoy God's liberty.'

Retrain your conscience biblically

Summary: When you realize a previously held belief is unbiblical, actively retrain your conscience by Scripture rather than simply violating it.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'It's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless you are re-instructing and retraining your conscience in a more biblical understanding.'

Avoid emboldening the weak to act without knowledge

Summary: Be mindful that your exercise of liberty does not encourage a weaker brother to do something he doesn't understand, which would cause him to stumble.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge.'

Fight the tendency to condemn the ignorant

Summary: Resist the fleshly urge to judge or condemn those who lack knowledge; instead, invest time in studying and seeking understanding.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'We have to fight against the tendency to condemn those who are ignorant... It's easy to condemn and it's easy to judge. It is far more difficult to search out the truth.'

Be fully persuaded in your own mind

Summary: On matters of indifference, know what you believe and why, and act in faith without imposing your convictions on others.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Romans 14:5: 'Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.'

Receive weak believers without disputing

Summary: Welcome those weak in faith into fellowship without engaging in arguments over doubtful matters, trusting God to give them understanding.

Evidence: Weaver references Romans 14:1: 'Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:51:20Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T01:30:12Z

Clean Transcript

How to Avoid Conflicts 4

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. We'll probably be looking more in 1 Corinthians 8 today, but I do want to begin by reviewing and also by reading a passage from Romans chapter 14. Remember, we have been dealing with this subject, how to avoid conflicts between Christians, and we have preached three messages. Today is going to be the fourth. I will bring the fifth and final message, Lord willing, next Sunday. But let me point out that the message today is actually going to be cut in half simply because I cannot cover all of it in one session. So you're going to have to be here to hear the rest of it. But at least I'm going to answer one important question for you, because we're going to be dealing with biblical offense and what it means to offend someone. So look in Romans chapter 14, beginning with verse one, God says: "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs."
#1 | 0:03 to 1:26 | cleaned
"Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand."
#2 | 1:27 to 1:45 | cleaned
Now look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and let's begin reading there. The Apostle Paul says, "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 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."
#3 | 1:45 to 2:43 | cleaned
"But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."
#4 | 2:44 to 3:26 | cleaned
Now, you must remember in the very first message in Romans chapter 14, I pointed out a number of things. First of all, that practical Christian living is based upon doctrine. And one of the reasons there are so many loose livers and so many ungodly people today—that is among professing Christians—is because there is so little doctrine taught and therefore they simply do not know the truth nor know how to apply the truth. We also learned in the first message that there are degrees of faith. There's a little faith. There's a great faith. There's a weak faith. There's a strong faith and all degrees in between. In fact, in 1 John 2, John distinguished between believers by calling some babes or little children, other young men and other fathers in the faith.
#5 | 3:26 to 4:16 | cleaned
So all that is teaching us is this, that not everyone is on the same level doctrinally. That is, not everyone understands the same doctrine and not everyone understands how to make application. Hence, there's going to be a number of conflicts that arise. It's also critical for you and I to understand that a weak believer is still a believer. God does not tell us it's only a strong faith that saves. No, it is faith in Christ that saves. So, no matter how weak one is in the faith, he's still to be counted as a believer and we're to receive them, Scripture tells us, into friendship and into fellowship for God's honor and God's glory. Yet when we receive them, we're not to be critical and condemning and suppressing them. As Scripture says, we're to receive them, but not to doubtful disputations.
#6 | 4:16 to 5:10 | cleaned
In the second message, just by way of review, I pointed out how it is absolutely impossible to argue someone into the faith or to argue them into changing their positions. The Scriptures teaching us that the weak believers cannot be helped by criticism and condemnation. It is true. We are to teach the word of God. We are to instruct them in the faith and we're to do so patiently, willingly and regularly and consistently, yet we have to understand it is God and God alone who gives illumination, who gives enlightenment and who gives understanding.
#7 | 5:11 to 5:53 | cleaned
The point I really want to emphasize is this. I do not care how excellent a teacher someone is. I do not care how patient that individual is. I do not care how great his outline is. It is only God who gives understanding. It is not in our power to make someone understand. And when we get angry and upset and we use such language as, "What's wrong with you, dummy?"
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"Can't you see plain truth?" does absolutely no good because no one, whether saved or unsaved, can see any truth unless God opens their eyes. That's why in Acts 16, we read how the Lord opened Lydia's heart, with the result that she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul. And in the third message, I showed you how the conflicts were arising, not only in Romans 14, but in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, over meats and over festival days and meats that had been sacrificed to idols. In fact, the apostle tells us in Romans chapter 14 that the strong believers were condemning the weak believers because of their ignorance and because of their foolishness, and yet the weak believers were turning around and judging the strong believers because they did not believe that someone could eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol and yet be a real, genuine Christian. Now, you've got to also remember this, that I pointed out in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and I will emphasize this again today, that we are dealing with things which are indifferent.
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And when I say things which are indifferent, I mean by that things that are not sinful in and of themselves. Things that are not clear, distinct violations of the Word of God. Eating meat is not sinful. Meat is not sinful in and of itself. And any time you begin to place sin in anything material or anything that's made of matter, then you've gone into Greek paganism, Greek dualism. Sin, according to the Bible, resides in the human heart. It does not reside in anything that is material.
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So we have to understand also, and we did this hopefully in the third message, that there are ramifications for everything that we do. For Scripture tells us that no man liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself. And what people observe us and see us do will always have ramifications. And therefore, He's telling us in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians chapter 8, that we are always to consider the weaker brethren.
