Here is a very partial list of things that have caused—at some time or another, in one place or another—division or offence between brothers in Christ. Some may be areas wherein you have definite convictions; others may not:
- Eating certain kinds of meat; drinking coffee or other beverages that contain caffeine or other stimulants; watching television and going to movies; swimming in a pubic pool or at a pubic beach; wearing certain kinds of clothing; eating in restaurants that serve alcohol; attending suppers served in a church gathering; singing in a church service to the accompaniment of a piano; sitting in a Sunday School classroom with members of the opposite sex; allowing pictures of Christ to be hung in our homes; attending a sporting event on Sunday; taking a job that requires one to work on Sunday; drinking alcohol at lunch, or “social drinking”; shopping in a store that sells beer or alcohol.
Most of the above will seem archaic to today’s readers. The list could be updated to 2026, but I have drawn from a set of division-causing practices that—over the past fifty years or so—have divided believers somewhere, to some degree.
In Romans 14 and 15, there are three guiding principles set forth that should govern what we do when faced with matters that are “doubtful” and potentially divisive to believers.
But first, we should remember that a sincere believer is committed to doing right in all matters of faith and practice. God’s Word is very specific on most matters: for instance, drinking alcohol, gluttony, worldly amusements (such as “sports betting”—or any kind of gambling), and more. In I Thess. 5:22 Paul urges the first century church to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” In Romans 13:14, the apostle says that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” So, if you eat or drink something that violates your conscience, then you are compromising your convictions—and that cannot be of faith.
Here, then, are the three overriding principles that the Bible binds believers to in all matters of our relationships to other believers with whom we may differ on certain beliefs:
- Every believer has liberty in Christ Jesus, and every believer must “be persuaded” in his/her own mind (Rom. 14:15). We will answer individually for ourselves and not for others; and if we do something that we cannot do “in faith” with a clear conscience before the Lord, then we are sinning (Rom. 14:12,23). A word of caution is in order here: “Liberty” is not “license.” “What then, shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid! Being made free from sin, we ought to be servants of righteousness.” (Rom. 6:15,18)
- We must not knowingly offend a brother who is “weaker” but, rather, walk charitably. (Rom. 15:13-15)
- The law of love transcends the law of liberty. (I Cor. 8:9-13) We are forbidden to sin against a brother, and we are warned against wounding the conscience of a weaker brother.
- All things are lawful, but all things are not necessarily expedient. (I Cor. 10:23)
- We have a responsibility not to violate the conscience of another brother. (I Cor. 10:23) I have been guilty of this in years past (unintentionally), eating in restaurants that sold alcohol with a dear saint whose conscience was offended by my “liberty.”
- All that we do should be done to promote unity amongst the brethren (Rom. 15:1 ff.)
- We ought to bear the infirmity of the weak rather than pleasing ourselves. (Rom. 15:1).
- We ought always seek ways to build up one another in the faith (Rom. 15:2).
- We ought to glorify God in all that we do (Rom. 15:6).
The above outline is from a message I prepared and preached 46 ago. Things that were “doubtful” then are generally not doubtful today in most Christian fellowships. When Ellen and I moved to Indianapolis in 1979, there were virtually no stores open for business on Sunday because of the “blue laws” that would soon be abolished. Restaurants that had liquor on the menu were the exception; of late, even restaurants that were until recently “family friendly” and alcohol-free are serving alcoholic beverages. Old mores have been discarded by those who were once considered “legalistic.”
So, the 21st-century Bible-believer is navigating a different world at the beginning of this third millennium A.D. But, what has not changed are the Biblical principles listed in the above texts. The application may change but not the essence. It is still wrong to offend a brother over such non-essentials as meat. Charity (love) still trumps everything; and doing anything that will wound our conscience—even while proving that we have “liberty” to do it—is sin.
I hope this review of timeless biblical guidelines will cause all of us to be more sensitive and sensible in “walking the walk” of faith in a world full of hidden “mines” that, if ignored, might destroy our work and witness for His kingdom’s sake.
“Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (I Cor. 8:13; 10:23)