Loving Others When Differing on Christian Liberties

I recently started a series on parenting, but in the first two lessons I covered principles of Christian liberties because there are so many issues where people have strong disagreements on parenting that can cause division. We need to recognize when CL is in play and determine to love each other and strive for unity.

Principles for Christian Liberties

1. You need to decide whether the practice is a Christian liberty.
Questions:
i. Does the Bible address this issue?
ii. Is it contrary to a command of Scripture (1 John 3:4; Ps 119:105)?
iii. Is it contrary to a principle of Scripture?
iv. Is it consistent with having Christ as my Lord? (1 Cor 6:19-20)
v. Is it consistent with Biblical examples? (1 Cor 11:1)

2. You need to decide whether or not you can practice the liberty yourself.

a. You need to determine your own view about the liberty (Rom 14:5).

Helpful questions to consider?
1. Is it beneficial? (1 Cor 6:12)
2. Is it potentially enslaving? (1 Cor 6:12)
3. Will it tend to lead me into sin? (Rom 13:14)
4. Is it beneficial to others? (Rom 14:20; 1 Cor 10:33)

b. You need to make sure that you have the faith to do it (Rom 14:14, 22-23).
c. You need to make sure not to violate your conscience ( 1 Cor 8:7).
d. Can you practice this liberty unto the Lord? (Rom 14:6-9; 1 Cor 10:31).

3. You must recognize that this liberty might not be viewed the same way by others (14:5).

4. You need to give those who differ on this issue the benefit of the doubt that they are able to practice what they do as to the Lord (Rom 14:5-9).

5. You shouldn’t judge or despise your brother for his practice, leave that to God (Rom 14:1-4, 10-13).

6. You shouldn’t argue about Christian liberties (Rom 14:1, 1 Cor 13:5; Phil 2:13; 1 Cor 3:3; 2 Cor 12:20; 2 Tim 2:14, 23-26).

7. You need to use wisdom and discretion in when and where to practice your liberties.

8. You need to have sensitivity for the views of others and a willingness to limit your freedoms for the sake of others.

9. You usually need to make sure that you do not do anything in public that would cause your brother to stumble (Rom 14:13, 21; 1 Cor 8:9-13).

10. You usually shouldn’t practice in public something that another person’s conscience condemns (1 Cor 10:27-33)

11. Make sure to be most interested in edifying others (Rom 14:15, 19; 1 Cor 8:1; 10:24).

12. It is important to try to inform the conscience of the weak and not allow the weak to lead the church.