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Now, let me begin today by asking this question, what does it mean to offend? Or I could go a little bit further. What does it mean to offend someone biblically? We could reverse that and ask it like this. How is it that we are not to offend someone? Each of us have heard statements like this. "I'm offended at that" or "Be careful that you do not offend him." Or, "If you offend him, he will probably leave." Well, we've not only heard those statements in all probability, we've made those statements ourselves. But what in the world does it mean to offend someone biblically? There are two Greek words that are used throughout the New Testament that are translated as offend. The first one is the Greek word skandalon. It is where we get our English word scandal from. And the second one is the word proskomma. The Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, uses these words exactly as the New Testament does. The word that is used most often is the word skandalon.
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from which we get that English word scandal. So how do you scandalize someone? Let me tell you what a skandalon was in Bible times and how it came to be used to mean an offense or a snare or a stumbling block. Do you realize when you were trapping animals, there was a stick that was put up on the trap that had the bait on it. And when the animal hit that stick and the stick fell, and the trap fell upon the animal, that stick that held the bait was called a skandalon. So when the animal was entrapped or snared, he was scandalized. So actually, the word came to mean then to entrap someone or something deceitfully. It meant to put a stumbling block in some way, in someone's way, to be an offense to cause them to fall.
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Now, if you've been paying attention not only in the last three messages, but even in the review today, you understand that the problem that arose in 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans chapter 14 were over meats and over festival days. In fact, they were upset because some Christians were eating meat that had been sold in the shambles. That's found in 1 Corinthians 10. Remember, I told you the shambles was nothing more than a discount meat market. And that meat that was not given to the idol in sacrifice, it was there put into the shambles and people were going there and buying that meat and eating it. Moreover, they were going into the idol's temple and eating meat as well. So here's this conflict then that arose between the strong and the weak.
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Let me begin by showing you what is involved. First of all, Christian liberty is involved, and the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. Just showing you that Christian liberty is involved, and the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. The Apostle Paul says, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." So here he's talking about this liberty. And by the way, the word liberty here literally means power or right. It is exactly the same word that is used in John 1:11-12. Let me just quote it. Referring to Christ, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power"—or authority, and right—"to become the sons of God." So here the word liberty means power or right. So when we're talking about meat, when we're talking about festival days, we're talking about things that are indifferent.
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Let me emphasize that we're not talking about things that are sinful. Things that are sinful in and of themselves are not things that are indifferent. In 1 John 3:4, the Bible says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." So a violation of God's law is not something that is indifferent. A violation of God's law is sin and rebellion. So what are things that are indifferent? Things that are indifferent are things which are not condemned in the Word of God, and they are things in which the consciences of believers do not uniformly hold as identical.
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In other words, there's no uniform faith. The illustration of meats, the illustration of festival days. Now, something that is indifferent is not sinful. Now listen carefully. It may not be wise. It may not be expedient. But it is not sinful. OK, now let me give you an illustration. Here's what I'm trying to emphasize. I've told you before, I've never had a beer in my entire life. And I have it.
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And I don't want one and I don't need one, but suppose—let's suppose for some reason someone handed me a beer and I decided I would taste it. Now, is the beer sinful in and of itself? No. No. Would I become a sinner if I drank the beer? And the answer is no. Alcohol is not sinful in and of itself. But let me ask you another question. Suppose I took that beer and drank it when five or six hundred people were watching me and many of them had real problems with that. Could a conflict arise? Oh, yeah.
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Now, here's what the Apostle Paul is saying. You take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours will become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
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Now, the Scripture makes it clear that you and I have been freed from traditionalism, ceremonialism, pragmatism, subjectivism. Do you understand that our consciences are to be bound only to the Word of God? We have been freed from the practices, the traditions, and the inventions of men. So when someone comes along and says, "You must observe this tradition. And you must do this exercise and you must do it in the way that it is prescribed or else you will be a sinner and you will be under the judgment of God."
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That is not true, folks. That is not true. The only thing that can bind our consciences is the Word of God, not the traditions of men, not the teachings of the Pharisees, not the teachings of the Sadducees, not the teaching of anyone or anything, but just simply the Word of God. That's why in Galatians 5:1, the Scripture says, listen carefully, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Wow. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:13 is equally clear when Paul writes, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
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So the point I'm trying to make is this. Things that are indifferent are not sinful in and of themselves. They may become a source of conflict because some people do not have correct biblical knowledge and some people want to take their traditions and their inventions and bind them on the conscience of other people and make them do exactly as they do. When we're talking about Christian liberty, we're talking about things that are indifferent and things that are not sinful in and of themselves. Meat is not sinful. Not observing a certain day is not sinful. Observing a certain day is not necessarily sinful in and of itself. But when you begin to try to make that a practice and a pattern and a demand for everyone then there's going to be real problems. Secondly, I want you to note this. Listen carefully.
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It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It's not the strong, it's the weak. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 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." Now watch. "And their conscience being weak is defiled." Skip down to verse 9. "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." Look in verse 11. "And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died." Now verse 12, "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." So it's only the weak then who stumble and fall. To stumble and to go contrary to one's conscience is a sign of weakness. The Bible says in Proverbs 24:10, "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."
