by Elisha Ann Wahlquist, August 2006
Last month, we discussed compromise, and when it is wrong. In this article, I will endeavor to explore in depth a situation where yielding is needed-but the wrong side is being forced to yield.
As Christians, we are exhorted to be careful that we do not defile the conscience or cause a weaker brother to stumble by tempting him (through what we do) to do what he has a conviction against. Sometimes, we need to give up our own desires or "rights" for the common good. Paul gives a good example in 1 Corinthians, where he discusses the subject of meat offered to idols. After explaining that since we know that idols are not gods at all, it will not harm us to partake of what has been offered to them, he warns the Corinthian Christians that their freedom in this matter may cause a weaker brother (perhaps one that before salvation was an idol worshipper) to stumble, and this is a serious offence that ultimately is against Christ.
"But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours [to eat meat offered to idols] become a
stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." (1 Corinthians 8:9-13)
This principle of loving deferment to the weaker brother's conscience is something that has been all but lost in the Christian church today, but when it is practiced, it brings blessing and an increase of agape love among the brethren.
This yielding up of our freedom in an area is not compromise at all-it is rather a loving deferral to the convictions of another, in order to not cause them to stumble and perhaps fall into what, for them, would be sin. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:7;
"Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled."
For some of the former idol worshippers, eating meat offered to idols would be a snare, luring them back into their old ways, when they would eat the meat in reverence to their "gods."
When we come across other Christians with what seems like stricter standards or a more sensitive conscience, it should cause us to search the Scriptures diligently, to see if they are closer to Christ and what He wants in those areas. What we may perceive as "weakness" may actually be an area where they are farther along in the Christian walk than we are, and God may use them to help us grow in areas we are ignorant about.
An interesting note is that the general trend in the Church today is to put pressure on anyone who has a different standard in an area-using unity as the reason that they should give in and put up with things that hurt their conscience. When older, godly Christians raise an alarm about the new programs or music coming in to the churches, no one would even think of deferring to them. Even the leadership of a church may have no problem with offending them. Christians today seem to have forgotten Paul's words about yielding to the weaker members' consciences, and instead seem to be focused on doing what is right in their own eyes. Actually, many times the ones who are forced to compromise have gone farther along the narrow road to holiness. Those who are not so far along in their Christian walk attempt to force them to compromise their higher standards. If the Christians with the higher standards do give in and go along with what they believe is defiling (compromising their Biblical convictions), they are deadening their conscience and grieving God as they turn away from the higher standards He has revealed to them.
What should be happening? The ones with lower standards should prayerfully be looking at those with higher standards and thinking, "How can we learn from them?" "What has God taught them that we can learn from?" Instead, The Church today has mixed up unity with conformity. Christians today have become comfortable with the standards of the world or a sanitized version, and do not desire to change their lifestyle. We feel, "Lord, I'll follow You wherever You lead-but please don't tell me I have to ____ (change my clothing style, put away rock music-you fill in the blank!)." We trade the glory and joy of obedience to our Lord-which satisfy and last eternally-for the pleasures of the world, which last only for a season. Thus, instead of growing closer to God as we follow Him in outward and inward obedience, we look and act just like the world-we are losing our savor and grieving our Lord.
In conclusion: We are not to use these examples (of deferring to the convictions of weaker fellow-believers) as excuses to compromise our God given convictions! We may yield our desires or our "rights"-but we should never yield what is right.
