Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace

How to Avoid Conflicts Between Christians Part 5 of 5

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-03-08

Synopsis: In this concluding message, Pastor John Weaver explains the biblical meaning of offense from Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. He clarifies that to offend a weaker brother means to embolden him to act against his conscience without having the knowledge of the stronger brother. Offending a weak brother is a sin against him and against Christ. The Word of God and Christian charity demand that we do not offend the weaker brother, but this does not mean surrendering Christian liberty; we may forego the exercise of liberty for the furtherance of the gospel, personal holiness, or the sake of weaker brethren. He also warns against misusing the doctrine of offense to avoid biblical rebuke and exhortation, and emphasizes that our conscience is bound only to God's Word, not to man-made traditions.

[John Weaver] Alright, well let's open our Bible's day to Romans chapter 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. And Lord willing, today I want to try to tie together and finish up the series that I began on how to avoid conflicts between Christians. So if you'll look back to Romans chapter 14 very quickly, beginning there with verse 1, where Scripture says,"...him that is weak in the faith receive you, 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." So we're seeing the comparison here between the weak and the strong. Now if you will go back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 8, And let's begin reading there. 1 Corinthians 8 verse 1, the Apostle Paul says, Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

[John Weaver] And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing, yet is 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 as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not unto God, for neither if we eat are we the better, neither if we eat not are we the worse.

[John Weaver] 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 has knowledge that 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? And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died. But when you sow sin against the weak brethren, and whom their weak conscience you sent 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." So, let me just take a few moments and try to review and try to bring everything into focus because this is message number five on how to avoid conflicts between Christians or what is biblical offense, or what does it mean to offend?

[John Weaver] First of all, we began by looking in Romans 14, and we saw that there are indeed degrees of faith. In fact, Paul talks about the weak and the strong, and our Lord Himself talked about those who had little faith and those who had strong faith. So obviously, if there's a weak and a strong, there are degrees all in between as well. So there are varying degrees of maturity in Christians. And John the Apostle divided Christians into babes, or young children, young men, and fathers. And consequently, because some are weak, some are strong, inevitably, there's going to be some conflict. And so, the apostle told us in Romans chapter 14 and verse 1, we had to learn to receive those who were weak in the faith, and when we received them, it was not to doubtful disputations, that is, there was not to be arguing and fussing and fighting. In the second message, I showed you the uselessness of arguing and fussing and fighting. You're never ever going to argue someone into the faith. You're never going to argue someone out of their position.

[John Weaver] You may teach them, you may patiently try to educate them, but as far as fussing and fighting, it will never work. Because it is God who must grant understanding. And if God does not grant understanding, if God does not open the eyes, No one is going to see it anyhow. So there's no reason to get mad, there's no reason to get angry, there's no reason to get upset, there's no reason to argue.

[John Weaver] We also discovered in the third message that one of the problems that really existed not only in the Roman church but in the Corinthian church was this difference over meats that had been sacrificed to idols in special days. In other words, some had to say, well you had to observe this day and you had to observe this day in this way And the Apostle Paul says, no, come on now, it is a source of conflict. But he said, some esteemeth one day alike, some others do not esteem every day alike. So, then he said, let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

[John Weaver] Now, I also pointed out, and it's important for you to remember, that meat is not defiled because of an idol. An idol has absolutely no influence over meats, okay? I also pointed out that anytime you locate evil or sin in anything material, you've gone into Greek dualism or Greek paganism. So it was the Greeks then who divided everything between spirit and matter, and they separated those things, and they said that matter was inherently evil, therefore the spirit was far better.

[John Weaver] And that is what leads to asceticism. It's what led to the monasteries. It's what led to self-flagellations where you would whip yourself and beat your flesh trying to drive the evil out of it. That's pure paganism. God says that sin and evil is located in the heart. It's not in anything material. So this wood is not evil in and of itself. Alcohol is not evil in and of itself. Meat is not evil in and of itself. Okay? So, evil is in the heart.

[John Weaver] Now, when I began explaining last week what it really means to offend someone biblically, I hope that you remember and I pointed out that truly, only in this context, only can a brother be offended and especially a weaker brother. I pointed out that there is in the very nature of God's salvation, an offense to the gospel. The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5 and verse 11, And I, brethren, if I preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Now listen to what he said, Then is the offense of the cross ceased. There is a natural offense to Jesus Christ. There is a natural offense to grace.

[John Weaver] In fact, in 1 Corinthians 1, you're close there. Go back, if you would, to 1 Corinthians 1, and let me show you just what we're talking about. You see, the gospel of Jesus Christ does not appeal to the flesh. It does not appeal to the intellect. So if you'll notice, in 1 Corinthians 1, the Apostle Paul says in verse 18, For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.

[John Weaver] But in us who are saved is the power of God. Now look what God says, For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? Now look, For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, The world's wisdom is totally contrary to God. The world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Here it is, for the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block, there's that word, and to the Greeks absolutely foolishness.

[John Weaver] So there is an offense to the gospel. In fact, I gave you a number of passages last week from the Old Testament and the New Testament where the Bible tells us very plainly that Jesus Christ is a stumbling block to those who will not believe. In fact, one of those passages is found in 1 Peter 2.8 where the Word of God says concerning Christ,"...and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient, were unto also they were appointed." So very obviously there is an offense to the gospel.

[John Weaver] The natural man, the natural mind does not want to hear of salvation by grace through faith. If we were preaching and teaching salvation by works or salvation by any other means, the flesh would receive it very willingly, but not when everything is the work of God.

[John Weaver] Now, very quickly, let me just review what we covered last week to try to bring you up to speed. First of all, I pointed out that Christian liberty is involved, and therefore, the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. And when I'm talking about things that are indifferent, I'm not talking about things that are sinful and wicked in and of themselves. If something is sinful, it is not indifferent. If something is sinful, it is a violation of God's law. 1 John 3, 4 tells us very clearly that whosoever commits sin transgresseth the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. But eating meat is not a sin. Even eating meat that had been blessed through an idol, it is not sin. Why? An idol is nothing. It has no influence over the meat. It does not change the substance of that meat or the essence of that meat, not at all. So, it involves things that are indifferent.

[John Weaver] Secondly, I pointed out, it is the weak Christians who stumble and are offended. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Let me emphasize this again. It is only the weak. Notice 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and look at verse 7. He says, Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, For some with conscience of an idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered to an idol, and their conscience being weak is offended." Skip down to verse 9,"...take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak." And then verse 11, And through thy knowledge shall the weak, brother, perish. Verse 12, But when you so sin against the brethren, you wound their weak conscience. So it's the weak then who stumble. It is the weak who are offended. So if someone is biblically offended and they tell you that, biblically I said, they're acknowledging and confessing that they're weak. They're weak in faith. They're not strong in faith. So it's weak Christians that are offended and stumble.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, I pointed out, that those who are weak, those who are offended, those who do stumble, are so because of their ignorance. Now, I didn't say that. God did. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 verse 4. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in the sacrifice and the idols, what did Paul say? We know, that is, the strong knows 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 on earth, there be gods many and lords many, but to us, that is, the strong, 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. The ignorant, the weak, are weak because of their ignorance. They do not understand the sovereignty of God. They do not understand the providence of God. And he goes on to say in verse 7, how be it there is not in every man this conscience, for some, that is the weak, some with conscience or habit or custom or practice of the idol unto this hour, even as the thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is

[John Weaver] defiled. So they're ignorant in the aspect that they think that somehow this idol, this dumb piece of wood or whatever it is, somehow affects that meat where it is defiled. No. The Bible tells us that it has no influence at all upon that meat. And those who think that somehow that it does, The apostle Paul says are ignorant. Then, fourthly, last week we looked at this and I tried to show you that biblically speaking to offend someone means to encourage and to embolden them to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. Look in verse 10. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit it meet in the idol's temple.

[John Weaver] shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things that are offered unto idols." Now, let me emphasize this before I get started today. You can only biblically offend a weak brother and you offend him by encouraging him, by emboldening him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge and your understanding. Let me make this clear. One does not sin by exercising his liberty in Christ. The only way that you can sin in this aspect, in this context, is when you encourage and you embolden a weaker brother to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.

[John Weaver] And so, I pointed out last week how that we have taken the biblical doctrine of offense and perverted it and we've turned it around to make it mean to make somebody mad or to upset someone or to hurt their feelings when it has absolutely nothing to do with that. And I'm going to show you just a little bit later. In fact, you will remember I told you last week that the Apostle Paul undoubtedly upset the Apostle Peter in Galatians chapter 2 when he shook his finger in his face and rebuked him before everyone. And although he upset him and may have angered him, he never offended the Apostle Peter. Because to offend, in this context, means to encourage to do someone what you're doing without having your knowledge. Alright, number five.

[John Weaver] Here's where we're beginning today. Here's point number five. An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience." Let me say that again. An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience. Look at verse 10 again. He says,"'For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at mead 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, I want to get just a little technical just for a moment. The Greek construction in verse 10 is known as eon with the subjunctive. And that implies a third class condition or a possible situation. So what the Apostle Paul is doing in verse 10 is drawing a picture for us of an enlightened or a strong brother exercising his liberty by eating a feast in the idol's temple. With a strong brother enjoying that liberty and yet, the weak brother is watching and is encouraged to do the same thing. Now, a little bit later in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 14 through 22, the Apostle Paul is going to point out to the strong brother how it's not necessarily very wise or expedient for him to do what he's doing, but yet at the same time, he's just drawing a picture here.

[John Weaver] And you remember I told you last week that in pagan temples, after the sacrifice was over, they would have a feast of a lot of the meat that was left over. They would invite family and friends. And a lot of the Christians then were not going to the idol sacrifice. They were going to the feast after the sacrifice and sitting down and enjoying a free meal. A good piece of steak is what it amounts to. And these Christians then that were going were treating this meat as if it was just meat.

[John Weaver] Something that they had bought. or something that they had raised, they knew, they understood that an idol was absolutely nothing, that it had no influence over that meat. It did not change the essence of that meat. They were not worshipping that idol. They were not honoring that idol. They were just sitting down and eating food. Now here's Paul's argument. And by the way, let me remind you about the word emboldened. I told you what the word actually meant.

[John Weaver] It means literally to edify, but it means more than that. It means to erect a building or to set up a foundation. So here's what was happening. Here's what the Apostle Paul is saying. Here you are publicly eating this meat, enjoying it in the feast, and here is the weaker brother, and he sees you doing that, and he thinks, well, if he can do it, I can do it as well.

[John Weaver] and he does not have your knowledge and so he lays his foundation he builds his house so to speak he sets up housekeeping there and he goes and does exactly what you're doing and then as he does that his conscience smites him because he does not have your knowledge and he is offended now I want you to listen to me carefully If the weak brother does not act or is emboldened to act, he has not stumbled and no offense has been committed.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just show you this. Here I am sitting in an idol's temple having a good state that's free. And Henry comes along and says, oh, look at that. There's my pastor up there. I wish he wouldn't do that. I don't like that. He may do it, but I'm not going to do it. And Henry walks on down the street. Have I offended him? No. You see, this is what you've got to understand. Someone may not like what you're doing, as long as it's not sin. They may disagree with what you're doing. But unless that weaker brother actually goes contrary to his conscience, he has not been offended.

[John Weaver] Let me try to draw you an illustration. Let's suppose that Alice and I are planning a picnic at the beach.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. Is it sinful to go to the beach? Is it a violation of God's law to go to the beach? No. Is there a commandment that says thou shalt not go to the beach? The answer is no. You say, but you don't understand, pastor. You can sin at the beach. Well, it's true. But you can also sin in the privacy of your own home. You can also sin out in the woods. You can sin anywhere. But the beach itself is not necessarily sinful.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm using an illustration. I hope everyone knows, and if you know me, you know this about me. I have lost nothing at the beach. I do enjoy seeing the sunrise and the sunset over the ocean. I enjoy watching little birds run up and down the beach. in the shoreline, but I have no desire to go there. I have no desire to sunbathe. I have no desire to swim. In fact, I enjoy going to the beach about once every 10 to 20 years. You know, so I've lost nothing at the beach. You understand that. So I'm not encouraging anybody to go to the beach. I'm not telling them to stay away from the beach. I'm just saying that that's not my cup of tea. I enjoy looking at the water and seeing that sunrise and sunset, and I enjoy those little birds, but other than that, I'm not getting in that water, okay?

[John Weaver] For a number of reasons. Number one, it's dirty. Number two, medical waste is thrown in there. Number three, I don't like sharks. But anyhow, you understand this. But here's my illustration. Alice and I are planning a picnic to the beach. In fact, we've got everything ready. and we're putting everything in the car when you drive up. And I say, man, you've gotten here just at the right time. We're planning a picnic at the beach and we want you to come go with us and enjoy our picnic. And you say something like this. I don't go to the beach. What? What's wrong with going to the beach? I don't go to the beach.

[John Weaver] There's too many scantily clad people there. And I have a difficult time keeping my mind pure. In fact, I don't go to the beach. I don't even think you should go to the beach. And I don't want to go.

[John Weaver] Now, you may get upset at the prospect. You may even ask, how is it that you can even think of going to the beach? And then I explain to you, We're going to a secluded spot, hardly anyone there, just us. And still there's hesitation. No, I don't think I want to go to the beach. So I look at Alice and say, all right, let's take our picnic that we've planned and let's go to the park. Would you go to the park with us? Oh, yes, I'll be glad to go to the park. Now, here's my question. We take our picnic and I take you and we go to the park instead of the beach.

[John Weaver] Now, have you been offended? No. Did you like the prospect that Alice and I would go to the beach? No. Did you agree? No. Did it upset you? Maybe. But did it offend you? The answer is no. Because I have not encouraged you, I have not emboldened you to go contrary to your conscience.

