Obviously CC: cannot find scripture!

[Pamela H in Texas]

I have resources, but I'm obviously doing something wrong. Even google is not my friend.

 

Okay, I know of a scripture that alludes to this, but I think it is stated more directly. Here is the idea:

 

something may be a sin for one person and not for another...

basically, that one person feels it is wrong so it is for him though it is

a conscience matter so not a sin for everyone (like murder would be).

 

Is this stated pretty clearly or just an idea we get because of things like meat from idols and such?

[momofkhm]

I have resources, but I'm obviously doing something wrong. Even google is not my friend.

 

Okay, I know of a scripture that alludes to this, but I think it is stated more directly. Here is the idea:

 

 

 

Is this stated pretty clearly or just an idea we get because of things like meat from idols and such?

 

Look at Romans 14:

 

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

 

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

 

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

 

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,

‘every knee will bow before me;

every tongue will acknowledge God.’â€

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

 

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

 

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

 

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[c]

 

Is that what you are looking for?

[hsmom42]

I think Romans 14 is what you're thinking of.

[Liz CA]

Cannot pinpoint you to the scripture but have you tried Biblegateway.com?

[Mama Anna]

Try Romans 14:

 

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables . . . To his own master he stands or falls . . ."

 

You'll probably want the whole chapter for context.

 

HTH!

 

Mama Anna

[mlbuchina]

You know, I've heard that all my life, but no one has ever backed the idea up with Scripture.

 

I know about where Paul is talking about baby Christians, and how you don't want to do things in front of them that they believe is wrong. I don't think that means that those things are actually true sins, just perceived sins for the immature Christian.

 

Well, I'm really no help to you at all!

 

ETA: Yes, Romans 14 is the passage I meant about not wanting to do the things that others believe to be wrong in front of them, or be mean to them because they believe that way.

Edited May 23, 2012 by mlbuchina

[NevadaRabbit]

1 Corinthians chapter 8 also speaks to this issue. :001_smile:

[Pamela H in Texas]

I appreciate the help.

 

I see how it says that something could be right or wrong for me, but not you. I was looking, I think for the part where he says, "if someone regards something as unclean, it is unclean for that person." I wonder if I can find a couple cross references to find it even more strongly stated. Otherwise, I think I'll use the chapter and highlight the two parts that help highlight the stronger thought.

 

Any further ideas?

[brett_ashley]

I think for the part where he says, "if someone regards something as unclean, it is unclean for that person."

 

It's posted above. Romans 14:14

 

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

[Carol in Cal.]

Pam, I am pretty sure that that is the strongest passage supporting that idea.

[fairfarmhand]

Some thoughts on that passage....

 

I don't think it means that God has different standards for right and wrong on the black and white issues of the Bible. I do think that it means that if a person is violating his conscience on one of those "preference/convictions/gray areas" of the Bible that could go either way, then it would be sin.

 

For instance, if I were firmly convinced that the Bible states that women should not wear pants, only dresses (I am not convinced personally of this fact!) and I wore pants anyway, merely the fact that I am violating what I think the Bible says is a sin. Because I am willfully disobeying what I believe the Bible to state. At that point it is not a matter of whether or not slacks are sinful, but it is a matter of my violation of what I believe to be God's commands.

[Carol in Cal.]

Lutherans describe this as adiophora--areas where the Bible gives no clear instruction, but Biblical principles apply, but they may apply differently to different people. It is almost as dangerous to go further than the Bible does in binding consciences as it is to go less far. One failure leads to legalism/Pharisaism and the other to licence.

[tntgoodwin]

Acts 10:15?

[tntgoodwin]

Acts 10:15?

 

:001_smile:

[SpecialClassical]

1 Corinthians chapter 8 also speaks to this issue. :001_smile:

 

I agree. This passage also talks about the "free" person being one who sins as well if he does something in front of a weak brother that wounds his conscience.

[Candid]

Pam, I am pretty sure that that is the strongest passage supporting that idea.

 

:iagree:

 

However if you want more to flesh it out. Consider that in certain roles people have an obligation that goes beyond ordinary obligations. There is a general Biblical principle that you shouldn't idly gossip, but if you are a judge, you are obligated to hear details that might outside of the court be gossip.