LOVE STRENGTHENS THE CHURCH
A Letter from a Pastor #3
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Sunday, July 14, 2024
(1 Corinthians 8:1, 4–11, NLT) “Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. … So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.”
(Romans 12:5, Message) “The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body,”
How can people whose beliefs, views, practices, and habits deeply differ and offend worship together?
1. A supernaturally changed heart by God’s grace is more powerful than tolerance
2. A weak conscience always feel guilty and condemned
3. A strong conscience is biblically informed. Paul warns the strong about their knowledge
(1 Corinthians 8:1–11, NLT) “Knowledge makes us feel important, … we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. … However, not all believers know this. … So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.”
4. Love accepts one another; love doesn’t accept the weak conscience’s beliefs
(Romans 15:7, NLT) “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”
(Romans 14:1, NLT) “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.”
(Hebrews 2:14, CEV) “We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death.”
GROWTHWORK
1. LOVE ACTS; CHOOSE TO LOVE
(1 John 3:18, NLT) “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
2. BE PATIENT
(1 Corinthians 13:4, NLT) “Love is patient and kind.”
(Ephesians 4:2, NLT) “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”
3. LOOK FOR THE BEST
(1 Corinthians 13:7, Message) “[Love] Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.”
Even when your spouse fails to keep a promise or fulfill an expectation, that spouse isn’t a failure. The best way to believe the best about your mate is to remember his first love instead of his last mistake. Believing the best about your spouse builds on hope instead of despair and trust instead of doubt. 77 Irrefutable Truths About Marriage, – Larry and Judy Keefauver
4. AFFIRM
(1 Corinthians 13:4, AMP) “Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.”
(Romans 15:7, NLT) “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”
(Ephesians 4:32, NLT) “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
(Galatians 6:10, NLT) “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
5. BE VULNERABLE
(1 Corinthians 13:5, NLT) “Love… does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”
To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. – Lewis, C. S., The Four Loves (pp. 155-156)