[John Weaver] Now, let me try to flesh this out for you. You drive up, we're going to the beach. And I say again, man, you've gotten here just in time. We're going to the beach, we've got this picnic, let's go. And you say, I don't want to go to the beach. I don't go to the beach. I have trouble at the beach. There's too many temptations at the beach. And I look at you and I say, don't be childish. Come on, let's go to the beach.

[John Weaver] You're out of your mind. Don't be childish, and I urge you, I chide you, I pull you, and I basically force you to go when you don't want to go. And you get to the beach, and your conscience smites you, and you see things that you did not want to see, And you say to yourself, I knew I should not have come. I knew it'd be a time of temptation. I knew I'd fall into that temptation. I knew I shouldn't have come. And you're miserable, and you're discouraged, and you're depressed, and you're upset. Here's my question. Did I offend you? Yes, I did.

[John Weaver] Did I sin against you? Yes, I did. Because I made you do something contrary to your conscience. Contrary to what you know.

[John Weaver] Now let's consider this truth from another perspective. You drive up and I say, we're ready to go to the beach. We've got a wonderful picnic planned. Come on, let's go. And you say, oh no. I don't go to the beach. Why? To be honest, I have trouble keeping my mind pure. I have trouble with this. I have trouble with that. I said, well, look. Step into my office a minute and let me show you some things. And I opened my Bible and I showed you how God has given us richly all things to enjoy. And I point out how the ocean and the beach is God's creation. It is ours. I not only show you that, but I show you how to renew your mind.

[John Weaver] how to control your thoughts so that you will not fall into temptation. And I show you from the Bible how to gird up the loins of your mind and walk holy before the Lord. And I demonstrate you it's just as possible to be as holy on the beach as it is holy in your own home or holy in a park. And I show you that from the Bible.

[John Weaver] And you say, yes, I see that. I understand that. And after showing you that, after you listening and receiving all of that truth from God's Word, you agree to go. And when you go, you get there, and you enjoy yourself, and you have a good time, and you keep your heart, and you keep your mind, and you don't fall into sin. Now, here's my question. Have I offended you? No. No. Why?

[John Weaver] Because now you're doing the same thing that I'm doing, but you have my knowledge. So you were not offended. You were not scandalized. So it's important then for you and I to understand, in the context of Romans 14, and in the context of 1 Corinthians chapter 8, to offend someone, a weaker brother, is to encourage them and to embolden them to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. Okay? Number six, if you're keeping points, here we go. Number six, offending a weak brother, is a sin against Him and a sin against Christ. Offending a weak brother is a sin against the weak brother and a sin against Christ. Look in verse 12, 1 Corinthians 8 verse 12, But when ye sin so against the weak brethren, you wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. So it is a sin to offend or scandalize a brother in Christ Whatever his position is in the faith, I don't care if he's a baby, I don't care if he's a young man, I don't care if he's a father.

[John Weaver] He says when you sow sin against the weak brother, you wound their weak conscience and you sin against Christ. Now the word sin here has the impact of injuring, offending, or of leading someone into sin. Well how do you Sin against the weak brother. When you violate God's law that requires you to love your brethren and to seek their welfare, and thus, when you violate that law, you sin against them. Sin is properly against God, but it is also against man. When one has done an injustice, It requires restitution. But you realize there are some things you can't make restitution over. If I steal from Carrie, I can make restitution. If I steal from Ed, I can make restitution. Suppose I ran up to Carrie and planted a great big kiss right on her lips. And afterwards I said, oh, I shouldn't have done that. Can I un-kiss her? No. How can I make that right?

[John Weaver] You see what I'm saying? There are some things, all I can do is apologize, all I can do is say I'm sorry, but I can't undo what I've done. So we've got to understand that when we're talking about restitution, there are some things, it's almost impossible to make restitution over. And it requires repentance, yes, it requires forgiveness yet, but you can't make restitution over some of that stuff.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you. I'm trying to point out that sin is primarily against God. Do you remember in Psalm 51 when David is confessing his sin, he said, Against thee and against thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. What did he say?

[John Weaver] Now he's talking about his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. And he said, Against thee and against thee only have I sinned against thee and done this evil in thy sight. Well, did he not sin against Bathsheba? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against Uriah? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against his own family? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against the families of Uriah and Bathsheba? Yes, he did. His sin may have been primarily against God, but it certainly affected everyone else as well.

[John Weaver] So the point I'm trying to make is this. Christians are obligated not only to do right toward God, but we're obligated to do right toward our fellow man as well. That's why Galatians 6.10 says this, As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially they that be of the household of faith. Although I have a responsibility to do good unto all men, I have a special duty to do good to those who are of the household of faith. So he says, When you sow sin against the weak brethren, you wound their weak conscience.

[John Weaver] Now, the word wound here literally means to smite or to beat or to injure. Well, how do you injure a weak brother? Well, you've got to understand their consciences are ill-informed. They are ignorant. And when you embolden them and encourage them to go contrary to what they know, you burden them then with a sense of guilt and sorrow and anguish. And our Lord says it's a sin.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. How do we sin against Christ when we sin against the weak brethren? That's what He said. But when you sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. How do we sin against Christ? We sin against Christ because He has commanded us to love one another, and in loving others, we're to seek their good and their well-being. Secondly, weak brethren are just as intimately united to Jesus Christ as are the stronger brethren. And when we harm them, we sin against Christ. He is their head, just like He is our head. They are His body, just as we are His body. And when we harm them, we harm Him.

[John Weaver] Do you remember what our Lord said in Matthew 25 and verse 40? He said, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these My brethren... What? You've done it unto Me.

[John Weaver] Third, Here's another way you sin against Christ. You have to remember that Jesus Christ is Lord of the conscience, not man. I have no right to dictate to you when and how and where your conscience shall be enlightened and illuminated. That's the Lord's prerogative, not mine. Illumination, understanding, enlightenment is His gift.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to show you something in light of this. When you consider the context of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and we're talking about eating a piece of meat, okay? Placing a piece of meat ahead of a brother who's been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ is an open insult to Jesus Christ. When you say, I'd rather have a good piece of steak than consider the conscience of a weaker brother, you're insulting Jesus Christ who purchased that man with his own blood. So what an insult it must be to Christ when one demonstrates in his actions, listen carefully, that he'd rather have a piece of meat or some other frivolity than to help someone who is a true Christian. It denies and denigrates the sacrifice and the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for believers. So, it is a sin to wound the weak conscience of a weak brother. And when we do, we sin against Christ in those three ways that I've just mentioned.

[John Weaver] Now, here's point number seven. I want you to follow with me. The Word of God and Christian charity demand that we do not offend the weaker brother. The Word of God and Christian charity demand that we do not offend the weaker brother. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 13. Look what the Apostle Paul said. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. What did Paul say?

[John Weaver] I don't have to have a steak. I don't have to have a full meal.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold 1 Corinthians 8, but turn right back, if you would, to Romans chapter 14, and look at verses 13 through 17. He's dealing with the same issue. Romans 14, beginning there, verse 13. Look what he says. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, Now listen carefully. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. He said just make sure that you don't cause anybody to stumble or fall. Now watch. Look what he said in verse 14.

[John Weaver] I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there's nothing unclean of itself, but to him that esteem anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if I, brother, be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably? Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy of the Holy Ghost." Now, in verse 16, when the Apostle Paul says, let not your good be evil spoken of, the good there refers to Christian liberty. Let not your good Christian liberty be evil spoken of. Do not abuse it. Do not misuse it. Do not malign it.

[John Weaver] I want you to hold Romans 14, but turn over your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 5. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Look in Galatians chapter 5. I could quote this, but I want you to see it. Galatians 5, in verses 13 and 14. Paul says very plainly what he is implying in Romans 14. When he said in verse 16, let not your good then be evil spoken of, look in Galatians 5, verse 13.

[John Weaver] For brethren, you have been called unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion of the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, thou shalt love thy neighbors thyself." What did he say? You've been called unto liberty. Only use not your liberty for an occasion of the flesh, but by love serve one another.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to make something exceedingly clear. Okay? I want you to listen to me. This is very, very important. We must at all times consider the weaker brethren. But, considering the weaker brethren is not surrendering to them, nor pandering to them in their weakness. What? Let me say this again. We must at all times consider the weaker brethren, but considering them does not mean surrendering the truth, or Christian liberty, or pandering to them in their weakness. There is a principle in Scripture that is very, very clear, and that principle is that of Christian liberty. And we may never, ever forsake that principle. However, although we may never forsake the principle of Christian liberty, That does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty.

[John Weaver] Did you hear what I said? Although we may never forsake the principle of liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty. There are at least three reasons given in Scripture whereby we may lawfully and legitimately forego the exercise of our liberty. We're not giving up the principle, but we just do not exercise it in these three instances. First of all, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the furtherance of the gospel.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 9. And I want you to see how the Apostle Paul forewent the exercise of his Christian liberty. The Apostle Paul was not married. At least he certainly was not married here. Some say that he had to have been married, for he was a member of the Sanhedrin, because that was a requirement. If he had been married, his wife died.

[John Weaver] But at this particular point in his life, he's unmarried. So look in 1 Corinthians 9 and verse 3. The Apostle Paul says, My answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord and of Cephas or Peter. Now look what the apostle is arguing.

[John Weaver] Let me ask you a question. I know you know the answer. Is it a sin to marry? The answer is no, it is not. Did Paul have a right to marry? Yes, he did. Was Paul married at this point? No, he was not. And he forwent the exercise of that. He said, I have the liberty to lead around a sister, a wife, the way Peter does, and some of the other brethren. They were married.

[John Weaver] They carried their wives with them. But Paul did not marry for the furthers of the gospel. Look what he said in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, beginning there in verse 32. 1 Corinthians 7, verse 32. Here's why he was not married. 1 Corinthians 7, verse 32. He says, but I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please him. But he that is married careth for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point something out. In 1 Corinthians 7, and I'm not going to go over this, but Paul gives you three reasons to marry, three reasons not to marry. And it is true that married people have advantages over single people and it's also true that single people have some advantages over married people. Clay used to could do what he wanted to do. He could go where he wanted, what he pleased, how he did it.

[John Weaver] He can't do that now. He has a wife to consider and soon a child to consider. You see what I'm saying? Paul said, I have a perfect right to marry. I have a perfect right to drag my wife around like everybody else. But he said, it caused me more trouble than it's worth. And for the gospel sake, hey, how would you love to have been Paul's wife and gotten thrown in jail with him? You see what I'm saying? get thrown in prison all the time, get beaten, get stoned with stones, get beaten with a whip. So I'm just saying, here's Paul, he had an absolute right to marry, but he remained unmarried for the furtherance of the gospel. So here's the principle. You cannot forsake the principle of Christian liberty, but you can forego the exercise of Christian liberty for the furtherance of the gospel. Secondly, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the sake of personal holiness. Whatever we have liberty to do, personal holiness must come first. I may have personal liberty to go to the beach.

[John Weaver] And I do. But I'm certainly not going to go in July and August when it's most crowded and you see the most scantily clad people there. In other words, I can forego the exercise of my liberty for personal holiness. I want you to understand this. I have liberty to watch movies. But my personal holiness comes ahead of any movie. And if that movie is full of filthy and foul language and teaching adultery and fornication, I'm not watching it. because personal holiness comes first. And let me tell you something, if a movie is too vile and too wicked and too filthy for you to watch downtown at the movie theater, it's still too vile and too wicked and too filthy for you to watch on your TV set when it comes on TV. Scripture says this, David said in Psalm 101 verse 3, I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. So the point I'm trying to make is this, Here's the principle of liberty. But you may forego the exercise of that liberty for the furtherance of the gospel or for personal holiness.

[John Weaver] And personal holiness comes first. Thirdly, and by the way, I hope you remember that the book of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14 says, without holiness no man shall see the Lord. There are plenty of things that I can do without. But one thing I cannot do without is holiness. For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. And thirdly, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the sake of the weaker brethren.

[John Weaver] Paul certainly understood that an idol had no influence upon meat. Paul understood that the meat was not contaminated by the idol. Would Paul eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol? Absolutely. Would Paul eat that meat with a bunch of weaker brethren watching him? Absolutely not. Because Paul said, wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat as long as the world standeth. In other words, I'm not giving up my liberty, but I'm willing to forego that liberty for the sake of the weaker brethren.

[John Weaver] So, the principle is this. We have liberty in Christ, but we may forego the exercise of it for the furtherance of the gospel, for personal holiness, and for consideration of the weaker brethren, because we do not want to sin against Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make a couple of applications today. The first one is this, and I've mentioned this to you earlier. Because of a misunderstanding of the biblical doctrine of offense, we have lost the theology of rebuke. People tend to think to offend someone means to upset them, hurt their feelings, make them mad. That is not true. I want you to turn in your Bibles, follow me very quickly, first of all, to the book of Acts chapter 20. I want to show you some verses and I want to point out one word in each verse. Look in Acts chapter 20 and verse 31.

[John Weaver] The apostle here happens to be speaking to a bunch of preachers, but that's immaterial. I want you to look at the word. Acts chapter 20 verse 31. Look what the apostle Paul said. Acts 20 verse 31. Therefore, watch and remember that by the space of three years, I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears. Underline the word warn. I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears. Look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 15 and verse 14. Romans 15 verse 14. Watch carefully. Romans 15 verse 14, Romans 15 verse 14, And I Myself also am persuaded of you, My brethren, that you are full of goodness, filled with knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Underline the word admonish. Warn, admonish. Turn right over to the book of Colossians chapter 1. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Colossians chapter 1. Look if you would please at verse 28. Colossians 1 verse 28. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Colossians 1 verse 28.

[John Weaver] Whom we preach warning every man. and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ, underline the word warning. So it's been warned, admonish, warning.