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If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Now, notice if you would, the Apostle Paul is talking about these individuals having a weak conscience. Do you know what a conscience is? How do you know whether you have a weak conscience or a strong conscience? The Greek word for conscience is the word suneidesis. Sun is a preposition which means with. Eidesis means to know. So your conscience is that which you know with. You look at our English word conscience. Con is a preposition which means with. Science means to know. Your conscience is that which you know with. So your conscience then is your mind. It is your understanding. It is that which you know with.
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So, when you therefore go contrary to that which you know, or to that which you believe to be true, it's a sign of weakness. You're giving up and you're giving in to that which you believe and that which you think to be true. Look back in your Bibles to Romans 14 and verse 5. Talking about certain days, look what he says, Romans 14, verse five. He says, "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Lord, you ought to know what you believe. You ought to know whether or not you believe a day is special or a day is not special. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Now skip down to verse 22, Romans 14. Look what he says now. Keep this in the context, because we're talking about meats and days. He says in Romans 14, verse 22, "Hast thou faith?
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Have it to thyself before God." In other words, if you've got faith in a special day, fine, keep it to yourself and have it before God. Watch. "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." Watch, "And he that doubteth is damned"—or condemned—"if he eat," that is those meats, "because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." So it is not necessarily a sin for some weak individual to think, well, this steak is not any good because it was offered to an idol, but it's a sin if he turns around and eats it knowing he believes that because he's not eating in faith. Whatever we do, we're to do in faith. So it's the weak believers who are offended. It's not the strong believers, it's the weak believers.
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So, let me put it to you like this. It's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless you are re-instructing and retraining your conscience in a more biblical understanding.
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Now, let me tell you what will happen. Here's the way that you have been raised. Here's the way that you have been taught all of your life. And all of a sudden you realize the way that you have been raised and the way that you have been taught is wrong. And you're going to retrain your conscience in that which is right. And the very first time you go contrary to the way that you've been raised and the way that you've been taught, all of a sudden your conscience will scream bloody murder.
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And you will have to say to it, "Shut up. I'm re-instructing you. You will listen to the Word of God. You will bow to the Word of God."
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Now you see, you and I, having been raised in a quote-unquote Christian civilization, we would have some of these conflicts because not all of us were raised biblically. But can you imagine what it would be like for someone who had been raised in idolatry all of their lives to all of a sudden now go contrary to the way they had been raised? Of course, their conscience is going to strain. So, it's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless, of course, you are restructuring your conscience and bringing it into greater obedience to the Word of God. Okay.
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So, we've understood, we're talking about in the context of offending now. So, when we're talking about offending, we understand Christian liberty is involved. We also understand that it involves things that are indifferent. We also now understand it is the weak who are offended. So when someone says as a believer, "I'm offended at that," what they're saying is "I'm a weak Christian." Literally. That's what they're admitting. That's what they're confessing.
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Thirdly, I want you to listen. Those who are weak, offended, and stumble do so because of ignorance. Those who are weak, offended and stumble are so and do so because of ignorance.
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Now let's go back to 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and let's look, if you would please, at verse 4. 1 Corinthians 8 verse 4. "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 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, let me point out, and I did so in lesson number three, but I must do it again today, that the Apostle Paul is not speaking of the heathen in verse 7 when he says, "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge." He is speaking of Christians.
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He is not saying that there are Christians that do not know that God is the only one true living God. He's not saying that at all. What he is saying is there are—or at least there were—Christians in the Corinthian church who knew that an idol was nothing and that there was but one God, yet somehow they thought that that idol had such an influence over the meat that somehow that meat then was rendered unclean and therefore it was defiled and could not and should not be eaten.
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Which, of course, is clearly a lack of knowledge. Now, go back to verse 4. I want you to look what the Apostle Paul does, and by the way, he identifies himself with the strong believers. He says in verse 4, "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols," watch, "we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one." Look in verse 6, "But to us"—that is, to we who are strong, and to us who know—"there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." He says, "We know that an idol is nothing." And "to us, there is only one sovereign God."
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who has absolute control over everything. That's why in Romans 11:36, the Apostle Paul said, "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." So everything is of God, through God, and ultimately to God's honor and God's glory. So what the Apostle Paul is saying: If someone stumbles and falls and is offended, it is because of ignorance.
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Do you not remember how our Lord spoke of this even in the Old Testament? Help me out. In Hosea 4:6, what did he say? "My people are destroyed for" what? "Lack of knowledge." Lack of knowledge. So, it's the weak then who stumble, it's the weak who fall, it's the weak who are offended.
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Now, let me try to answer the question, what it is to offend someone. How do I offend you, biblically speaking? How do you offend me, biblically speaking? And by the way, I'll point this out more next week. But you can only offend a weak brother. You can only offend a weak brother.
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Now, let's go to verse 10. Look what the apostle says. I want to show you what it means to offend someone. "For if any man see thee which hast knowledge"—that's the strong person—"if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered unto idols?"
