Just Because We Have the Right To Do Something Doesn't Mean it is the Right Thing To Do!

1 Corinthians 8:9-13
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Remember in this letter Paul is answering questions from the Corinthian church.  The issue of food sacrificed to idols was brought to his attention.  For some eating such food, which was offered in the marketplace to idols, went against their conscience.  One commentator puts it this way,

The issue raised many questions for the Corinthian Christians: Can we eat meat purchased at the temple meat market? What if we are served meat purchased at the temple meat market when we are guests in someone’s home? Can a Christian eat at the restaurant at the pagan temple?

As Paul answers their questions, he makes two very important points.  First, since there is no power in idols and only in the one and only True God, there is nothing inherently wrong with this food. Eating or not eating this food would not bring one closer or further away from God.  Second, for some whose consciences were sensitive, they felt like they were disobeying God by eating this food.  Paul says they lack the knowledge to understand why this not a sin.   Finally, Paul calls upon those who have know it is not a sin to put their knowledge aside to support their "weaker" brothers and sisters.  Paul goes as far as to say it was sin if they did not consider their brother or sister's dilemma and then act accordingly.  

Paul sums up his teaching with some powerful  words.  He says, "If what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall."  This is a powerful statement made by Paul and it tells us a lot about how we can serve each other in our faith communities.  Paul says it another way to the Philippians, 

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Bottom line is though we have freedom in Christ to do many things, when we exercise our freedom we need to have other's interests in mind first. In other words, just because we have the right to do something doesn't mean it is the right thing to do.