Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. -1 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
Recently, Rush Limbaugh has been in the news for comments he made about Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown Law School student who was to testify before a House Oversight Committee on whether the federal government should require all employers to provide free contraception for employees. Unless you've had your head buried in the sand, you've by now heard his comments and I won't repeat them here.
Rush Limbaugh has a right to say whatever he wants (freedom of speech is important to me) but just because he has a right to say something doesn't mean that he should.
I think that's the point that Paul is trying to make in the assigned scripture passage today. Paul is writing to a group of people who have converted to Christianity. These new converts are concerned about what to do with leftover meat that has been sacrificed to idols. In Paul's day, an animal would be sacrificed but only a portion of the meat would be used. The remaining meat would then be sold at market. Was eating leftover meat from an idol sacrifice acceptable for a Christian? Would eating this meat be viewed by others as an endorsement of idol worship and sacrifice?
Paul states that these Christians know that they can eat meat sacrificed to idols but that doesn't mean that they should do it. It may seem harmless to them, but for others it might prove to be a stumbling block, destructive to life and faith. It's like free speech: you've got a right to say anything you want to say, but if it's harmful or destructive to others, it probably shouldn't be said.
May God grant you the grace to make decisions not based on what you know you can do, but out of love and respect for how your decisions affect others.
Tomorrow's readings:
Joshua 18-20
1 Corinthians 9
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