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Now the word translated "emboldened" is the same word which is used elsewhere in the New Testament and it's translated as "edified." What do you do when you edify someone? You build them up or you strengthen them. By the way, this is about the only place in the New Testament where this word is used in a bad sense. The Greek word actually refers to the erection of a house or a building.
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So let's look at verse 10 again and then let me explain it like this. He says, "For if any man see thee which has knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened"—edified, strengthened—"to do those things which are offered unto idols." So the Greek word then refers to the erection of a house or a building. The weak brother sees the strong brother exercising his liberty and therefore he is emboldened, he is encouraged to lay a foundation there and to erect a building there without having the knowledge of the strong brother. Years ago, I helped a man who was a brick mason. He was an excellent brick mason. And I only helped him a couple of days.
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And I thought, you know, this is a piece of cake. I can do this. So I was going to build myself a barbecue pit. So I mixed the mortar. I already had a foundation. I mixed the mortar. And I started, and I had my first wall of bricks up. And I let the mortar set, and I called my friend the brick mason over to look and see what I had done.
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And by the way, man, I had the level on it. I had that wall plumbed. I mean, I had it just right. It was only, you know, three feet high, something like that. I never will forget what he did. He put his hand on his chin, and he walked around, and he looked. Finally, he said, "Hmm." And he took his foot and kicked. And the whole thing just crumbled.
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Because the mortar was not mixed properly. I found out it wasn't a piece of cake, so I tried to erect a building. Are you listening? Without having his knowledge. And mine crumbled and fell. That's exactly what the Apostle Paul is talking about now. I want you to look at verse 10. And I want you to look at verse 7 and then let me explain it. Look in verse 10.
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He said, "For if any man see thee which has knowledge sit at meat in an idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols." Now go back to verse 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, the way to understand the first word, "conscience," in verse 7, is to understand it as a custom practiced or habit. For there is not in every man that knowledge, for some with custom, practice, or habit of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience—that which they know with—being weak, is defiled. In other words, here were people who were in the habit of worshipping this idol prior to their conversion. And they were in the habit of eating that meat with religious significance, that it was somehow given to this idol and therefore that idol has some type of influence on it.
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And now the Apostle Paul says, for some strong brother to come by and go to that feast in the idol's temple and enjoy a good steak, when that weak brother sees him doing that, he's emboldened. He's encouraged to go there and to set up his house and to do the same thing, but he does not have the knowledge that the strong brother had and therefore his building collapses.
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Now, I don't know if you put two and two together yet, but let me put it together for you. Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage someone, a weak brother, to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding. Let me say that again. Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding. One does not sin by exercising his liberty. He only sins when he encourages a weak brother to do what he is doing without having his knowledge. What I want to show you the rest of the time today is this, that we have perverted the biblical doctrine of offense, and we've made it to mean something entirely different from what the Scripture teaches.
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Let me give you some illustrations. All of us have heard this. Many of us have said this. "Don't say that. It offends me." Translated, that means this: "Shut up, I don't want to hear it." They're not encouraging us to do the same thing that they're doing without having their knowledge. No, no, no, no. We just don't want to hear it. How about this one? In fact, I had—I laughed because I actually had a woman tell me this one time.
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She said, "I find your beard offensive." I laughed in her face. I said, "Dear lady, my beard could not possibly offend you because you could not do what I'm doing, even if you had my knowledge." But what did she mean when she said, "I find your beard offensive"? Here's what she meant. "Shave it off. I don't like it." That's what she meant. "Please me." How about this one? "Be careful not to offend him." Don't make it. "Be careful not to offend him."
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Let me translate that for you. "Don't make him mad or he might cuss you out." That's what it means. How about this one? "He's offended. He's not coming back to church." You know what that really means? He doesn't like the way things are being done, and if he can't have his way, he's not coming back. That's what it really means. You don't offend someone by upsetting them. You don't offend someone by making them mad or angry. You don't offend someone by doing something that they do not like. No, no, no.
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You see, the problem is we've lost our theology of rebuke because we have misunderstood and misinterpreted the word offense. For instance, look in your Bibles to the book of Luke 17 very quickly in verses 1 and 2. Luke 17, verses 1 and 2. Watch carefully. Luke 17, verses 1 and 2. Here we go. When we read a passage like this, I will tell you what we automatically do. Luke 17, verse 1.
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"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." When we read a passage like that, we automatically interpret the word "offend" to mean to upset, to make mad, or to make angry, or to do something that someone does not approve.
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It has no such meaning. Christ upset and angered the Pharisees many times, yet He did not offend them in the biblical sense of the word. The truth is, using the word in another sense, Christ is an offense to many. They stumble over His deity. They stumble over His resurrection. They stumble over His Lordship and His sovereignty. I could say it like this. Jesus Christ is a divinely ordained offense to those who refuse to submit to the Father and rebel against the truth. God ordained that those who refused to bow to Him through Jesus Christ will stumble and fall.
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Look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 8. Isaiah 8 and verse 14. Isaiah 8 verse 14. Then we'll go to Romans 9. Isaiah 8, look in verse 14, we're talking about Jesus Christ. In fact, we can read verse 13, "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and
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for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." What is the truth of God to people who refuse to believe? It's a snare. It's a gin. It's a stumbling block. Look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 9 and verse 33. Romans 9, verse 33. Romans 9, look in verse 33.
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Look what God says, "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." What is Jesus Christ to this world? He's a stumbling stone. He's a rock of offence. Look in Galatians 5 and verse 11. Galatians 5 verse 11.