[John Weaver] Now look in the book of Hebrews chapter 3. Turn right over to Hebrews chapter 3, and notice if you would please verse 13. Watch carefully. Hebrews 3 verse 13. But exhort, one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Exhort! Wow! Look in Hebrews 10, at verses 24 and 25. Hebrews 10, verses 24 and 25. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching."

[John Weaver] Now the interesting thing is that the word warn, admonish, and warning are all the same Greek word, nutheteo, which literally means to cause to stand in one's mind. You warn, you admonish by causing something to stand in the mind. How do you do that? And the answer is, according to Hebrews 3, Hebrews 10, by exhortation and provocation. We're to provoke one another to good works. Obviously, If you rebuke someone, if you warn someone, if you reprove someone, if you admonish someone, sooner or later, someone is going to get upset. They'll get mad. They'll get their feelings hurt.

[John Weaver] But have you offended them? No. No. You can only offend a brother by encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. And I want you to notice something. The Bible says in Hebrews 10 that we're to provoke one another to love and good works, not just simply provoke each other. That's what some do. But we're to provoke unto love and to good works. So we've lost our theology of rebuke because we've taken the word offend and made it mean to make somebody mad or to upset them. got really upset with Clay and shook my finger in his face and told him, son, you're not treating your wife correctly and I really nailed his hide to the wall, would he be upset? Probably. Would he get mad at me? Probably. Have I offended him? No. Because to offend a brother means to encourage him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.

[John Weaver] Very quickly, if we understand the biblical doctrine of Christian liberty, It will set us free from the traditions of men. Galatians 5, verse 1, Christ says, Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. I am not obligated to submit to every dictate of man or to do what men think need to be done.

[John Weaver] My conscience is bound to the Word of God. I can't come along demanding that you do this and you do that and you do it exactly the way I understand it. If you don't, you're wicked, you're wrong. No, no, no. My conscience is bound to the Word of God. There's nothing wrong with traditions as long as, number one, they're biblical, or number two, everyone understands they're not binding upon anyone. But the problem with traditions is this, sooner or later somebody wants to bind your conscience to that tradition.

[John Weaver] and say, you have to do it, and you have to do it like this. And you don't. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Our conscience is bound only to the Word of God. You show it to me in Scripture, I'm bound. If it's not in Scripture, I'm not bound. It's just that simple.

[John Weaver] If you want to do it, fine, you may do it. But don't get mad at me if I don't do it. Okay? I want you to look back to Romans 14 one last time. Romans 14. And let me emphasize this again. We cannot and we must not, we cannot and we must not press our ideas, opinions, and desires where there is no biblical warrant to do so. Look in Romans 14 verse 19, Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby one may edify another. Look, for meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. For meat destroy not the work of God. Why would we desire our way and our ideas and our opinions to the point that we're willing to destroy the work of God in the lives of others, in their homes, and in their churches.

[John Weaver] It would be the height of wickedness to do so. The last application is this, when we are exercising our Christian liberties, under Christ, we must always consider weaker brethren, use wisdom, compassion, and consideration. We're not to be spiritual bulls in the proverbial china shop, demanding our way, or else we'll tear the place apart. No. No. Do you realize the strong, as well as the weak, may destroy the work of God? The strong may destroy the work of God by condemnation and impatience. And the weak may destroy the work of God by judging and demanding.

[John Weaver] I'm just simply saying, here are principles that have been laid out by the Apostle Paul. If we follow these principles, We may not avoid every conflict between believers, but we certainly will avoid most conflicts. Because most conflicts arise when someone basically demands that everyone do what they tell them in the way that they tell them. And I love what Arthur W. Pink said years ago. I've never forgotten it. I quote this often. Arthur W. Pink said, and I quote, One of the reasons we do not like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves. And that's a fact. You only offend someone by encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge, and you can only offend a weaker brother, biblically speaking.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We ask that You teach us Build us up in the most holy faith. Give us wisdom. Give us discernment. May we always hold on to the principle of Christian liberty. Never forsake that principle. But understand, Father, we may forego the exercise of that principle for the furtherance of the gospel, for personal holiness, and for consideration of the weaker brethren. Give us grace, Lord, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In my name we pray. Amen. Amen.

How to Avoid Conflicts Between Christians Part 5 of 5

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	yx0jNObIJjc
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-03-08
Dictation Name
Book	Book 153: How to Avoid Conflicts — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	81

Formatted Transcript

Opening

Alright, well let's open our Bibles today to Romans chapter 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. And Lord willing, today I want to try to tie together and finish up the series that I began on how to avoid conflicts between Christians. So if you'll look back to Romans chapter 14 very quickly, beginning there with verse 1, where Scripture says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:1-3

"...him that is weak in the faith receive you, 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."

So we're seeing the comparison here between the weak and the strong. Now if you will go back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and let's begin reading there. 1 Corinthians 8 verse 1, 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 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 as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not unto 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 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? And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died. But when ye sin so against the weak 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." So, let me just take a few moments and try to review and try to bring everything into focus because this is message number five on how to avoid conflicts between Christians or what is biblical offense, or what does it mean to offend?

Review of the Series

Weaver reviews the previous four messages: degrees of faith, uselessness of arguing, issues over meats and days, and the nature of offense.

First of all, we began by looking in Romans 14, and we saw that there are indeed degrees of faith. In fact, Paul talks about the weak and the strong, and our Lord Himself talked about those who had little faith and those who had strong faith. So obviously, if there's a weak and a strong, there are degrees all in between as well. So there are varying degrees of maturity in Christians. And John the Apostle divided Christians into babes, or young children, young men, and fathers. And consequently, because some are weak, some are strong, inevitably, there's going to be some conflict. And so, the apostle told us in Romans chapter 14 and verse 1, we had to learn to receive those who were weak in the faith, and when we received them, it was not to doubtful disputations, that is, there was not to be arguing and fussing and fighting. In the second message, I showed you the uselessness of arguing and fussing and fighting. You're never ever going to argue someone into the faith. You're never going to argue someone out of their position.

You may teach them, you may patiently try to educate them, but as far as fussing and fighting, it will never work. Because it is God who must grant understanding. And if God does not grant understanding, if God does not open the eyes, no one is going to see it anyhow. So there's no reason to get mad, there's no reason to get angry, there's no reason to get upset, there's no reason to argue. We also discovered in the third message that one of the problems that really existed not only in the Roman church but in the Corinthian church was this difference over meats that had been sacrificed to idols and special days. In other words, some had to say, well you had to observe this day and you had to observe this day in this way. And the Apostle Paul says, no, come on now, it is a source of conflict. But he said, some esteemeth one day alike, some others do not esteem every day alike. So, then he said, let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

The Offense of the Gospel

The gospel itself is an offense to the natural man because it does not appeal to the flesh or intellect; Christ is a stumbling block to unbelievers.

In fact, in 1 Corinthians 1, you're close there. Go back, if you would, to 1 Corinthians 1, and let me show you just what we're talking about. You see, the gospel of Jesus Christ does not appeal to the flesh. It does not appeal to the intellect. So if you'll notice, in 1 Corinthians 1, the Apostle Paul says in verse 18, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness."

But in us who are saved is the power of God. Now look what God says, "For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" Now look, "For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." Here it is, "For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness."

So there is an offense to the gospel. In fact, I gave you a number of passages last week from the Old Testament and the New Testament where the Bible tells us very plainly that Jesus Christ is a stumbling block to those who will not believe. In fact, one of those passages is found in 1 Peter 2:8 where the Word of God says concerning Christ, "...and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." So very obviously there is an offense to the gospel. The natural man, the natural mind does not want to hear of salvation by grace through faith. If we were preaching and teaching salvation by works or salvation by any other means, the flesh would receive it very willingly, but not when everything is the work of God.

Review of Key Points on Offense

Weaver reviews that offense involves things indifferent, only weak Christians stumble, they are ignorant, and to offend means to embolden a weak brother to act without knowledge.

Now, very quickly, let me just review what we covered last week to try to bring you up to speed. First of all, I pointed out that Christian liberty is involved, and therefore, the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. And when I'm talking about things that are indifferent, I'm not talking about things that are sinful and wicked in and of themselves. If something is sinful, it is not indifferent. If something is sinful, it is a violation of God's law. 1 John 3:4 tells us very clearly that whosoever commits sin transgresseth the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. But eating meat is not a sin. Even eating meat that had been blessed through an idol, it is not sin. Why? An idol is nothing. It has no influence over the meat. It does not change the substance of that meat or the essence of that meat, not at all. So, it involves things that are indifferent.

Secondly, I pointed out, it is the weak Christians who stumble and are offended. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Let me emphasize this again. It is only the weak. Notice 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and look at verse 7. He says, "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, for some with conscience of an idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered to an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled." Skip down to verse 9, "...take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak." And then verse 11, "And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish." Verse 12, "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience." So it's the weak then who stumble. It is the weak who are offended. So if someone is biblically offended and they tell you that, biblically I said, they're acknowledging and confessing that they're weak. They're weak in faith. They're not strong in faith. So it's weak Christians that are offended and stumble.

Thirdly, I pointed out, that those who are weak, those who are offended, those who do stumble, are so because of their ignorance. Now, I didn't say that. God did. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 verse 4. "As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, what did Paul say? We know, that is, the strong knows 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 on earth, as there be gods many and lords many, but to us, that is, the strong, 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." The ignorant, the weak, are weak because of their ignorance. They do not understand the sovereignty of God. They do not understand the providence of God. And he goes on to say in verse 7,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 8:7,9,11,12

"Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, for some, that is the weak, 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."

So they're ignorant in the aspect that they think that somehow this idol, this dumb piece of wood or whatever it is, somehow affects that meat where it is defiled. No. The Bible tells us that it has no influence at all upon that meat. And those who think that somehow that it does, the Apostle Paul says are ignorant.

Then, fourthly, last week we looked at this and I tried to show you that biblically speaking to offend someone means to encourage and to embolden them to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. Look in verse 10. "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 that are offered unto idols." Now, let me emphasize this before I get started today. You can only biblically offend a weak brother and you offend him by encouraging him, by emboldening him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge and your understanding. Let me make this clear. One does not sin by exercising his liberty in Christ. The only way that you can sin in this aspect, in this context, is when you encourage and you embolden a weaker brother to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.

And so, I pointed out last week how that we have taken the biblical doctrine of offense and perverted it and we've turned it around to make it mean to make somebody mad or to upset someone or to hurt their feelings when it has absolutely nothing to do with that. And I'm going to show you just a little bit later. In fact, you will remember I told you last week that the Apostle Paul undoubtedly upset the Apostle Peter in Galatians chapter 2 when he shook his finger in his face and rebuked him before everyone. And although he upset him and may have angered him, he never offended the Apostle Peter. Because to offend, in this context, means to encourage someone to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. Alright, number five.

Offense Occurs When the Weak Brother Acts Against Conscience

An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience; merely disliking or disagreeing with a liberty does not constitute offense.

Here's where we're beginning today. Here's point number five. "An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience." Let me say that again. An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience. Look at verse 10 again. He says, "'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 unto idols.'"

Now, I want to get just a little technical just for a moment. The Greek construction in verse 10 is known as ean with the subjunctive. And that implies a third class condition or a possible situation. So what the Apostle Paul is doing in verse 10 is drawing a picture for us of an enlightened or a strong brother exercising his liberty by eating a feast in the idol's temple. With a strong brother enjoying that liberty and yet, the weak brother is watching and is encouraged to do the same thing. Now, a little bit later in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 14 through 22, the Apostle Paul is going to point out to the strong brother how it's not necessarily very wise or expedient for him to do what he's doing, but yet at the same time, he's just drawing a picture here.

And you remember I told you last week that in pagan temples, after the sacrifice was over, they would have a feast of a lot of the meat that was left over. They would invite family and friends. And a lot of the Christians then were not going to the idol sacrifice. They were going to the feast after the sacrifice and sitting down and enjoying a free meal. A good piece of steak is what it amounts to. And these Christians then that were going were treating this meat as if it was just meat. Something that they had bought, or something that they had raised, they knew, they understood that an idol was absolutely nothing, that it had no influence over that meat. It did not change the essence of that meat. They were not worshipping that idol. They were not honoring that idol. They were just sitting down and eating food. Now here's Paul's argument. And by the way, let me remind you about the word emboldened. I told you what the word actually meant.

It means literally to edify, but it means more than that. It means to erect a building or to set up a foundation. So here's what was happening. Here's what the Apostle Paul is saying. Here you are publicly eating this meat, enjoying it in the feast, and here is the weaker brother, and he sees you doing that, and he thinks, well, if he can do it, I can do it as well. And he does not have your knowledge and so he lays his foundation, he builds his house so to speak, he sets up housekeeping there and he goes and does exactly what you're doing. And then as he does that, his conscience smites him because he does not have your knowledge and he is offended. Now I want you to listen to me carefully. If the weak brother does not act or is emboldened to act, he has not stumbled and no offense has been committed.

Now, let me just show you this. Here I am sitting in an idol's temple having a good steak that's free. And Henry comes along and says, oh, look at that. There's my pastor up there. I wish he wouldn't do that. I don't like that. He may do it, but I'm not going to do it. And Henry walks on down the street. Have I offended him? No. You see, this is what you've got to understand. Someone may not like what you're doing, as long as it's not sin. They may disagree with what you're doing. But unless that weaker brother actually goes contrary to his conscience, he has not been offended.

Illustration of Offense vs. Disagreement

Using a beach picnic illustration, Weaver shows that offense requires emboldening someone to act contrary to conscience; without that, there is no offense.

