Is it Worth the Cost?
Admittedly, there are some issues that we all would understand as being inconsequential. While we might not all agree on which issues fall into that category, we do accept that there are issues about which God is indifferent. Concerning these, we understand that we are at liberty to choose the most expedient means to carry out the things that God does require of us. For example, Romans 14 teaches that if one chooses not to eat meat sold in the market place that had once been sacrificed to an idol, it is of no consequence to God. In other words, one could choose to eat or not to eat it. However, not everyone had that understanding. Some believed that if they had eaten it, they were having fellowship with the idols. If they had eaten this meat, they would have violated their conscience. Thus, even though eating the meat was not unlawful, it was not expedient to eat if it caused a brother to stumble. Paul argues that while it was lawful, it was not expedient and emphasizes the need to edify each other. Not every issue is resolved by mere law. It might appear that just informing someone of what the law says or does not say would be sufficient to resolve the differences. This is wishful thinking and is not the approach given by Paul. Rather, he wrote, “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak” (Rom. 14:21).
There are several examples today where this principle must be applied. One example is the second observance of the Lord’s Supper. Some brethren believe that if you missed the Sunday morning observance of the Lord’s Supper, you are not required to take it if present in the evening service. Others would add that you would be wrong to take it when all are not taking it together in the assembly. The reasoning is that the Lord’s Supper is one act of worship in which the whole assembly should take together. Paul does emphasize in 1 Corinthians 11 the phrases, “when ye come together to eat, tarry for one another”(v. 33), or “when ye come together into one place” (v.20), and “when ye come together in the church” (v. 18). These suggest an assembly for the purpose to eating the supper. Sadly, several churches have divided over this issue because they were trying to resolve the differences by applying law only. Brethren have traditionally offered the Lord’s Supper in the evening. When they are refused the opportunity to partake in the evening when they could, their conscience is violated and leave the assembly feeling they have not done what God said they should do; namely, “take, eat, this is my body” (Matthew 26:26). Without arguing the point of right or wrong just here, let us raise the question: Was it worth the cost? — the cost, not in dollars, but in the loss of spiritual strength and power which God has put at the disposal of a spiritual people.
The beloved apostle to the Gentiles urged that ‘‘through love (we) be servants one to another,” and then warned, “but if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Galatians 5:13-15).In discussing the works of the flesh, he began his list with the sins of “fornication, uncleanness and lasciviousness;” and concluded the list with “murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like;” which all would oppose. And between these he enumerated a list of works which we often overlook. The list includes enmities (the spirit of an enemy; hostility), strife (angry contention) fightings; jealousies (apprehensive of being displaced by a rival in affection or favor) wraths (violent rage); factions (a party within a party, an irregular association of partisans) divisions (separation); disagreement; discord, parties, heresies (a course of conduct or instruction tending to produce discord), envying (selfish and unfriendly grudging of what another enjoys).
Brethren, we cannot afford to reject the fornication and drunkenness, while accepting these that pertain to our attitudes. For, “they that practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”