Conscience vs. Knowledge
Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. I Corinthians 8:1-13 (NKJV)
II Corinthians 8 deals with knowledge and conscience, weakness and sin, and how to love others.
Knowledge is good if used properly, but if it is used wrong it can destroy someone. Don’t sin against your own conscience or the conscience of others. We are all at different levels in our walk with Christ.
The strong believers should help the weaker ones, not destroy them. Remember- what we do to others, we are doing it to Christ. We aren’t to sin or cause others to sin. Instead, learn how to communicate and connect with them to build them up rather than tear them down. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
Our knowledge must be tempered with grace. We may know more than another believer, but we have to be kind and extend grace to them as they grow and learn to walk the Christian walk. We can teach and lead them without condemning them or being overly critical or leading them to do something that is against their conscience.
Use your knowledge to help others, not hinder them. Think of others more than yourself and your desire to be right. When you use your knowledge to love others and help them, we all benefit.