Let me try to draw you an illustration. Let's suppose that Alice and I are planning a picnic at the beach. Now let me ask you a question. Is it sinful to go to the beach? Is it a violation of God's law to go to the beach? No. Is there a commandment that says thou shalt not go to the beach? The answer is no. You say, but you don't understand, pastor. You can sin at the beach. Well, it's true. But you can also sin in the privacy of your own home. You can also sin out in the woods. You can sin anywhere. But the beach itself is not necessarily sinful.

Now, I'm using an illustration. I hope everyone knows, and if you know me, you know this about me. I have lost nothing at the beach. I do enjoy seeing the sunrise and the sunset over the ocean. I enjoy watching little birds run up and down the beach in the shoreline, but I have no desire to go there. I have no desire to sunbathe. I have no desire to swim. In fact, I enjoy going to the beach about once every 10 to 20 years. You know, so I've lost nothing at the beach. You understand that. So I'm not encouraging anybody to go to the beach. I'm not telling them to stay away from the beach. I'm just saying that that's not my cup of tea. I enjoy looking at the water and seeing that sunrise and sunset, and I enjoy those little birds, but other than that, I'm not getting in that water, okay?

For a number of reasons. Number one, it's dirty. Number two, medical waste is thrown in there. Number three, I don't like sharks. But anyhow, you understand this. But here's my illustration. Alice and I are planning a picnic to the beach. In fact, we've got everything ready, and we're putting everything in the car when you drive up. And I say, man, you've gotten here just at the right time. We're planning a picnic at the beach and we want you to come go with us and enjoy our picnic. And you say something like this. I don't go to the beach. What? What's wrong with going to the beach? I don't go to the beach.

There's too many scantily clad people there. And I have a difficult time keeping my mind pure. In fact, I don't go to the beach. I don't even think you should go to the beach. And I don't want to go.

Now, you may get upset at the prospect. You may even ask, how is it that you can even think of going to the beach? And then I explain to you, we're going to a secluded spot, hardly anyone there, just us. And still there's hesitation. No, I don't think I want to go to the beach. So I look at Alice and say, all right, let's take our picnic that we've planned and let's go to the park. Would you go to the park with us? Oh, yes, I'll be glad to go to the park. Now, here's my question. We take our picnic and I take you and we go to the park instead of the beach.

Now, have you been offended? No. Did you like the prospect that Alice and I would go to the beach? No. Did you agree? No. Did it upset you? Maybe. But did it offend you? The answer is no. Because I have not encouraged you, I have not emboldened you to go contrary to your conscience.

Now, let me try to flesh this out for you. You drive up, we're going to the beach. And I say again, man, you've gotten here just in time. We're going to the beach, we've got this picnic, let's go. And you say, I don't want to go to the beach. I don't go to the beach. I have trouble at the beach. There's too many temptations at the beach. And I look at you and I say, don't be childish. Come on, let's go to the beach.

You're out of your mind. Don't be childish, and I urge you, I chide you, I pull you, and I basically force you to go when you don't want to go. And you get to the beach, and your conscience smites you, and you see things that you did not want to see. And you say to yourself, I knew I should not have come. I knew it'd be a time of temptation. I knew I'd fall into that temptation. I knew I shouldn't have come. And you're miserable, and you're discouraged, and you're depressed, and you're upset. Here's my question. Did I offend you? Yes, I did.

Did I sin against you? Yes, I did. Because I made you do something contrary to your conscience. Contrary to what you know.

Now let's consider this truth from another perspective. You drive up and I say, we're ready to go to the beach. We've got a wonderful picnic planned. Come on, let's go. And you say, oh no. I don't go to the beach. Why? To be honest, I have trouble keeping my mind pure. I have trouble with this. I have trouble with that. I said, well, look. Step into my office a minute and let me show you some things. And I opened my Bible and I showed you how God has given us richly all things to enjoy. And I point out how the ocean and the beach is God's creation. It is ours. I not only show you that, but I show you how to renew your mind.

How to control your thoughts so that you will not fall into temptation. And I show you from the Bible how to gird up the loins of your mind and walk holy before the Lord. And I demonstrate to you it's just as possible to be as holy on the beach as it is holy in your own home or holy in a park. And I show you that from the Bible. And you say, yes, I see that. I understand that. And after showing you that, after you listening and receiving all of that truth from God's Word, you agree to go. And when you go, you get there, and you enjoy yourself, and you have a good time, and you keep your heart, and you keep your mind, and you don't fall into sin. Now, here's my question. Have I offended you? No. No. Why?

Because now you're doing the same thing that I'm doing, but you have my knowledge. So you were not offended. You were not scandalized. So it's important then for you and I to understand, in the context of Romans 14, and in the context of 1 Corinthians chapter 8, to offend someone, a weaker brother, is to encourage them and to embolden them to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. Okay? Number six, if you're keeping points, here we go. Number six, offending a weak brother is a sin against him and a sin against Christ. Offending a weak brother is a sin against the weak brother and a sin against Christ. Look in verse 12, 1 Corinthians 8 verse 12, "But when ye sin so against the weak brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." So it is a sin to offend or scandalize a brother in Christ. Whatever his position is in the faith, I don't care if he's a baby, I don't care if he's a young man, I don't care if he's a father.

He says when ye sin so against the weak brother, you wound their weak conscience and you sin against Christ. Now the word sin here has the impact of injuring, offending, or of leading someone into sin. Well how do you sin against the weak brother? When you violate God's law that requires you to love your brethren and to seek their welfare, and thus, when you violate that law, you sin against them. Sin is properly against God, but it is also against man. When one has done an injustice, it requires restitution. But you realize there are some things you can't make restitution over. If I steal from Carrie, I can make restitution. If I steal from Ed, I can make restitution. Suppose I ran up to Carrie and planted a great big kiss right on her lips. And afterwards I said, oh, I shouldn't have done that. Can I un-kiss her? No. How can I make that right?

Offending a Weak Brother Is Sin Against Him and Christ

Offending a weak brother is a sin against the brother and against Christ because it violates the command to love, harms one united to Christ, and usurps Christ's lordship over conscience.

You see what I'm saying? There are some things, all I can do is apologize, all I can do is say I'm sorry, but I can't undo what I've done. So we've got to understand that when we're talking about restitution, there are some things, it's almost impossible to make restitution over. And it requires repentance, yes, it requires forgiveness yet, but you can't make restitution over some of that stuff.

Now, let me show you. I'm trying to point out that sin is primarily against God. Do you remember in Psalm 51 when David is confessing his sin, he said, "Against thee, and against thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight." What did he say? Now he's talking about his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. And he said, "Against thee, and against thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight." Well, did he not sin against Bathsheba? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against Uriah? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against his own family? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against the families of Uriah and Bathsheba? Yes, he did. His sin may have been primarily against God, but it certainly affected everyone else as well.

So the point I'm trying to make is this. Christians are obligated not only to do right toward God, but we're obligated to do right toward our fellow man as well. That's why Galatians 6:10 says this, "As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially they that be of the household of faith." Although I have a responsibility to do good unto all men, I have a special duty to do good to those who are of the household of faith. So he says, "When ye sin so against the weak brethren, you wound their weak conscience."

Now, the word wound here literally means to smite or to beat or to injure. Well, how do you injure a weak brother? Well, you've got to understand their consciences are ill-informed. They are ignorant. And when you embolden them and encourage them to go contrary to what they know, you burden them then with a sense of guilt and sorrow and anguish. And our Lord says it's a sin.

Now let me ask you a question. How do we sin against Christ when we sin against the weak brethren? That's what He said. "But when ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." How do we sin against Christ? We sin against Christ because He has commanded us to love one another, and in loving others, we're to seek their good and their well-being. Secondly, weak brethren are just as intimately united to Jesus Christ as are the stronger brethren. And when we harm them, we sin against Christ. He is their head, just like He is our head. They are His body, just as we are His body. And when we harm them, we harm Him.

Do you remember what our Lord said in Matthew 25 and verse 40? He said, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these My brethren..." What? "You've done it unto Me." Third, here's another way you sin against Christ. You have to remember that Jesus Christ is Lord of the conscience, not man. I have no right to dictate to you when and how and where your conscience shall be enlightened and illuminated. That's the Lord's prerogative, not mine. Illumination, understanding, enlightenment is His gift.

Now, I want to show you something in light of this. When you consider the context of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and we're talking about eating a piece of meat, okay? Placing a piece of meat ahead of a brother who's been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ is an open insult to Jesus Christ. When you say, I'd rather have a good piece of steak than consider the conscience of a weaker brother, you're insulting Jesus Christ who purchased that man with his own blood. So what an insult it must be to Christ when one demonstrates in his actions, listen carefully, that he'd rather have a piece of meat or some other frivolity than to help someone who is a true Christian. It denies and denigrates the sacrifice and the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for believers. So, it is a sin to wound the weak conscience of a weak brother. And when we do, we sin against Christ in those three ways that I've just mentioned.

The Demand to Not Offend and the Principle of Liberty

Scripture and charity demand we do not offend the weaker brother; we must never forsake the principle of liberty, but we may forego its exercise for the gospel, holiness, or weaker brethren.

Now, here's point number seven. I want you to follow with me. The Word of God and Christian charity demand that we do not offend the weaker brother. The Word of God and Christian charity demand that we do not offend the weaker brother. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 13. Look what the Apostle Paul said. "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." What did Paul say?

I don't have to have a steak. I don't have to have a full meal. Now, I want you to hold 1 Corinthians 8, but turn right back, if you would, to Romans chapter 14, and look at verses 13 through 17. He's dealing with the same issue. Romans 14, beginning there verse 13. Look what he says. "Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather," now listen carefully. "Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." He said just make sure that you don't cause anybody to stumble or fall. Now watch. Look what he said in verse 14.

"I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there's nothing unclean of itself, but to him that esteem anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." Now, in verse 16, when the Apostle Paul says, "let not your good be evil spoken of," the good there refers to Christian liberty. Let not your good Christian liberty be evil spoken of. Do not abuse it. Do not misuse it. Do not malign it.

I want you to hold Romans 14, but turn over your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 5. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Look in Galatians chapter 5. I could quote this, but I want you to see it. Galatians 5, in verses 13 and 14. Paul says very plainly what he is implying in Romans 14. When he said in verse 16, "let not your good then be evil spoken of," look in Galatians 5, verse 13.

"For brethren, you have been called unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion of the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." What did he say? You've been called unto liberty. Only use not your liberty for an occasion of the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Now, I want to make something exceedingly clear. Okay? I want you to listen to me. This is very, very important. We must at all times consider the weaker brethren. But, considering the weaker brethren is not surrendering to them, nor pandering to them in their weakness. What? Let me say this again. We must at all times consider the weaker brethren, but considering them does not mean surrendering the truth, or Christian liberty, or pandering to them in their weakness. There is a principle in Scripture that is very, very clear, and that principle is that of Christian liberty. And we may never, ever forsake that principle. However, although we may never forsake the principle of Christian liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty.

Did you hear what I said? Although we may never forsake the principle of liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty. There are at least three reasons given in Scripture whereby we may lawfully and legitimately forego the exercise of our liberty. We're not giving up the principle, but we just do not exercise it in these three instances. First of all, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the furtherance of the gospel. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 9. And I want you to see how the Apostle Paul forewent the exercise of his Christian liberty. The Apostle Paul was not married. At least he certainly was not married here. Some say that he had to have been married, for he was a member of the Sanhedrin, because that was a requirement. If he had been married, his wife died.

But at this particular point in his life, he's unmarried. So look in 1 Corinthians 9 and verse 3. The Apostle Paul says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 9:3-5

"My answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord and of Cephas or Peter."

Now look what the apostle is arguing. Let me ask you a question. I know you know the answer. Is it a sin to marry? The answer is no, it is not. Did Paul have a right to marry? Yes, he did. Was Paul married at this point? No, he was not. And he forewent the exercise of that. He said, I have the liberty to lead around a sister, a wife, the way Peter does, and some of the other brethren. They were married.

They carried their wives with them. But Paul did not marry for the furtherance of the gospel. Look what he said in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, beginning there in verse 32. 1 Corinthians 7, verse 32. Here's why he was not married. 1 Corinthians 7, verse 32. He says, "But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please him. But he that is married careth for the things of the world, how he may please his wife."

Now, let me point something out. In 1 Corinthians 7, and I'm not going to go over this, but Paul gives you three reasons to marry, three reasons not to marry. And it is true that married people have advantages over single people and it's also true that single people have some advantages over married people. Clay used to could do what he wanted to do. He could go where he wanted, what he pleased, how he did it. He can't do that now. He has a wife to consider and soon a child to consider. You see what I'm saying? Paul said, I have a perfect right to marry. I have a perfect right to drag my wife around like everybody else. But he said, it caused me more trouble than it's worth. And for the gospel sake, hey, how would you love to have been Paul's wife and gotten thrown in jail with him? You see what I'm saying? Get thrown in prison all the time, get beaten, get stoned with stones, get beaten with a whip. So I'm just saying, here's Paul, he had an absolute right to marry, but he remained unmarried for the furtherance of the gospel. So here's the principle. You cannot forsake the principle of Christian liberty, but you can forego the exercise of Christian liberty for the furtherance of the gospel. Secondly, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the sake of personal holiness. Whatever we have liberty to do, personal holiness must come first. I may have personal liberty to go to the beach.

And I do. But I'm certainly not going to go in July and August when it's most crowded and you see the most scantily clad people there. In other words, I can forego the exercise of my liberty for personal holiness. I want you to understand this. I have liberty to watch movies. But my personal holiness comes ahead of any movie. And if that movie is full of filthy and foul language and teaching adultery and fornication, I'm not watching it. Because personal holiness comes first. And let me tell you something, if a movie is too vile and too wicked and too filthy for you to watch downtown at the movie theater, it's still too vile and too wicked and too filthy for you to watch on your TV set when it comes on TV. Scripture says this, David said in Psalm 101 verse 3,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 101:3

"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes."

