Be Sensitive to Conscience
1 Nowconcerning things offered to idols: We know that we all haveknowledge.Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
2 Andif anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know thatan idolisnothing in the world,and thatthereisno other God but one.
5 For even if there areso-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
6 yetfor usthereisone God, the Father,of whomareall things, and we for Him; andone Lord Jesus Christ,through whomareall things, andthrough whom welive.
7 However,thereisnot in everyone that knowledge; for some,with consciousness of the idol, until now eatitas a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, isdefiled.
8 Butfood 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.
9 Butbeware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomea stumbling block to those who are weak.
10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will notthe conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
11 Andbecause of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 Butwhen you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore,if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.