Today is the feast of Mary, Mother of Our Lord.
Today's readings are Psalm 132.11-18, 2 Samuel 5.1-25, and 1 Corinthians 8.1-13.
Our reading today from 1 Corinthians 8 is at the heart of a debate in North American Christianity. Though our culture does not have a custom of sacrificing food to idols then engaging in ceremonial meals, we have a parallel in consciences. Ever since the mid 1800s there have been a significant number of Christians who require others to avoid alcohol entirely, something which is expressly not required in Scripture. This has been done so effectively that many Christians are bound by their conscience in the matter, rather than being bound by Scripture. How should we whose consciences are not bound respond? We want to treat a genuinely bound conscience as something fragile and precious before God. If we can release it from its bondage, that's great. But we want to avoid damage to the person who is bound. Better to do nothing than to cause guilt and shame.
Are we willing to limit our freedoms for the sake of someone else's conscience? I hope so. May the Lord also give us wisdom to know when we are dealing not with someone else's fragile conscience but with someone who wishes to bind others' consciences and to act accordingly.
No comments:
Post a Comment