So the point I'm trying to make is this, here's the principle of liberty. But you may forego the exercise of that liberty for the furtherance of the gospel or for personal holiness.

And personal holiness comes first. Thirdly, and by the way, I hope you remember that the book of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14 says,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 12:14

"without holiness no man shall see the Lord."

There are plenty of things that I can do without. But one thing I cannot do without is holiness. For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. And thirdly, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the sake of the weaker brethren. Paul certainly understood that an idol had no influence upon meat. Paul understood that the meat was not contaminated by the idol. Would Paul eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol? Absolutely. Would Paul eat that meat with a bunch of weaker brethren watching him? Absolutely not. Because Paul said, "wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat as long as the world standeth." In other words, I'm not giving up my liberty, but I'm willing to forego that liberty for the sake of the weaker brethren.

So, the principle is this. We have liberty in Christ, but we may forego the exercise of it for the furtherance of the gospel, for personal holiness, and for consideration of the weaker brethren, because we do not want to sin against Jesus Christ.

Applications: Rebuke, Traditions, and Consideration

Weaver applies the doctrine: we must not lose the theology of rebuke by misdefining offense; our conscience is bound to Scripture, not traditions; and we must exercise liberty with wisdom and compassion.

Now, let me make a couple of applications today. The first one is this, and I've mentioned this to you earlier. Because of a misunderstanding of the biblical doctrine of offense, we have lost the theology of rebuke. People tend to think to offend someone means to upset them, hurt their feelings, make them mad. That is not true. I want you to turn in your Bibles, follow me very quickly, first of all, to the book of Acts chapter 20. I want to show you some verses and I want to point out one word in each verse. Look in Acts chapter 20 and verse 31.

The apostle here happens to be speaking to a bunch of preachers, but that's immaterial. I want you to look at the word. Acts chapter 20 verse 31. Look what the apostle Paul said. Acts 20 verse 31.

Scripture Reading — Acts 20:31

"Therefore, watch and remember that by the space of three years, I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears."

Underline the word warn. I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears. Look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 15 and verse 14. Romans 15 verse 14. Watch carefully. Romans 15 verse 14, "And I Myself also am persuaded of you, My brethren, that you are full of goodness, filled with knowledge, able also to admonish one another." Underline the word admonish. Warn, admonish. Turn right over to the book of Colossians chapter 1. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Colossians chapter 1. Look if you would please at verse 28. Colossians 1 verse 28. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Colossians 1 verse 28.

"Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ," underline the word warning. So it's been warned, admonish, warning. Now look in the book of Hebrews chapter 3. Turn right over to Hebrews chapter 3, and notice if you would please verse 13. Watch carefully. Hebrews 3 verse 13. "But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Exhort! Wow! Look in Hebrews 10, at verses 24 and 25. Hebrews 10, verses 24 and 25. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching."

Now the interesting thing is that the word warn, admonish, and warning are all the same Greek word, noutheteo, which literally means to cause to stand in one's mind. You warn, you admonish by causing something to stand in the mind. How do you do that? And the answer is, according to Hebrews 3, Hebrews 10, by exhortation and provocation. We're to provoke one another to good works. Obviously, if you rebuke someone, if you warn someone, if you reprove someone, if you admonish someone, sooner or later, someone is going to get upset. They'll get mad. They'll get their feelings hurt.

But have you offended them? No. No. You can only offend a brother by encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. And I want you to notice something. The Bible says in Hebrews 10 that we're to provoke one another to love and good works, not just simply provoke each other. That's what some do. But we're to provoke unto love and to good works. So we've lost our theology of rebuke because we've taken the word offend and made it mean to make somebody mad or to upset them. If I got really upset with Clay and shook my finger in his face and told him, son, you're not treating your wife correctly and I really nailed his hide to the wall, would he be upset? Probably. Would he get mad at me? Probably. Have I offended him? No. Because to offend a brother means to encourage him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.

Very quickly, if we understand the biblical doctrine of Christian liberty, it will set us free from the traditions of men. Galatians 5, verse 1, Christ says, "Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." I am not obligated to submit to every dictate of man or to do what men think need to be done. My conscience is bound to the Word of God. I can't come along demanding that you do this and you do that and you do it exactly the way I understand it. If you don't, you're wicked, you're wrong. No, no, no. My conscience is bound to the Word of God. There's nothing wrong with traditions as long as, number one, they're biblical, or number two, everyone understands they're not binding upon anyone. But the problem with traditions is this, sooner or later somebody wants to bind your conscience to that tradition.

And say, you have to do it, and you have to do it like this. And you don't. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Our conscience is bound only to the Word of God. You show it to me in Scripture, I'm bound. If it's not in Scripture, I'm not bound. It's just that simple.

If you want to do it, fine, you may do it. But don't get mad at me if I don't do it. Okay? I want you to look back to Romans 14 one last time. Romans 14. And let me emphasize this again. We cannot and we must not, we cannot and we must not press our ideas, opinions, and desires where there is no biblical warrant to do so. Look in Romans 14 verse 19, "Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby one may edify another. Look, for meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. For meat destroy not the work of God." Why would we desire our way and our ideas and our opinions to the point that we're willing to destroy the work of God in the lives of others, in their homes, and in their churches.

It would be the height of wickedness to do so. The last application is this, when we are exercising our Christian liberties, under Christ, we must always consider weaker brethren, use wisdom, compassion, and consideration. We're not to be spiritual bulls in the proverbial china shop, demanding our way, or else we'll tear the place apart. No. No. Do you realize the strong, as well as the weak, may destroy the work of God? The strong may destroy the work of God by condemnation and impatience. And the weak may destroy the work of God by judging and demanding.

I'm just simply saying, here are principles that have been laid out by the Apostle Paul. If we follow these principles, we may not avoid every conflict between believers, but we certainly will avoid most conflicts. Because most conflicts arise when someone basically demands that everyone do what they tell them in the way that they tell them. And I love what Arthur W. Pink said years ago. I've never forgotten it. I quote this often. Arthur W. Pink said, and I quote, "One of the reasons we do not like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves." And that's a fact. You only offend someone by encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge, and you can only offend a weaker brother, biblically speaking.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Biblical Definition of Offense

Summary: Offense is not making someone mad or hurting feelings; it is emboldening a weaker brother to act against his conscience without having the knowledge of the stronger brother.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'You can only biblically offend a weak brother and you offend him by encouraging him, by emboldening him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge and your understanding.'

Christian Liberty and Its Limits

Summary: Believers have liberty in Christ, but they may forego exercising that liberty for the furtherance of the gospel, personal holiness, or the sake of weaker brethren.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'Although we may never forsake the principle of liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty.'

Sin Against Christ Through Offending a Brother

Summary: When a strong brother offends a weak brother, he sins against Christ because he disobeys Christ's command to love, harms one united to Christ, and usurps Christ's lordship over conscience.

Evidence: Weaver explains: 'We sin against Christ because He has commanded us to love one another... weak brethren are just as intimately united to Jesus Christ as are the stronger brethren... Jesus Christ is Lord of the conscience, not man.'

Theology of Rebuke vs. Misunderstood Offense

Summary: Misunderstanding offense as merely upsetting someone has caused the church to lose the biblical practice of warning, admonishing, and exhorting one another.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'Because of a misunderstanding of the biblical doctrine of offense, we have lost the theology of rebuke.'

Conscience Bound to God's Word, Not Traditions

Summary: Christian liberty frees believers from man-made traditions; the conscience is bound only to Scripture, not to the dictates of men.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'My conscience is bound to the Word of God... Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.'

Key Arguments

Offense Requires Action Against Conscience

Summary: An offense only occurs when the weak brother actually acts against his conscience; mere disagreement or displeasure does not constitute biblical offense.

Evidence: Weaver argues: 'If the weak brother does not act or is emboldened to act, he has not stumbled and no offense has been committed.'

Offending a Weak Brother Is Sin

Summary: Scripture explicitly states that wounding a weak brother's conscience is a sin against the brother and against Christ.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 8:12: 'But when ye sin so against the weak brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.'

Liberty Must Not Be Used to Destroy

Summary: The strong must not use their liberty in a way that destroys the work of God in a weaker brother's life; love must govern the exercise of liberty.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Romans 14:15,20: 'Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died... For meat destroy not the work of God.'

Foregoing Liberty Is Not Forsaking the Principle

Summary: Believers may temporarily refrain from exercising a liberty without denying the principle of liberty itself, for the sake of the gospel, holiness, or weaker brethren.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'We may never, ever forsake that principle. However, although we may never forsake the principle of Christian liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty.'

Rebuke Is Not Offense

Summary: Biblical warning, admonition, and rebuke may upset someone but do not constitute offense because offense requires emboldening to act without knowledge.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'If you rebuke someone, if you warn someone, if you reprove someone, if you admonish someone, sooner or later, someone is going to get upset... But have you offended them? No.'

Scripture References

Romans 14:1-3

Context: Introduction to the weak and strong in faith; receiving the weak without disputations.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Context: The entire chapter is read and expounded as the primary text on offense and Christian liberty regarding meats offered to idols.

Galatians 5:11

Context: The offense of the cross; persecution would cease if Paul preached circumcision.

1 Corinthians 1:18-23

Context: The preaching of the cross is foolishness to the perishing; Christ crucified is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks.

1 Peter 2:8

Context: Christ is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to those who are disobedient.

1 John 3:4

Context: Sin is the transgression of the law; used to distinguish sinful acts from indifferent things.

1 Corinthians 8:7,9,11,12

Context: Emphasizing that it is the weak who stumble and are offended; their conscience is weak.

1 Corinthians 8:4-7

Context: The strong know an idol is nothing; the weak are ignorant of this knowledge.

1 Corinthians 8:10

Context: The weak brother is emboldened to eat when he sees the strong brother eating in the idol's temple.

1 Corinthians 8:12

Context: Sin against the weak brethren wounds their weak conscience and is sin against Christ.

Psalm 51:4

Context: David's confession that his sin was primarily against God, though it affected others.

Galatians 6:10

Context: Do good to all men, especially to the household of faith.

Matthew 25:40

Context: What is done to the least of Christ's brethren is done to Him.

Romans 14:13-17

Context: Do not put a stumbling block in a brother's way; the kingdom is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace, and joy.

Galatians 5:13-14

Context: Called to liberty; use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love serve one another.

1 Corinthians 9:3-5

Context: Paul had the right to marry but forewent it for the gospel's sake.

1 Corinthians 7:32-33

Context: The unmarried care for the things of the Lord; the married care for the things of the world.

Psalm 101:3

Context: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes; used to support personal holiness over liberty.

Hebrews 12:14

Context: Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

Acts 20:31

Context: Paul warned everyone night and day with tears; example of biblical warning.

Historical References

Greek dualism/paganism

Context: Weaver explains that locating evil in material things is Greek dualism, which led to asceticism, monasteries, and self-flagellation.

Arthur W. Pink quote

Context: Weaver quotes Pink: 'One of the reasons we do not like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves.'

Important Quotes

You can only biblically offend a weak brother and you offend him by encouraging him, by emboldening him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge and your understanding.

Significance: This is the central definition of biblical offense that Weaver emphasizes throughout the message.

If the weak brother does not act or is emboldened to act, he has not stumbled and no offense has been committed.

Significance: Clarifies that offense requires the weak brother to actually act against his conscience, not merely disagree.

When ye sin so against the weak brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Significance: Direct scriptural statement that offending a weak brother is sin against Christ, underscoring the seriousness.

Although we may never forsake the principle of liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty.

Significance: Key distinction between holding the principle of liberty and choosing not to exercise it for the sake of others.

Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Significance: Paul's personal resolution to forego liberty for the sake of a weaker brother, cited as the model for believers.

Because of a misunderstanding of the biblical doctrine of offense, we have lost the theology of rebuke.

Significance: Highlights the practical consequence of misdefining offense: the neglect of biblical admonition.

My conscience is bound to the Word of God. I can't come along demanding that you do this and you do that and you do it exactly the way I understand it.

Significance: Emphasizes that Christian liberty frees believers from man-made rules; conscience is subject only to Scripture.

One of the reasons we do not like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves.

Significance: A memorable quote from Arthur Pink illustrating the human tendency to impose one's own standards on others.

Discussion Questions

How does the biblical definition of offense differ from the common understanding of offending someone?

Context: Weaver contrasts the biblical meaning (emboldening a weak brother to act against conscience) with the modern idea of upsetting someone.

Why is it a sin against Christ to offend a weaker brother?

Context: Weaver gives three reasons: disobedience to Christ's command to love, harming one united to Christ, and usurping Christ's lordship over conscience.

What is the difference between forsaking the principle of Christian liberty and foregoing its exercise?

Context: Weaver explains that we must never deny the principle of liberty, but we may choose not to exercise it in certain situations.

In what three areas may a believer legitimately forego the exercise of Christian liberty?

Context: Weaver lists the furtherance of the gospel, personal holiness, and consideration of weaker brethren.

How has the misunderstanding of offense affected the practice of biblical rebuke and admonition in the church?

Context: Weaver argues that equating offense with upsetting someone has led to the loss of the theology of rebuke.

How can we balance exercising our liberty in Christ with not causing a weaker brother to stumble?

Context: Weaver emphasizes using wisdom, compassion, and consideration, and being willing to forego liberty for the sake of others.

Applications

Examine Your Definition of Offense

Summary: Believers should evaluate whether they have adopted the world's definition of offense (making someone mad) rather than the biblical one (emboldening a weak brother to sin against conscience).

Evidence: Weaver states: 'We have taken the biblical doctrine of offense and perverted it and we've turned it around to make it mean to make somebody mad or to upset someone or to hurt their feelings when it has absolutely nothing to do with that.'

