We All Miss It
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. I Corinthians 10:23-33 (New Living Translation, NLT)
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. I Corinthians 8:1 (International Standard Version, ISV)
We all miss it when it comes to understanding the truth of the Word and living it. None of us has it all right. Each of us knows more in some areas than others. We must be patient with one another and love each other the way God loves us (John 13:34).
When someone says or teaches something we don’t agree with or is different than what we believe to be true, don’t just write that person off. If a person is doing their best to preach truth, then pray that clarity and revelation will come to the person in the wrong- whether it is them or you. We are all growing and developing and we are at different stages in our faith walk. One may be developed and have a clear understanding of faith, while another is well-versed in grace, and so on.
I didn’t say we should condone willful error or the purposeful teaching of wrong. If there are people who have strayed from the truth of God’s Word and are stubbornly refusing to turn back to the truth of the Word of God- or who have misunderstood the Bible but because of pride refuse correction- steer clear of them. Do not condone false teachers who intend to lead people astray.
What I am talking about is the fact that you may know more about a topic than someone else because of what God has revealed to you or the sound teaching you’ve sat under in the past. You must pray that God opens their eyes to see and know the truth and that they grow in that area. If you have the opportunity to approach them and have a discussion about it, then do so- but do it in love.
I know that I miss it in areas, and I want God to show me and help me so I am not wrong in what I believe, and so I do not lead others into error. Humility is crucial for maintaining sound doctrine. Whether we are talking about foods we can eat, customs to observe, days to worship, or doctrine, or any such thing, we must walk in love and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Even if we happen to be correct in our understanding of a topic or view of a doctrinal matter, we can be wrong in how we handle it. Always seek to build people up rather than tear them down. Speaking truth in love always trumps speaking the truth in a harsh or judgmental way. We are all branches of the same Vine. We must not allow issues to divide us, but instead, seek to let love unite us.
