Differences in theology and practice rarely lead one side to
change behavior so as not to offend the other. The more natural course of
action is to demonize the opposition and become more firmly entrenched in the
absolute truth of one’s own position. Meat sacrificed to idols was a big deal
for those who all their life had been taught that destruction follows
consumption and God’s righteous judgment could only be appeased by ritual
purity. Even the apostle Peter cried, “Heaven forbid” when offered shrimp on
the sheet! (Acts 10:14) Paul’s use of the term “weak believers” is not meant to
denigrate their faith but merely to point out that their trust in the mercy of
God is not quite as free from constraints as is Paul’s and because he sees
Christ in every believer, weak, strong and in-between he refrains from
practicing his freedom. Maybe if we were to think of each other as family,
claimed by Christ for whom and through whom all things exist, we would stop
sinning against each other by always insisting on having it our way.
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