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Look what Paul writes. "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased." Did you hear that? "Then is the offence of the cross ceased." Have you ever wondered why most people do not really want to hear the gospel? It offends them. In that sense of the word, they stumble over it. It's a stumbling stone. Look in your Bibles, 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2, look at verses 7 and 8. 1 Peter 2 verses 7 and 8.
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In fact, let's go back to verse 6 because there is the quote from Isaiah 8. 1 Peter 2, verse 6, God says, "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." Christ is a stumbling block and an offense to the wicked.
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Yet He is not encouraging men to do that which he is doing without having his knowledge. There is the sense in the word that people just get mad and get angry at the preaching of the gospel. That is true. But when you look at the word offense in 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans chapter 14, to biblically offend, you can only offend a weaker brother, and that is by emboldening him or encouraging him to do that which you're doing without having your knowledge. Now, please understand this. The word offend does not mean to make mad or to make angry or to upset. Do you remember in Galatians chapter 2, Paul confronted Peter and here's what Paul said, "I said unto him before them all"—and I mean he dressed Peter up one side and down the other. Do you think Paul kind of upset Peter? Probably did.
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Might have hurt his feelings. Might have made him mad. But he did not offend him. Not in the biblical sense of the word. In the context of Romans 14, in the context of 1 Corinthians 8, you can only offend a weaker brother, and you only do that when you're encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.
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Now, I want to make just a couple of applications, and I'm going to stop right there, but I please want you to remember that I'm not anywhere near through with this message, and I'm going to try to tie everything together so that you can see what it really means to offend. Therefore, you will not be able or willing or desirous to offend a weak brother hereafter, and you will understand that, of course, offending does not mean to make mad. OK.
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The first application is this, it should be duly emphasized again, that those who are strong in the faith, those who have the most knowledge are the ones who enjoy the most of God's creation. Let me put this another way. Those who are strong in the faith understand how to use God's creation without abusing it. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. I want to show you several passages in this application. 1 Corinthians chapter 3. Every one of us stay so busy that sometimes we do not have the time to wake up and smell the roses or the coffee, whatever you want to use. And Alice can tell you that for a multitude of years, when we traveled, all we did was just simply go there, preach, come back, go there, preach, come back, just busy, busy, busy, until I began to read some of these passages. And I decided while I was there, you know, this is God's world, this is God's creation. And I should enjoy it. God put it here for me, just like he put it here for you.
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I want you to see what the Bible says. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, and let's begin reading there verse 21. "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." How much has God given us in Jesus Christ? Everything. Everything. Look in 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 31. I quoted it, but I want you to see it. 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 31. Look if you would at what he says. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 31. "And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." Do you realize there is a proper way to use and to enjoy God's creation? We're to use it without abusing it. Now, turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 6. 1 Timothy chapter 6, and look, if you would please, at verse 17. The first part of this verse may not apply to most of us because we're not rich, but the last part does.
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We're rich in a lot of ways, but not necessarily always in worldly goods, but look what he says. 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 17. "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God," look, "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." How much has God given us to enjoy? All things. All things are ours. And we are to learn to use this world without abusing it. Since it is the strong believers who have the most knowledge according to Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8, since it is the strong believers that understand Christian liberty, it is the strong who enjoy most of God's creation. Because they understand that God has given us richly all things to enjoy.
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However, I might also add, it is our responsibility to patiently consider and educate and teach the weaker brethren. We're not to despise them, belittle them or browbeat them. We're to help them as we enjoy God's liberty and God's creation. Now, very quickly, one second application that is this. You have to understand it's the weaker brethren who do not understand. And it's the weaker brethren who judge. The tendency of the strong is to condemn. So we have to fight against the tendency to condemn those who are ignorant.
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Yes, and I'm using that word biblically. They are ignorant of the truth of God, the Word of God, the doctrine of God, the application of God. We have to be sure that we don't condemn them, but we help them and teach them. Let me say it like this. It's easy to condemn and it's easy to judge. It is far more difficult to search out the truth and seek the truth and seek the Lord to give us understanding and illumination and enlightenment. One takes time and has a great deal of labor and work and the other is very easy to do. So we have to fight the tendency of the flesh to condemn and to judge, and learn to study, and seek the Lord for wisdom and understanding.
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But let me impress you with this. Biblically speaking, according to Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, you can only offend a weaker brother. And to offend him, biblically, means to encourage him, to embolden him, to do exactly the same thing that you are doing without having your knowledge. And I will explain that further next week. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace, for your mercy, for your kindness to us. We pray, Father, that you would indeed teach us, that you'd build us up in the most holy faith, that you would make us strong in the faith as Abraham was.
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that You would enable us to enjoy Your creation and everything that You've given us. For You've given us richly all things to enjoy. All are ours. This world, things present and things to come, all are ours. And we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. And we give Thee the praise and the honor and the glory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen. Amen.
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This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-... You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:51:20Z

