Build, Don’t Destroy

Run hard after what makes peace and builds people, not after proving your liberty.

Peace and mutual edification are not automatic. You must intentionally pursue them.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.Romans 12:18

Using liberty well means asking, “Will this actually build my brother up?”

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.1 Corinthians 8:1

Never tear down God’s work in a brother’s life for the sake of food, drink, or any liberty.

A thing can be clean in itself and still be used in an evil way when it hurts a weaker believer.

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.1 Corinthians 8:12

It is better to lay down a liberty than to be the reason your brother stumbles or is weakened.

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.1 Corinthians 9:22

Keep your liberty between you and God, aiming for a clear, uncondemned conscience.

Some convictions and freedoms are meant to stay quiet before God, not flaunted before others.

Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?1 Corinthians 10:29-30

There is real joy in living in such a way that your conscience is not constantly accusing you.

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.Acts 24:16

Never act against conscience. Anything you cannot do in faith is sin.

Acting while doubting and pushing through your hesitation is spiritually dangerous.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.James 1:6-8

Faith means obeying what you know God has said. You cannot call disobedience “faith.”

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?Luke 6:46

Let peace and edification set the tone for how you use your freedoms.

Treat every believer you’re around as God’s construction project, not your testing ground.

Learn to happily keep some liberties between you and the Lord.

Make it a rule: if you cannot do it with a settled, faith-filled “yes” to God, do not do it at all.