of their old pagan habits, and lead them back into sin. Therefore it was incumbent upon the more mature Christians to model faithfulness in such a way as not to lead other Christians astray. It was an argument, not based on Christian freedom, but based on Christian responsibility to one’s weaker, less mature brothers and sisters. Of course Christians are free, but we are also responsible to God and for one another.
“‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up'” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Lawful is a correct translation of the Greek, but in this context it means permissible. Paul was saying that while all things are permitted, not all permitted things are helpful, not all permitted things contribute to Christian growth and maturity. Sometimes some things that are permitted should be avoided, if not for our own sake then for the sake of others.
Paul goes on, “if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice,’ then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience — I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?” (1 Corinthians 10:28-29).
We may ask why we should not be free to express our freedom in Christ any way we please. God is sovereign, Christ is Lord, and Christians are free in Christ. All of these things are true. However, said Paul, “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor” (1 Corinthians 10:24). This hearkens back to Jesus admonition in Matthew 20:25-28: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you