#matters of conscience

[quotesfromscripture]

Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.

Romans 14:16 NIV (2011)

[quotesfromscripture]

Protecting the other person’s conscience

“No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’ 

If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice,’ then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?” 

- 1 Corinthians 10:24-29 NIV (2011)

[quotesfromscripture]

Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. And those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.

Romans 14:5-6 NRSV

[quotesfromscripture]

Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe--some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them--then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

Romans 14:22-23 MSG

[sobeautifullyobsessed]

I have been righteously chastened; the reasons deeply entrenched in my mind in the hours since, never fully departing unless I was focused on a particularly thorny transaction for a customer. My thoughts keep returning to it again and again, and I hope to make a cure. However, the lunchroom at work, surrounded by animated conversations, is not conducive to the sort of penance I need. So still it must wait.

Ugh.

[quotesfromscripture]

When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 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.

1 Corinthians 8:12-13 NIV