I made a post on Romans 14 a while ago, then followed that up with a post on 1 Corinthians 8. The former deals with disputes concerning matters of opinions while the latter is a warning to not do anything that will cause someone to sin. Both have to deal with how we treat those who are weak in the faith. But I have noticed a pattern both before and after my posts on Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8: people are claiming weakness of faith as a means of controlling those who are strong in faith. This is a direct violation of Romans 14:1-8, where Paul repeatedly states that the strong are not to condemn the weak, nor are the weak to condemn the strong. And those who seem to be choosing to be weak in faith insist on calling "evil" that which is good, which is a direct violation of Romans 14:16. But why should our freedom be condemned by another person's conscience [1 Corinthians 10:29]?
I will give you an example using alcoholic drinks (though I do not drink alcohol). I have not seen any of these examples online with alcohol, but it's the same principal. Suppose someone who does not drink and is afraid of alcohol joins a congregation that permits alcohol. In fact, let's say this congregation uses real wine for the Lord's Supper. Such a person would not be able to partake in the Lord's Supper because of the usage of wine. If this congregation learns that this person is afraid to drink alcohol and therefore cannot partake of the Lord's Supper, will they not try to accommodate him? What would be a reasonable accommodation? To set aside a glass of grape juice so that this person may partake in the Lord's Supper? Or to stop using wine entirely for the Lord's Supper and force everyone to drink grape juice instead?
If you answer that the congregation should just switch over to grape juice, consider this: The same person has to shop at grocery stores in order to buy food. All grocery stores that I know of sell alcohol. Does this person demand that the store stops selling alcohol? Or does he just not go into the isles that have alcohol in them? Is it not the latter? If this person knows how to avoid alcohol when in a worldly place where it is readily accessible, why should a congregation of the Body of the Messiah get rid of their alcohol? They shouldn't. Instead, they should simply serve him grape juice for the Lord's Supper while everyone else drinks the wine. The same rule applies to someone who is an alcoholic who has given up alcohol so that he stops falling into sin through it. For why should their freedom be condemned by another person's conscience [1 Corinthians 10:29]?
But let's say that the person in question hates the fact that alcohol even exists. So of course it will not be enough that a congregation serves him grape juice or some other non-alcoholic drink for the Lord's Supper. Instead, the man claims that the mere presence of alcohol causes him to fall into sin, and that no member of the Body of the Messiah should consume it. And if a Christian posts a picture on social media of himself responsibly enjoying wine, the man who hates wine will condemn the post, and the one who posted it might be guilt-tripped into taking it down. Is this the fruit of someone who is merely weak in faith? No! It is the fruit of someone who seeks control over that which he has no business controlling.
It is expected for every believer to have some sort of weakness concerning something. But when that weakness is used as a weapon to control others, that is when he or she has crossed the line. Why should our freedom be condemned by another person's conscience [1 Corinthians 10:29]? And, as it is written in Romans 14:16, nobody is permitted to speak evil of that which is good. For the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, not whatever outward appearance offends you [Romans 14:17], be it alcohol or anything else.
Let's say, for example, that a person who is weak in the faith does sin if he sees other believers drinking alcohol. If seeing those who are in the world consume alcohol does not cause him to sin, but seeing believers do the same does, I would question if he is actually weak or is seeking control. But let's say he is genuinely that weak. If he is a new believer, then this can be excused. But we are expected to grow in faith [1 Thessalonians 1:3]. This means that the things that initially lead us into sin, or cause temptation to sin, will eventually lose their power over us. For Jesus sets us free from our sins [Romans 6:22], and knowledge of the truth also sets us free [John 8:32].
James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation". Scripture never says to run from temptation. Even Yeshua (Jesus) had to deal with temptation [Matthew 4], and it was the Holy Spirit who led Yeshua into the wilderness in order that he be tempted. Though it was not the Holy Spirit who did the tempting [James 1:13]. God himself puts us into situations where we will be tempted so that we will learn to resist temptation. The more you successfully resist temptation, the weaker that temptation will be until it disappears. The more you give into your temptation, the easier it will be to keep giving into temptation. Therefore, resist temptation so that you will become strong. Do not try to force others to maintain an environment where you are never tempted, for that is exactly the behavior that strengthens temptation. Look up "exposure therapy".
It is acceptable to expect someone to follow your rules if you are in a place where you have the authority to set the rules. It is unacceptable to try to force your rules onto others in places where you do not have the authority to set the rules. Just like how you expect others to follow your rules in your places, so you should follow the rules of others in their places. Trying to impose your rules in other people's places is not following the rules, it's usurping the authority of the ones who set the rules for those places.
Forcing someone to accommodate you because you are afraid of being tempted or falling into sin is cowardly at first, and a clear power-grab when it becomes clear that you have no intent to grow in the faith. In the example of alcohol, the one who is afraid of alcohol should never be forced to drink, but should also never be permitted to forbid others from drinking when it is not their place to do so. The one who is afraid of alcohol, but is not tempted by its presence is the strong in faith compared to the one who avoids even the mention of alcohol, "lest he be tempted". This rule goes for all things where one person is tempted by the mere presence of something while another person is not. Attempting to control everyone because of your weakness will only breed mutual, self-feeding resentment, and an inability to resist temptation when it inevitably stares you in the face.
If you are on the receiving end of this detestable behavior, remember this: if you are not in a place where such a person sets the rules, then you are under no obligation to accommodate them. The most you are obligated to do is (a) to help keep them from giving into temptation, and (b) to not compel such a person to violate their own conscience. 1 Corinthians 8 gives the example of eating in a pagan temple causing a new believer to be emboldened to eat meat that they know is sacrificed to idols. So it's not the meat that's the problem, it's the context that's the problem.
Concerning those who are weak in faith, being easily offended and feeling entitled to judge others: I will reiterate what Paul says in Romans 14:1-4: that the weak are to do no such thing. Do not condemn someone for doing something that violates your own conscience. Unless the Bible has an explicit prohibition against the thing that offends you, do not condemn it. Likewise, the strong in faith are not to compel the weak to violate their own conscience. Unless the Bible has an explicit requirement for something to be done, do not compel others to do it. The weak and the strong are not to condemn each other on matters of opinion. Both should do everything in their power to get along. For the weak in faith is a servant of Yeshua (Jesus), and the strong in faith is a servant of Yeshua. Who are you to condemn the servant of your master? Instead, the weak should learn from the strong so that they may be strengthened by the strong. Likewise, the strong should learn to understand the weak so that they can help the weak.
PS: This post is heavily inspired by a video by Chris (aka: Mudwalker) responding to a controversy on Twitter where some Christian women were condemning some Christian men for posting a shirtless fitness selfie. The video is linked below.
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