Prioritize Love Over Liberty

Summary: When exercising Christian liberty, believers must consider the impact on weaker brethren and be willing to limit their freedom out of love, not insisting on their own rights.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'We must at all times consider the weaker brethren. But, considering the weaker brethren is not surrendering to them, nor pandering to them in their weakness.'

Restore Biblical Rebuke and Admonition

Summary: The church must recover the practice of warning, admonishing, and exhorting one another without fear of being accused of offense, since biblical rebuke is not the same as causing to stumble.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'Because of a misunderstanding of the biblical doctrine of offense, we have lost the theology of rebuke.'

Bind Conscience to Scripture Alone

Summary: Believers should refuse to let their conscience be bound by man-made traditions or the opinions of others, standing fast in the liberty of Christ while submitting only to God's Word.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'My conscience is bound to the Word of God... Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.'

Exercise Liberty with Wisdom and Compassion

Summary: Strong believers should not be 'spiritual bulls in a china shop' but should use wisdom, compassion, and consideration when exercising their liberties around others.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'When we are exercising our Christian liberties, under Christ, we must always consider weaker brethren, use wisdom, compassion, and consideration.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T22:23:54Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:57:30Z

Clean Transcript

How to Avoid Conflicts Between Christians Part 5 of 5

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

Alright, well let's open our Bibles today to Romans chapter 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. And Lord willing, today I want to try to tie together and finish up the series that I began on how to avoid conflicts between Christians. So if you'll look back to Romans chapter 14 very quickly, beginning there with verse 1, where Scripture says, "...him that is weak in the faith receive you, 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." So we're seeing the comparison here between the weak and the strong. Now if you will go back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and let's begin reading there. 1 Corinthians 8 verse 1, the Apostle Paul says, "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."
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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 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 as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not unto God, for neither if we eat are we the better, neither if we eat not are we the worse.
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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 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? And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died. But when ye sin so against the weak 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." So, let me just take a few moments and try to review and try to bring everything into focus because this is message number five on how to avoid conflicts between Christians or what is biblical offense, or what does it mean to offend?
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First of all, we began by looking in Romans 14, and we saw that there are indeed degrees of faith. In fact, Paul talks about the weak and the strong, and our Lord Himself talked about those who had little faith and those who had strong faith. So obviously, if there's a weak and a strong, there are degrees all in between as well. So there are varying degrees of maturity in Christians. And John the Apostle divided Christians into babes, or young children, young men, and fathers. And consequently, because some are weak, some are strong, inevitably, there's going to be some conflict. And so, the apostle told us in Romans chapter 14 and verse 1, we had to learn to receive those who were weak in the faith, and when we received them, it was not to doubtful disputations, that is, there was not to be arguing and fussing and fighting. In the second message, I showed you the uselessness of arguing and fussing and fighting. You're never ever going to argue someone into the faith. You're never going to argue someone out of their position.
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You may teach them, you may patiently try to educate them, but as far as fussing and fighting, it will never work. Because it is God who must grant understanding. And if God does not grant understanding, if God does not open the eyes, no one is going to see it anyhow. So there's no reason to get mad, there's no reason to get angry, there's no reason to get upset, there's no reason to argue.
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We also discovered in the third message that one of the problems that really existed not only in the Roman church but in the Corinthian church was this difference over meats that had been sacrificed to idols and special days. In other words, some had to say, well you had to observe this day and you had to observe this day in this way. And the Apostle Paul says, no, come on now, it is a source of conflict. But he said, some esteemeth one day alike, some others do not esteem every day alike. So, then he said, let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
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Now, I also pointed out, and it's important for you to remember, that meat is not defiled because of an idol. An idol has absolutely no influence over meats, okay? I also pointed out that anytime you locate evil or sin in anything material, you've gone into Greek dualism or Greek paganism. So it was the Greeks then who divided everything between spirit and matter, and they separated those things, and they said that matter was inherently evil, therefore the spirit was far better.
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And that is what leads to asceticism. It's what led to the monasteries. It's what led to self-flagellations where you would whip yourself and beat your flesh trying to drive the evil out of it. That's pure paganism. God says that sin and evil is located in the heart. It's not in anything material. So this wood is not evil in and of itself. Alcohol is not evil in and of itself. Meat is not evil in and of itself. Okay? So, evil is in the heart.
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Now, when I began explaining last week what it really means to offend someone biblically, I hope that you remember and I pointed out that truly, only in this context, only can a brother be offended and especially a weaker brother. I pointed out that there is in the very nature of God's salvation, an offense to the gospel. The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5 and verse 11, "And I, brethren, if I preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?" Now listen to what he said, "Then is the offense of the cross ceased." There is a natural offense to Jesus Christ. There is a natural offense to grace.
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In fact, in 1 Corinthians 1, you're close there. Go back, if you would, to 1 Corinthians 1, and let me show you just what we're talking about. You see, the gospel of Jesus Christ does not appeal to the flesh. It does not appeal to the intellect. So if you'll notice, in 1 Corinthians 1, the Apostle Paul says in verse 18, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness."
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But in us who are saved is the power of God. Now look what God says, "For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" Now look, "For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." Here it is, "For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness."
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So there is an offense to the gospel. In fact, I gave you a number of passages last week from the Old Testament and the New Testament where the Bible tells us very plainly that Jesus Christ is a stumbling block to those who will not believe. In fact, one of those passages is found in 1 Peter 2:8 where the Word of God says concerning Christ, "...and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." So very obviously there is an offense to the gospel.
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The natural man, the natural mind does not want to hear of salvation by grace through faith. If we were preaching and teaching salvation by works or salvation by any other means, the flesh would receive it very willingly, but not when everything is the work of God.
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Now, very quickly, let me just review what we covered last week to try to bring you up to speed. First of all, I pointed out that Christian liberty is involved, and therefore, the issue surrounds things that are indifferent. And when I'm talking about things that are indifferent, I'm not talking about things that are sinful and wicked in and of themselves. If something is sinful, it is not indifferent. If something is sinful, it is a violation of God's law. 1 John 3:4 tells us very clearly that whosoever commits sin transgresseth the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. But eating meat is not a sin. Even eating meat that had been blessed through an idol, it is not sin. Why? An idol is nothing. It has no influence over the meat. It does not change the substance of that meat or the essence of that meat, not at all. So, it involves things that are indifferent.
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Secondly, I pointed out, it is the weak Christians who stumble and are offended. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Let me emphasize this again. It is only the weak. Notice 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and look at verse 7. He says, "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, for some with conscience of an idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered to an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled." Skip down to verse 9, "...take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak." And then verse 11, "And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish." Verse 12, "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience." So it's the weak then who stumble. It is the weak who are offended. So if someone is biblically offended and they tell you that, biblically I said, they're acknowledging and confessing that they're weak. They're weak in faith. They're not strong in faith. So it's weak Christians that are offended and stumble.
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Thirdly, I pointed out, that those who are weak, those who are offended, those who do stumble, are so because of their ignorance. Now, I didn't say that. God did. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 verse 4. "As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, what did Paul say? We know, that is, the strong knows 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 on earth, as there be gods many and lords many, but to us, that is, the strong, 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." The ignorant, the weak, are weak because of their ignorance. They do not understand the sovereignty of God. They do not understand the providence of God. And he goes on to say in verse 7, "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, for some, that is the weak, 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." So they're ignorant in the aspect that they think that somehow this idol, this dumb piece of wood or whatever it is, somehow affects that meat where it is defiled. No. The Bible tells us that it has no influence at all upon that meat. And those who think that somehow that it does, the Apostle Paul says are ignorant.
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Then, fourthly, last week we looked at this and I tried to show you that biblically speaking to offend someone means to encourage and to embolden them to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. Look in verse 10. "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 that are offered unto idols."
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Now, let me emphasize this before I get started today. You can only biblically offend a weak brother and you offend him by encouraging him, by emboldening him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge and your understanding. Let me make this clear. One does not sin by exercising his liberty in Christ. The only way that you can sin in this aspect, in this context, is when you encourage and you embolden a weaker brother to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.
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And so, I pointed out last week how that we have taken the biblical doctrine of offense and perverted it and we've turned it around to make it mean to make somebody mad or to upset someone or to hurt their feelings when it has absolutely nothing to do with that. And I'm going to show you just a little bit later. In fact, you will remember I told you last week that the Apostle Paul undoubtedly upset the Apostle Peter in Galatians chapter 2 when he shook his finger in his face and rebuked him before everyone. And although he upset him and may have angered him, he never offended the Apostle Peter. Because to offend, in this context, means to encourage someone to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. Alright, number five.
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Here's where we're beginning today. Here's point number five. "An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience." Let me say that again. An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience. Look at verse 10 again. He says, "'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 unto idols.'"
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Now, I want to get just a little technical just for a moment. The Greek construction in verse 10 is known as ean with the subjunctive. And that implies a third class condition or a possible situation. So what the Apostle Paul is doing in verse 10 is drawing a picture for us of an enlightened or a strong brother exercising his liberty by eating a feast in the idol's temple. With a strong brother enjoying that liberty and yet, the weak brother is watching and is encouraged to do the same thing. Now, a little bit later in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 14 through 22, the Apostle Paul is going to point out to the strong brother how it's not necessarily very wise or expedient for him to do what he's doing, but yet at the same time, he's just drawing a picture here.
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And you remember I told you last week that in pagan temples, after the sacrifice was over, they would have a feast of a lot of the meat that was left over. They would invite family and friends. And a lot of the Christians then were not going to the idol sacrifice. They were going to the feast after the sacrifice and sitting down and enjoying a free meal. A good piece of steak is what it amounts to. And these Christians then that were going were treating this meat as if it was just meat.
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Something that they had bought, or something that they had raised, they knew, they understood that an idol was absolutely nothing, that it had no influence over that meat. It did not change the essence of that meat. They were not worshipping that idol. They were not honoring that idol. They were just sitting down and eating food. Now here's Paul's argument. And by the way, let me remind you about the word emboldened. I told you what the word actually meant.
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It means literally to edify, but it means more than that. It means to erect a building or to set up a foundation. So here's what was happening. Here's what the Apostle Paul is saying. Here you are publicly eating this meat, enjoying it in the feast, and here is the weaker brother, and he sees you doing that, and he thinks, well, if he can do it, I can do it as well.
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And he does not have your knowledge and so he lays his foundation, he builds his house so to speak, he sets up housekeeping there and he goes and does exactly what you're doing. And then as he does that, his conscience smites him because he does not have your knowledge and he is offended. Now I want you to listen to me carefully. If the weak brother does not act or is emboldened to act, he has not stumbled and no offense has been committed.
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Now, let me just show you this. Here I am sitting in an idol's temple having a good steak that's free. And Henry comes along and says, oh, look at that. There's my pastor up there. I wish he wouldn't do that. I don't like that. He may do it, but I'm not going to do it. And Henry walks on down the street. Have I offended him? No. You see, this is what you've got to understand. Someone may not like what you're doing, as long as it's not sin. They may disagree with what you're doing. But unless that weaker brother actually goes contrary to his conscience, he has not been offended.
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Let me try to draw you an illustration. Let's suppose that Alice and I are planning a picnic at the beach.
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Now let me ask you a question. Is it sinful to go to the beach? Is it a violation of God's law to go to the beach? No. Is there a commandment that says thou shalt not go to the beach? The answer is no. You say, but you don't understand, pastor. You can sin at the beach. Well, it's true. But you can also sin in the privacy of your own home. You can also sin out in the woods. You can sin anywhere. But the beach itself is not necessarily sinful.
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Now, I'm using an illustration. I hope everyone knows, and if you know me, you know this about me. I have lost nothing at the beach. I do enjoy seeing the sunrise and the sunset over the ocean. I enjoy watching little birds run up and down the beach in the shoreline, but I have no desire to go there. I have no desire to sunbathe. I have no desire to swim. In fact, I enjoy going to the beach about once every 10 to 20 years. You know, so I've lost nothing at the beach. You understand that. So I'm not encouraging anybody to go to the beach. I'm not telling them to stay away from the beach. I'm just saying that that's not my cup of tea. I enjoy looking at the water and seeing that sunrise and sunset, and I enjoy those little birds, but other than that, I'm not getting in that water, okay?
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For a number of reasons. Number one, it's dirty. Number two, medical waste is thrown in there. Number three, I don't like sharks. But anyhow, you understand this. But here's my illustration. Alice and I are planning a picnic to the beach. In fact, we've got everything ready, and we're putting everything in the car when you drive up. And I say, man, you've gotten here just at the right time. We're planning a picnic at the beach and we want you to come go with us and enjoy our picnic. And you say something like this. I don't go to the beach. What? What's wrong with going to the beach? I don't go to the beach.
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There's too many scantily clad people there. And I have a difficult time keeping my mind pure. In fact, I don't go to the beach. I don't even think you should go to the beach. And I don't want to go.
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Now, you may get upset at the prospect. You may even ask, how is it that you can even think of going to the beach? And then I explain to you, we're going to a secluded spot, hardly anyone there, just us. And still there's hesitation. No, I don't think I want to go to the beach. So I look at Alice and say, all right, let's take our picnic that we've planned and let's go to the park. Would you go to the park with us? Oh, yes, I'll be glad to go to the park. Now, here's my question. We take our picnic and I take you and we go to the park instead of the beach.
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Now, have you been offended? No. Did you like the prospect that Alice and I would go to the beach? No. Did you agree? No. Did it upset you? Maybe. But did it offend you? The answer is no. Because I have not encouraged you, I have not emboldened you to go contrary to your conscience.
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Now, let me try to flesh this out for you. You drive up, we're going to the beach. And I say again, man, you've gotten here just in time. We're going to the beach, we've got this picnic, let's go. And you say, I don't want to go to the beach. I don't go to the beach. I have trouble at the beach. There's too many temptations at the beach. And I look at you and I say, don't be childish. Come on, let's go to the beach.
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You're out of your mind. Don't be childish, and I urge you, I chide you, I pull you, and I basically force you to go when you don't want to go. And you get to the beach, and your conscience smites you, and you see things that you did not want to see. And you say to yourself, I knew I should not have come. I knew it'd be a time of temptation. I knew I'd fall into that temptation. I knew I shouldn't have come. And you're miserable, and you're discouraged, and you're depressed, and you're upset. Here's my question. Did I offend you? Yes, I did.
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Did I sin against you? Yes, I did. Because I made you do something contrary to your conscience. Contrary to what you know.
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Now let's consider this truth from another perspective. You drive up and I say, we're ready to go to the beach. We've got a wonderful picnic planned. Come on, let's go. And you say, oh no. I don't go to the beach. Why? To be honest, I have trouble keeping my mind pure. I have trouble with this. I have trouble with that. I said, well, look. Step into my office a minute and let me show you some things. And I opened my Bible and I showed you how God has given us richly all things to enjoy. And I point out how the ocean and the beach is God's creation. It is ours. I not only show you that, but I show you how to renew your mind.
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How to control your thoughts so that you will not fall into temptation. And I show you from the Bible how to gird up the loins of your mind and walk holy before the Lord. And I demonstrate to you it's just as possible to be as holy on the beach as it is holy in your own home or holy in a park. And I show you that from the Bible.
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And you say, yes, I see that. I understand that. And after showing you that, after you listening and receiving all of that truth from God's Word, you agree to go. And when you go, you get there, and you enjoy yourself, and you have a good time, and you keep your heart, and you keep your mind, and you don't fall into sin. Now, here's my question. Have I offended you? No. No. Why?