How to Avoid Conflicts 4

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, John Weaver continues his series on avoiding conflicts between Christians by examining the biblical meaning of 'offense' from Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. He argues that biblical offense is not about upsetting or angering someone, but about encouraging a weaker brother to exercise a liberty without having the same knowledge, causing him to stumble. The sermon clarifies that Christian liberty involves things indifferent (not sinful in themselves), that only the weak are offended, and that such offense stems from ignorance. Applications include enjoying God's creation responsibly and patiently teaching weaker brethren rather than condemning them.

Introduction and Review

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:1-4

"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs."

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

"Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 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." "But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

The Question of Offense

Christian Liberty and Things Indifferent

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 10:25

Let me begin by showing you what is involved. First of all, Christian liberty is involved, and the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. Just showing you that Christian liberty is involved, and the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. The Apostle Paul says, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." So here he's talking about this liberty. And by the way, the word liberty here literally means power or right. It is exactly the same word that is used in John 1:11-12. Let me just quote it. Referring to Christ, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power"—or authority, and right—"to become the sons of God." So here the word liberty means power or right. So when we're talking about meat, when we're talking about festival days, we're talking about things that are indifferent.

Scripture Reading — John 1:11-12

Let me emphasize that we're not talking about things that are sinful. Things that are sinful in and of themselves are not things that are indifferent. In 1 John 3:4, the Bible says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." So a violation of God's law is not something that is indifferent. A violation of God's law is sin and rebellion. So what are things that are indifferent? Things that are indifferent are things which are not condemned in the Word of God, and they are things in which the consciences of believers do not uniformly hold as identical. In other words, there's no uniform faith. The illustration of meats, the illustration of festival days. Now, something that is indifferent is not sinful. Now listen carefully. It may not be wise. It may not be expedient. But it is not sinful. OK, now let me give you an illustration. Here's what I'm trying to emphasize. I've told you before, I've never had a beer in my entire life. And I have it.

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:1

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

The Weak Are Offended

And you will have to say to it, "Shut up. I'm re-instructing you. You will listen to the Word of God. You will bow to the Word of God."

Ignorance as the Cause of Stumbling

Those who are weak and offended stumble because of ignorance—a lack of knowledge that an idol is nothing and that all things are of God. The strong know this, but the weak do not.

who has absolute control over everything. That's why in Romans 11:36, the Apostle Paul said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:36

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

The Biblical Definition of Offense

Misinterpretations of Offense

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 8:13-14

"Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and

In fact, let's go back to verse 6 because there is the quote from Isaiah 8. 1 Peter 2, verse 6, God says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:6-8

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

Christ is a stumbling block and an offense to the wicked.

Applications

I want you to see what the Bible says. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, and let's begin reading there verse 21.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

"Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."

