For the Sake of the Weaker Brother

Daily Devotional – Thursday, January 27, 2022

And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

1 Corinthians 8:11 (NKJV)

On a popular Christian Facebook page, a member posted a series of photos that generated controversy. The images depicted women pastors preaching while dressed in body-hugging clothes, some exposing their undergarments.

A heated debate ensued. Some members condemned the mode of dressing of the church ministers, calling for a sense of dignity and holiness when appearing before God and His people.

One member suggested that the problem was not the manner of dressing of the pastors but the attitudes of those who complained. They added that those who condemned the controversial dress code were following outdated Mosaic laws.

Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols

As I read the comments, I felt the urge to read First Corinthians Chapter 8, where Paul addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols. The apostle is emphatic that idols represent non-existent gods; hence, there is no harm in eating meat offered to idols first.

Paul further observes, “But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food, they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.” (1 Corinthians 8:7).

Do Not Become a Stumbling Block to the Weak

Therefore, he cautions:

“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?” (1 Corinthians 8:9–10).

Let us apply this teaching to the issue of pastors’ dress codes. A church minister (male or female) knows dressing is not a determinant of salvation. However, there are church members who judge character by a person’s manner of dressing. How one dresses can offend such people.

Destroying the Weak Brother or Sister

Here is Paul’s verdict on the issue:

“So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 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 8:11-13).

If I know my attire will be an obstacle to a weaker brother or sister, I will not wear it even if I believe it is appropriate. If the pastor’s dressing will instigate sex-related thoughts in some of the men in the church, she or he sins against these men and against Christ.

When Love is More Important than Knowledge

How many weaker brothers and sisters have left the church because we chose to exercise our knowledge at the expense of love for God and fellow human beings? How many more are we willing to lose as we shout, arrogantly, ‘my dress, my choice’?

In what other spheres of your life can you apply this principle? For the sake of the weaker brother or sister, sacrifice some of your liberties. It is better to experience some inconvenience that will cause some people to lose faith in God.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please reveal to me the sacrifices I need to make to edify and not antagonize a weaker brother or sister.