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Because now you're doing the same thing that I'm doing, but you have my knowledge. So you were not offended. You were not scandalized. So it's important then for you and I to understand, in the context of Romans 14, and in the context of 1 Corinthians chapter 8, to offend someone, a weaker brother, is to encourage them and to embolden them to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. Okay? Number six, if you're keeping points, here we go. Number six, offending a weak brother is a sin against him and a sin against Christ. Offending a weak brother is a sin against the weak brother and a sin against Christ. Look in verse 12, 1 Corinthians 8 verse 12, "But when ye sin so against the weak brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." So it is a sin to offend or scandalize a brother in Christ. Whatever his position is in the faith, I don't care if he's a baby, I don't care if he's a young man, I don't care if he's a father.
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He says when ye sin so against the weak brother, you wound their weak conscience and you sin against Christ. Now the word sin here has the impact of injuring, offending, or of leading someone into sin. Well how do you sin against the weak brother? When you violate God's law that requires you to love your brethren and to seek their welfare, and thus, when you violate that law, you sin against them. Sin is properly against God, but it is also against man. When one has done an injustice, it requires restitution. But you realize there are some things you can't make restitution over. If I steal from Carrie, I can make restitution. If I steal from Ed, I can make restitution. Suppose I ran up to Carrie and planted a great big kiss right on her lips. And afterwards I said, oh, I shouldn't have done that. Can I un-kiss her? No. How can I make that right?
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You see what I'm saying? There are some things, all I can do is apologize, all I can do is say I'm sorry, but I can't undo what I've done. So we've got to understand that when we're talking about restitution, there are some things, it's almost impossible to make restitution over. And it requires repentance, yes, it requires forgiveness yet, but you can't make restitution over some of that stuff.
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Now, let me show you. I'm trying to point out that sin is primarily against God. Do you remember in Psalm 51 when David is confessing his sin, he said, "Against thee, and against thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight." What did he say?
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Now he's talking about his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. And he said, "Against thee, and against thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight." Well, did he not sin against Bathsheba? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against Uriah? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against his own family? Yes, he did. Did he not sin against the families of Uriah and Bathsheba? Yes, he did. His sin may have been primarily against God, but it certainly affected everyone else as well.
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So the point I'm trying to make is this. Christians are obligated not only to do right toward God, but we're obligated to do right toward our fellow man as well. That's why Galatians 6:10 says this, "As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially they that be of the household of faith." Although I have a responsibility to do good unto all men, I have a special duty to do good to those who are of the household of faith. So he says, "When ye sin so against the weak brethren, you wound their weak conscience."
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Now, the word wound here literally means to smite or to beat or to injure. Well, how do you injure a weak brother? Well, you've got to understand their consciences are ill-informed. They are ignorant. And when you embolden them and encourage them to go contrary to what they know, you burden them then with a sense of guilt and sorrow and anguish. And our Lord says it's a sin.
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Now let me ask you a question. How do we sin against Christ when we sin against the weak brethren? That's what He said. "But when ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." How do we sin against Christ? We sin against Christ because He has commanded us to love one another, and in loving others, we're to seek their good and their well-being. Secondly, weak brethren are just as intimately united to Jesus Christ as are the stronger brethren. And when we harm them, we sin against Christ. He is their head, just like He is our head. They are His body, just as we are His body. And when we harm them, we harm Him.
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Do you remember what our Lord said in Matthew 25 and verse 40? He said, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these My brethren..." What? "You've done it unto Me."
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Third, here's another way you sin against Christ. You have to remember that Jesus Christ is Lord of the conscience, not man. I have no right to dictate to you when and how and where your conscience shall be enlightened and illuminated. That's the Lord's prerogative, not mine. Illumination, understanding, enlightenment is His gift.
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Now, I want to show you something in light of this. When you consider the context of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and we're talking about eating a piece of meat, okay? Placing a piece of meat ahead of a brother who's been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ is an open insult to Jesus Christ. When you say, I'd rather have a good piece of steak than consider the conscience of a weaker brother, you're insulting Jesus Christ who purchased that man with his own blood. So what an insult it must be to Christ when one demonstrates in his actions, listen carefully, that he'd rather have a piece of meat or some other frivolity than to help someone who is a true Christian. It denies and denigrates the sacrifice and the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for believers. So, it is a sin to wound the weak conscience of a weak brother. And when we do, we sin against Christ in those three ways that I've just mentioned.
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Now, here's point number seven. I want you to follow with me. The Word of God and Christian charity demand that we do not offend the weaker brother. The Word of God and Christian charity demand that we do not offend the weaker brother. Look in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 13. Look what the Apostle Paul said. "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." What did Paul say?
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I don't have to have a steak. I don't have to have a full meal.
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Now, I want you to hold 1 Corinthians 8, but turn right back, if you would, to Romans chapter 14, and look at verses 13 through 17. He's dealing with the same issue. Romans 14, beginning there verse 13. Look what he says. "Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather," now listen carefully. "Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." He said just make sure that you don't cause anybody to stumble or fall. Now watch. Look what he said in verse 14.
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"I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there's nothing unclean of itself, but to him that esteem anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." Now, in verse 16, when the Apostle Paul says, "let not your good be evil spoken of," the good there refers to Christian liberty. Let not your good Christian liberty be evil spoken of. Do not abuse it. Do not misuse it. Do not malign it.
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I want you to hold Romans 14, but turn over your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 5. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Look in Galatians chapter 5. I could quote this, but I want you to see it. Galatians 5, in verses 13 and 14. Paul says very plainly what he is implying in Romans 14. When he said in verse 16, "let not your good then be evil spoken of," look in Galatians 5, verse 13.
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"For brethren, you have been called unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion of the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." What did he say? You've been called unto liberty. Only use not your liberty for an occasion of the flesh, but by love serve one another.
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Now, I want to make something exceedingly clear. Okay? I want you to listen to me. This is very, very important. We must at all times consider the weaker brethren. But, considering the weaker brethren is not surrendering to them, nor pandering to them in their weakness. What? Let me say this again. We must at all times consider the weaker brethren, but considering them does not mean surrendering the truth, or Christian liberty, or pandering to them in their weakness. There is a principle in Scripture that is very, very clear, and that principle is that of Christian liberty. And we may never, ever forsake that principle. However, although we may never forsake the principle of Christian liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty.
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Did you hear what I said? Although we may never forsake the principle of liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty. There are at least three reasons given in Scripture whereby we may lawfully and legitimately forego the exercise of our liberty. We're not giving up the principle, but we just do not exercise it in these three instances. First of all, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the furtherance of the gospel.
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I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 9. And I want you to see how the Apostle Paul forewent the exercise of his Christian liberty. The Apostle Paul was not married. At least he certainly was not married here. Some say that he had to have been married, for he was a member of the Sanhedrin, because that was a requirement. If he had been married, his wife died.
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But at this particular point in his life, he's unmarried. So look in 1 Corinthians 9 and verse 3. The Apostle Paul says, "My answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord and of Cephas or Peter." Now look what the apostle is arguing.
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Let me ask you a question. I know you know the answer. Is it a sin to marry? The answer is no, it is not. Did Paul have a right to marry? Yes, he did. Was Paul married at this point? No, he was not. And he forewent the exercise of that. He said, I have the liberty to lead around a sister, a wife, the way Peter does, and some of the other brethren. They were married.
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They carried their wives with them. But Paul did not marry for the furtherance of the gospel. Look what he said in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, beginning there in verse 32. 1 Corinthians 7, verse 32. Here's why he was not married. 1 Corinthians 7, verse 32. He says, "But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please him. But he that is married careth for the things of the world, how he may please his wife."
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Now, let me point something out. In 1 Corinthians 7, and I'm not going to go over this, but Paul gives you three reasons to marry, three reasons not to marry. And it is true that married people have advantages over single people and it's also true that single people have some advantages over married people. Clay used to could do what he wanted to do. He could go where he wanted, what he pleased, how he did it.
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He can't do that now. He has a wife to consider and soon a child to consider. You see what I'm saying? Paul said, I have a perfect right to marry. I have a perfect right to drag my wife around like everybody else. But he said, it caused me more trouble than it's worth. And for the gospel sake, hey, how would you love to have been Paul's wife and gotten thrown in jail with him? You see what I'm saying? Get thrown in prison all the time, get beaten, get stoned with stones, get beaten with a whip. So I'm just saying, here's Paul, he had an absolute right to marry, but he remained unmarried for the furtherance of the gospel. So here's the principle. You cannot forsake the principle of Christian liberty, but you can forego the exercise of Christian liberty for the furtherance of the gospel. Secondly, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the sake of personal holiness. Whatever we have liberty to do, personal holiness must come first. I may have personal liberty to go to the beach.
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And I do. But I'm certainly not going to go in July and August when it's most crowded and you see the most scantily clad people there. In other words, I can forego the exercise of my liberty for personal holiness. I want you to understand this. I have liberty to watch movies. But my personal holiness comes ahead of any movie. And if that movie is full of filthy and foul language and teaching adultery and fornication, I'm not watching it. Because personal holiness comes first. And let me tell you something, if a movie is too vile and too wicked and too filthy for you to watch downtown at the movie theater, it's still too vile and too wicked and too filthy for you to watch on your TV set when it comes on TV. Scripture says this, David said in Psalm 101 verse 3, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes." So the point I'm trying to make is this, here's the principle of liberty. But you may forego the exercise of that liberty for the furtherance of the gospel or for personal holiness.
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And personal holiness comes first. Thirdly, and by the way, I hope you remember that the book of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14 says, "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." There are plenty of things that I can do without. But one thing I cannot do without is holiness. For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. And thirdly, we may forego the exercise of our liberty for the sake of the weaker brethren.
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Paul certainly understood that an idol had no influence upon meat. Paul understood that the meat was not contaminated by the idol. Would Paul eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol? Absolutely. Would Paul eat that meat with a bunch of weaker brethren watching him? Absolutely not. Because Paul said, "wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat as long as the world standeth." In other words, I'm not giving up my liberty, but I'm willing to forego that liberty for the sake of the weaker brethren.
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So, the principle is this. We have liberty in Christ, but we may forego the exercise of it for the furtherance of the gospel, for personal holiness, and for consideration of the weaker brethren, because we do not want to sin against Jesus Christ.
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Now, let me make a couple of applications today. The first one is this, and I've mentioned this to you earlier. Because of a misunderstanding of the biblical doctrine of offense, we have lost the theology of rebuke. People tend to think to offend someone means to upset them, hurt their feelings, make them mad. That is not true. I want you to turn in your Bibles, follow me very quickly, first of all, to the book of Acts chapter 20. I want to show you some verses and I want to point out one word in each verse. Look in Acts chapter 20 and verse 31.
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The apostle here happens to be speaking to a bunch of preachers, but that's immaterial. I want you to look at the word. Acts chapter 20 verse 31. Look what the apostle Paul said. Acts 20 verse 31. "Therefore, watch and remember that by the space of three years, I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears." Underline the word warn. I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears. Look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 15 and verse 14. Romans 15 verse 14. Watch carefully. Romans 15 verse 14, "And I Myself also am persuaded of you, My brethren, that you are full of goodness, filled with knowledge, able also to admonish one another." Underline the word admonish. Warn, admonish. Turn right over to the book of Colossians chapter 1. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Colossians chapter 1. Look if you would please at verse 28. Colossians 1 verse 28. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Colossians 1 verse 28.
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"Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ," underline the word warning. So it's been warned, admonish, warning.
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Now look in the book of Hebrews chapter 3. Turn right over to Hebrews chapter 3, and notice if you would please verse 13. Watch carefully. Hebrews 3 verse 13. "But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Exhort! Wow! Look in Hebrews 10, at verses 24 and 25. Hebrews 10, verses 24 and 25. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching."
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Now the interesting thing is that the word warn, admonish, and warning are all the same Greek word, noutheteo, which literally means to cause to stand in one's mind. You warn, you admonish by causing something to stand in the mind. How do you do that? And the answer is, according to Hebrews 3, Hebrews 10, by exhortation and provocation. We're to provoke one another to good works. Obviously, if you rebuke someone, if you warn someone, if you reprove someone, if you admonish someone, sooner or later, someone is going to get upset. They'll get mad. They'll get their feelings hurt.
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But have you offended them? No. No. You can only offend a brother by encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge. And I want you to notice something. The Bible says in Hebrews 10 that we're to provoke one another to love and good works, not just simply provoke each other. That's what some do. But we're to provoke unto love and to good works. So we've lost our theology of rebuke because we've taken the word offend and made it mean to make somebody mad or to upset them. If I got really upset with Clay and shook my finger in his face and told him, son, you're not treating your wife correctly and I really nailed his hide to the wall, would he be upset? Probably. Would he get mad at me? Probably. Have I offended him? No. Because to offend a brother means to encourage him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge.
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Very quickly, if we understand the biblical doctrine of Christian liberty, it will set us free from the traditions of men. Galatians 5, verse 1, Christ says, "Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." I am not obligated to submit to every dictate of man or to do what men think need to be done.
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My conscience is bound to the Word of God. I can't come along demanding that you do this and you do that and you do it exactly the way I understand it. If you don't, you're wicked, you're wrong. No, no, no. My conscience is bound to the Word of God. There's nothing wrong with traditions as long as, number one, they're biblical, or number two, everyone understands they're not binding upon anyone. But the problem with traditions is this, sooner or later somebody wants to bind your conscience to that tradition.
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And say, you have to do it, and you have to do it like this. And you don't. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Our conscience is bound only to the Word of God. You show it to me in Scripture, I'm bound. If it's not in Scripture, I'm not bound. It's just that simple.
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If you want to do it, fine, you may do it. But don't get mad at me if I don't do it. Okay? I want you to look back to Romans 14 one last time. Romans 14. And let me emphasize this again. We cannot and we must not, we cannot and we must not press our ideas, opinions, and desires where there is no biblical warrant to do so. Look in Romans 14 verse 19, "Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby one may edify another. Look, for meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. For meat destroy not the work of God." Why would we desire our way and our ideas and our opinions to the point that we're willing to destroy the work of God in the lives of others, in their homes, and in their churches.
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It would be the height of wickedness to do so. The last application is this, when we are exercising our Christian liberties, under Christ, we must always consider weaker brethren, use wisdom, compassion, and consideration. We're not to be spiritual bulls in the proverbial china shop, demanding our way, or else we'll tear the place apart. No. No. Do you realize the strong, as well as the weak, may destroy the work of God? The strong may destroy the work of God by condemnation and impatience. And the weak may destroy the work of God by judging and demanding.
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I'm just simply saying, here are principles that have been laid out by the Apostle Paul. If we follow these principles, we may not avoid every conflict between believers, but we certainly will avoid most conflicts. Because most conflicts arise when someone basically demands that everyone do what they tell them in the way that they tell them. And I love what Arthur W. Pink said years ago. I've never forgotten it. I quote this often. Arthur W. Pink said, and I quote, "One of the reasons we do not like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves." And that's a fact. You only offend someone by encouraging him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge, and you can only offend a weaker brother, biblically speaking.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We ask that You teach us. Build us up in the most holy faith. Give us wisdom. Give us discernment. May we always hold on to the principle of Christian liberty. Never forsake that principle. But understand, Father, we may forego the exercise of that principle for the furtherance of the gospel, for personal holiness, and for consideration of the weaker brethren. Give us grace, Lord, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray. Amen. Amen.
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How to Avoid Conflicts Between Christians Part 5 of 5

