“But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.”
1 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)
Some things aren’t sinful—but they are stumbling blocks. Paul warns that if our freedom leads someone else back into bondage, we’re not walking in love—we’re walking in pride. We know that drinking, smoking, or eating dessert now and then isn’t sin in itself. But for many, it’s not a casual choice—it’s a chain God is trying to break. Gluttony is sin, and addiction is bondage. So if someone is trying to lay those things down in obedience, we shouldn’t pull them back into it.
If the Spirit has convicted someone to lay it down so they can depend on Jesus instead, don’t confuse them. Don’t try to steer their ship. Help them stay on course. Romans 14:23 reminds us that if you do what you believe is wrong, it’s sin. So if we encourage someone to violate that conviction, we’re sinning against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12).
Knowledge alone will puff us up, but love builds up. So use your freedom to lift others, not to trip them. If Jesus gave up His rights to save us, surely we can give up a drink or a donut for the sake of someone else’s breakthrough.