How to Avoid Conflicts 4

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	6211818355
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace
Genre	Sermon
Date	2011-05-01
Dictation Name
Book	Book 153: How to Avoid Conflicts — Chapter 4
Source Timed Segments	69

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the series on avoiding conflicts, noting that practical Christian living is based on doctrine, there are degrees of faith, and weak believers are still believers to be received without condemnation.
The Question of Offense: Weaver introduces the central question: what does it mean to offend someone biblically? He notes two Greek words, skandalon and proskomma, and explains skandalon as a trap stick used to snare animals, meaning to entrap or cause to stumble.
Christian Liberty and Things Indifferent: The issue involves Christian liberty (power or right) and things indifferent—matters not sinful in themselves, like eating meat or observing days, which are not uniformly held by believers' consciences.
The Weak Are Offended: It is the weak Christians who are offended and stumble, as seen in 1 Corinthians 8:7-12. A weak conscience is one that goes contrary to its own understanding, and it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience without retraining it biblically.
Ignorance as the Cause of Stumbling: Those who are weak and offended stumble because of ignorance—a lack of knowledge that an idol is nothing and that all things are of God. The strong know this, but the weak do not.
The Biblical Definition of Offense: Biblical offense occurs only when a strong brother encourages a weak brother to exercise the same liberty without having the same knowledge, as illustrated by the weak brother being emboldened to eat idol meat and thus defiling his conscience.
Misinterpretations of Offense: Weaver argues that modern usage perverts the biblical doctrine: saying 'I'm offended' often means 'I don't like it' or 'shut up,' not a biblical stumbling. Christ upset Pharisees but did not offend them biblically; He is a divinely ordained offense to unbelievers.
Applications: Strong believers enjoy more of God's creation because they understand liberty and use the world without abusing it. They must patiently teach weaker brethren rather than condemn them, fighting the fleshly tendency to judge.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Offense is not about anger or upset

Biblical offense does not mean making someone mad; it means causing a weak brother to stumble by emboldening him to act without knowledge.

Weaver states: 'The word offend does not mean to make mad or to make angry or to upset.'

Only weak believers can be offended biblically

The strong are not offended; offense is a sign of weakness because it involves acting against one's conscience.

Weaver says: 'You can only offend a weak brother.'

Offense requires emboldening to act without knowledge

The mechanism of offense is the strong brother's example encouraging the weak to do something he doesn't understand, leading to defilement.

Weaver explains: 'Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge.'

Things indifferent are not sinful in themselves

Matters like eating meat or observing days are not inherently sinful; sin is transgression of God's law, not material things.

Weaver says: 'Eating meat is not sinful. Meat is not sinful in and of itself.'

Ignorance is the root cause of stumbling

The weak lack knowledge that idols are nothing and that all things are from God, leading to defiled consciences.

Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 8:7: 'Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge... their conscience being weak is defiled.'

Conscience must be retrained by Scripture

Going against conscience is wrong unless one is actively retraining it to align with biblical truth.

Weaver says: 'It's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless you are re-instructing and retraining your conscience in a more biblical understanding.'

Modern claims of offense are often unbiblical

Statements like 'I'm offended' are frequently used to manipulate or silence, not reflecting the biblical concept.

Weaver gives examples: 'Don't say that. It offends me' means 'Shut up, I don't want to hear it.'

Strong believers enjoy more of God's creation

Knowledge of liberty allows the strong to use and enjoy all things without abuse, as God intended.

Weaver says: 'Those who are strong in the faith understand how to use God's creation without abusing it.'

Scripture References

Romans 14:1-4: Weaver reads this passage to introduce the topic of receiving weak believers without disputing over doubtful things.
1 Corinthians 8:1-13: Weaver reads the entire chapter to show the conflict over meat offered to idols and the principle of not causing a weak brother to stumble.
1 John 2:12-14: Weaver references John's distinction between little children, young men, and fathers to illustrate degrees of faith.
Acts 16:14: Weaver cites the Lord opening Lydia's heart to show that only God gives understanding.
1 Corinthians 10:25: Weaver mentions the shambles (meat market) to explain where meat sold to idols came from.
John 1:11-12: Weaver compares the word 'liberty' (power/right) to the authority given to become sons of God.
1 John 3:4: Weaver defines sin as transgression of the law to distinguish it from things indifferent.
Galatians 5:1: Weaver quotes this to emphasize standing fast in liberty and not being entangled in bondage.
Galatians 5:13: Weaver quotes this to show that liberty should not be used for the flesh but to serve one another in love.
Proverbs 24:10: Weaver quotes this to support that fainting in adversity indicates small strength, linking to weak faith.
Romans 14:5: Weaver reads this to show that each person must be fully persuaded in his own mind regarding days.
Romans 14:22-23: Weaver reads this to emphasize that whatever is not of faith is sin, and one should not condemn himself in what he allows.
Romans 11:36: Weaver quotes this to affirm that all things are of, through, and to God.
Hosea 4:6: Weaver references this to show that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Luke 17:1-2: Weaver reads this to address the common misinterpretation of 'offend' as merely upsetting someone.
Isaiah 8:13-14: Weaver reads this to show Christ as a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to unbelievers.
Romans 9:33: Weaver quotes this to reinforce that Christ is a stumbling stone and rock of offense.
Galatians 5:11: Weaver quotes this to show that the offense of the cross ceases if circumcision is preached.
1 Peter 2:6-8: Weaver reads this to show Christ as a chief corner stone and a rock of offense to the disobedient.
1 Corinthians 3:21-23: Weaver reads this to show that all things are ours in Christ.