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this concluding message, Pastor John Weaver explains the biblical meaning of offense from Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. He clarifies that to offend a weaker brother means to embolden him to act against his conscience without having the knowledge of the stronger brother. Offending a weak brother is a sin against him and against Christ. The Word of God and Christian charity demand that we do not offend the weaker brother, but this does not mean surrendering Christian liberty; we may forego the exercise of liberty for the furtherance of the gospel, personal holiness, or the sake of weaker brethren. He also warns against misusing the doctrine of offense to avoid biblical rebuke and exhortation, and emphasizes that our conscience is bound only to God's Word, not to man-made traditions.

Opening

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:1-3

"...him that is weak in the faith receive you, 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."

Review of the Series

Weaver reviews the previous four messages: degrees of faith, uselessness of arguing, issues over meats and days, and the nature of offense.

The Offense of the Gospel

The gospel itself is an offense to the natural man because it does not appeal to the flesh or intellect; Christ is a stumbling block to unbelievers.

Review of Key Points on Offense

Weaver reviews that offense involves things indifferent, only weak Christians stumble, they are ignorant, and to offend means to embolden a weak brother to act without knowledge.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 8:7,9,11,12

"Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, for some, that is the weak, 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."

Offense Occurs When the Weak Brother Acts Against Conscience

An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience; merely disliking or disagreeing with a liberty does not constitute offense.

Illustration of Offense vs. Disagreement

Using a beach picnic illustration, Weaver shows that offense requires emboldening someone to act contrary to conscience; without that, there is no offense.

There's too many scantily clad people there. And I have a difficult time keeping my mind pure. In fact, I don't go to the beach. I don't even think you should go to the beach. And I don't want to go.

Did I sin against you? Yes, I did. Because I made you do something contrary to your conscience. Contrary to what you know.

Offending a Weak Brother Is Sin Against Him and Christ

Offending a weak brother is a sin against the brother and against Christ because it violates the command to love, harms one united to Christ, and usurps Christ's lordship over conscience.

The Demand to Not Offend and the Principle of Liberty

Scripture and charity demand we do not offend the weaker brother; we must never forsake the principle of liberty, but we may forego its exercise for the gospel, holiness, or weaker brethren.

But at this particular point in his life, he's unmarried. So look in 1 Corinthians 9 and verse 3. The Apostle Paul says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 9:3-5

"My answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord and of Cephas or Peter."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 101:3

"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes."

So the point I'm trying to make is this, here's the principle of liberty. But you may forego the exercise of that liberty for the furtherance of the gospel or for personal holiness.

And personal holiness comes first. Thirdly, and by the way, I hope you remember that the book of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14 says,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 12:14

"without holiness no man shall see the Lord."

Applications: Rebuke, Traditions, and Consideration

The apostle here happens to be speaking to a bunch of preachers, but that's immaterial. I want you to look at the word. Acts chapter 20 verse 31. Look what the apostle Paul said. Acts 20 verse 31.

Scripture Reading — Acts 20:31

"Therefore, watch and remember that by the space of three years, I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears."

How to Avoid Conflicts Between Christians Part 5 of 5

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	yx0jNObIJjc
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-03-08
Dictation Name
Book	Book 153: How to Avoid Conflicts — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	81

Lecture Guide

Outline

Review of the Series: Weaver reviews the previous four messages: degrees of faith, uselessness of arguing, issues over meats and days, and the nature of offense.
The Offense of the Gospel: The gospel itself is an offense to the natural man because it does not appeal to the flesh or intellect; Christ is a stumbling block to unbelievers.
Review of Key Points on Offense: Weaver reviews that offense involves things indifferent, only weak Christians stumble, they are ignorant, and to offend means to embolden a weak brother to act without knowledge.
Offense Occurs When the Weak Brother Acts Against Conscience: An offense only occurs when the weaker brother acts without knowledge against his conscience; merely disliking or disagreeing with a liberty does not constitute offense.
Illustration of Offense vs. Disagreement: Using a beach picnic illustration, Weaver shows that offense requires emboldening someone to act contrary to conscience; without that, there is no offense.
Offending a Weak Brother Is Sin Against Him and Christ: Offending a weak brother is a sin against the brother and against Christ because it violates the command to love, harms one united to Christ, and usurps Christ's lordship over conscience.
The Demand to Not Offend and the Principle of Liberty: Scripture and charity demand we do not offend the weaker brother; we must never forsake the principle of liberty, but we may forego its exercise for the gospel, holiness, or weaker brethren.
Applications: Rebuke, Traditions, and Consideration: Weaver applies the doctrine: we must not lose the theology of rebuke by misdefining offense; our conscience is bound to Scripture, not traditions; and we must exercise liberty with wisdom and compassion.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Offense Requires Action Against Conscience

An offense only occurs when the weak brother actually acts against his conscience; mere disagreement or displeasure does not constitute biblical offense.

Weaver argues: 'If the weak brother does not act or is emboldened to act, he has not stumbled and no offense has been committed.'

Offending a Weak Brother Is Sin

Scripture explicitly states that wounding a weak brother's conscience is a sin against the brother and against Christ.

Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 8:12: 'But when ye sin so against the weak brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.'

Liberty Must Not Be Used to Destroy

The strong must not use their liberty in a way that destroys the work of God in a weaker brother's life; love must govern the exercise of liberty.

Weaver quotes Romans 14:15,20: 'Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died... For meat destroy not the work of God.'

Foregoing Liberty Is Not Forsaking the Principle

Believers may temporarily refrain from exercising a liberty without denying the principle of liberty itself, for the sake of the gospel, holiness, or weaker brethren.

Weaver states: 'We may never, ever forsake that principle. However, although we may never forsake the principle of Christian liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty.'

Rebuke Is Not Offense

Biblical warning, admonition, and rebuke may upset someone but do not constitute offense because offense requires emboldening to act without knowledge.

Weaver says: 'If you rebuke someone, if you warn someone, if you reprove someone, if you admonish someone, sooner or later, someone is going to get upset... But have you offended them? No.'

Scripture References

Romans 14:1-3: Introduction to the weak and strong in faith; receiving the weak without disputations.
1 Corinthians 8:1-13: The entire chapter is read and expounded as the primary text on offense and Christian liberty regarding meats offered to idols.
Galatians 5:11: The offense of the cross; persecution would cease if Paul preached circumcision.
1 Corinthians 1:18-23: The preaching of the cross is foolishness to the perishing; Christ crucified is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks.
1 Peter 2:8: Christ is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to those who are disobedient.
1 John 3:4: Sin is the transgression of the law; used to distinguish sinful acts from indifferent things.
1 Corinthians 8:7,9,11,12: Emphasizing that it is the weak who stumble and are offended; their conscience is weak.
1 Corinthians 8:4-7: The strong know an idol is nothing; the weak are ignorant of this knowledge.
1 Corinthians 8:10: The weak brother is emboldened to eat when he sees the strong brother eating in the idol's temple.
1 Corinthians 8:12: Sin against the weak brethren wounds their weak conscience and is sin against Christ.
Psalm 51:4: David's confession that his sin was primarily against God, though it affected others.
Galatians 6:10: Do good to all men, especially to the household of faith.
Matthew 25:40: What is done to the least of Christ's brethren is done to Him.
Romans 14:13-17: Do not put a stumbling block in a brother's way; the kingdom is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace, and joy.
Galatians 5:13-14: Called to liberty; use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love serve one another.
1 Corinthians 9:3-5: Paul had the right to marry but forewent it for the gospel's sake.
1 Corinthians 7:32-33: The unmarried care for the things of the Lord; the married care for the things of the world.
Psalm 101:3: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes; used to support personal holiness over liberty.
Hebrews 12:14: Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.
Acts 20:31: Paul warned everyone night and day with tears; example of biblical warning.

Historical References

Greek dualism/paganism: Weaver explains that locating evil in material things is Greek dualism, which led to asceticism, monasteries, and self-flagellation.
Arthur W. Pink quote: Weaver quotes Pink: 'One of the reasons we do not like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves.'

Important Quotes

You can only biblically offend a weak brother and you offend him by encouraging him, by emboldening him to do what you're doing without having your knowledge and your understanding.

This is the central definition of biblical offense that Weaver emphasizes throughout the message.

If the weak brother does not act or is emboldened to act, he has not stumbled and no offense has been committed.

Clarifies that offense requires the weak brother to actually act against his conscience, not merely disagree.

When ye sin so against the weak brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Direct scriptural statement that offending a weak brother is sin against Christ, underscoring the seriousness.

Although we may never forsake the principle of liberty, that does not mean that at times we cannot forego the exercise of that liberty.

Key distinction between holding the principle of liberty and choosing not to exercise it for the sake of others.

Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Paul's personal resolution to forego liberty for the sake of a weaker brother, cited as the model for believers.

Because of a misunderstanding of the biblical doctrine of offense, we have lost the theology of rebuke.

Highlights the practical consequence of misdefining offense: the neglect of biblical admonition.

My conscience is bound to the Word of God. I can't come along demanding that you do this and you do that and you do it exactly the way I understand it.

Emphasizes that Christian liberty frees believers from man-made rules; conscience is subject only to Scripture.

One of the reasons we do not like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves.

A memorable quote from Arthur Pink illustrating the human tendency to impose one's own standards on others.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the biblical definition of offense differ from the common understanding of offending someone?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts the biblical meaning (emboldening a weak brother to act against conscience) with the modern idea of upsetting someone.

[Question]

Why is it a sin against Christ to offend a weaker brother?

[Context]

Weaver gives three reasons: disobedience to Christ's command to love, harming one united to Christ, and usurping Christ's lordship over conscience.

[Question]

What is the difference between forsaking the principle of Christian liberty and foregoing its exercise?

[Context]

Weaver explains that we must never deny the principle of liberty, but we may choose not to exercise it in certain situations.

[Question]

In what three areas may a believer legitimately forego the exercise of Christian liberty?

[Context]

Weaver lists the furtherance of the gospel, personal holiness, and consideration of weaker brethren.

[Question]

How has the misunderstanding of offense affected the practice of biblical rebuke and admonition in the church?

[Context]

Weaver argues that equating offense with upsetting someone has led to the loss of the theology of rebuke.

[Question]

How can we balance exercising our liberty in Christ with not causing a weaker brother to stumble?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes using wisdom, compassion, and consideration, and being willing to forego liberty for the sake of others.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:57:30Z