You Are Your Brother’s Keeper

Choose love over judging. Don’t lay a stumbling block in your brother’s path.

Stop spending your energy judging your brother and start using it to protect your brother.

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?James 4:11-12

A stumbling block is anything in your liberty that causes a weaker believer to trip spiritually.

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.1 Corinthians 8:9-13

Your liberty is real. Don’t use it to wound a weaker brother.

Some things are clean in themselves, but they become sin when you violate your conscience.

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.Romans 14:23

When your liberty grieves or damages a weaker brother, you are no longer walking in love.

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.Ephesians 5:2

When you wound a brother with friendly fire, you’re doing the devil’s work for him.

Guard your testimony. Don’t let your good liberty be dragged through the mud.

Liberty used carelessly can turn a good thing into a bad story.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.1 Thessalonians 5:22

You should value a clear testimony more than the right to do everything you want.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.1 Corinthians 10:23-24

Keep the kingdom in view. Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit matter more than food and drink.

The kingdom is about holy living, loving relationships and walking in the Spirit, not winning liberty arguments.

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.1 Thessalonians 2:12

When you serve Jesus by pursuing righteousness, peace, and joy, you please God and strengthen your witness.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.James 3:17-18

Before you exercise a liberty, ask, “Will this help or hinder my brother’s walk?”

Before you exercise a liberty, ask, “Will this help or hinder my testimony?”

Refuse to pressure a weaker believer to do something their conscience is not ready for.

Aim your daily decisions at kingdom priorities: righteousness, peace, and joy.

The world reads your liberty before it reads your doctrine. A careless freedom can preach a sermon you never meant to preach.