Historical References

Greek word skandalon: Weaver explains that skandalon originally referred to the stick holding bait in a trap, used to snare animals, and came to mean a stumbling block or offense.
Greek word proskomma: Weaver mentions this as another Greek word translated 'offend' in the New Testament.
Septuagint usage: Weaver notes that the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) uses skandalon and proskomma in the same way as the New Testament.
Greek word suneidesis (conscience): Weaver breaks down the Greek word for conscience, meaning 'to know with,' to explain its function.
Shambles (meat market): Weaver refers to the shambles in 1 Corinthians 10 as a discount meat market where meat offered to idols was sold.
Idol temples in Corinth: Weaver discusses the practice of eating meat in idol temples, which was a point of conflict in the Corinthian church.
Galatians 2:11-14 (Paul confronts Peter): Weaver references Paul's public rebuke of Peter to illustrate that upsetting someone is not the same as biblical offense.

Important Quotes

Biblical offense only occurs when you encourage a weak brother to exercise the same liberty that you are exercising without having your knowledge and your understanding.

This is the central definition of biblical offense that Weaver argues throughout the sermon, distinguishing it from common misunderstandings.

The word offend does not mean to make mad or to make angry or to upset.

Weaver directly refutes the common equation of offense with emotional upset, a key point in his argument.

It is the weak Christians that are offended and that stumble. It's not the strong, it's the weak.

This clarifies that only those weak in faith can be biblically offended, shifting the focus from the strong to the weak.

Things that are indifferent are things which are not condemned in the Word of God, and they are things in which the consciences of believers do not uniformly hold as identical.

Weaver defines the category of indifferent matters, which is essential for understanding the context of offense.

It's neither safe nor right to go against your conscience unless you are re-instructing and retraining your conscience in a more biblical understanding.

This provides a balanced view on conscience, allowing for growth in knowledge while warning against violating conscience lightly.

Those who are strong in the faith understand how to use God's creation without abusing it.

Weaver applies the principle of knowledge to the enjoyment of creation, showing the practical benefit of strong faith.

We have perverted the biblical doctrine of offense, and we've made it to mean something entirely different from what the Scripture teaches.

This statement summarizes Weaver's critique of modern misuse of the term 'offense' and sets up his corrective teaching.

You can only offend a weaker brother, and you only do that when you're encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.

A concise restatement of the sermon's main thesis, reinforcing the limited scope of biblical offense.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the biblical definition of 'offense' differ from the way we commonly use the word today?

[Context]

Weaver argues that biblical offense is not about upsetting someone but about causing a weak brother to stumble by encouraging him to act without knowledge.

[Question]

What are some examples of 'things indifferent' in our contemporary church context, and how should we handle disagreements over them?

[Context]

Weaver defines things indifferent as matters not sinful in themselves but where consciences differ, like food and days.

[Question]

Why is it important to recognize that only weak believers can be biblically offended? How does this affect our response when someone says, 'I'm offended'?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that offense is a sign of weakness, not strength, and that the strong are not offended.

[Question]

How can we retrain our consciences to align with Scripture without violating them in the process?

[Context]

Weaver says it's not safe to go against conscience unless we are actively retraining it biblically.

[Question]

In what ways might we be guilty of 'emboldening' a weaker brother to act without knowledge? Can you think of personal examples?

[Context]

Weaver explains that offense occurs when we encourage a weak brother to do what we do without our understanding.

[Question]

How does the truth that 'all things are yours' (1 Corinthians 3:21-23) change the way we enjoy God's creation?

[Context]

Weaver applies the principle that strong believers can enjoy creation without abuse because they understand liberty.

[Question]

What are practical ways to 'patiently consider and educate' weaker brethren without despising or condemning them?

[Context]

Weaver urges the strong to help the weak grow in knowledge rather than judge them.

[Question]

How does the example of Paul confronting Peter (Galatians 2) illustrate the difference between biblical rebuke and causing offense?

[Context]

Weaver uses this example to show that upsetting someone is not the same as offending them biblically.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T01:30:12Z