1 Corinthians 8 To Build up, not Tear Down

Here is what I know. “For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” 1 Corinthians 8:6

I am free to do as I please as it fits the will of God. But, knowing I am free doesn’t mean that I SHOULD do whatever I want, even if it is in the will of God. If I know that eating shrimp is fine because we are no longer under the law, and a friend believes that he/she is defiling their body by eating shrimp because it says that in the OT that we shouldn’t eat bottom feeders, then I won’t eat shrimp. It could cause my friend to have problems with their faith in their conscience and there is no reason for it. Why would I do something that can hurt my friends faith just because I know I am free to do so? Paul goes in to explain in verse 12 so well “Thus sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.” ANYTHING that can make your fellow believer stumble in their faith can be put away. Nothing is that important. We are to hold one another up in love.