爱我的弟兄姊妹
哥林多前书第八章
1论到祭偶像之物，我们晓得我们都有知识。但知识是叫人自高自大，惟有爱心能造就人。
2若有人以为自己知道甚么，按他所当知道的，他仍是不知道。
3若有人爱神，这人乃是神所知道的。
4论到吃祭偶像之物，我们知道偶像在世上算不得甚么，也知道神只有一位，再没有别的神。
5虽有称为神的，或在天，或在地，就如那许多的神，许多的主；
6然而我们只有一位神，就是父，万物都本于他；我们也归于他─并有一位主，就是耶稣基督─万物都是借着他有的；我们也是借着他有的。
7但人不都有这等知识。有人到如今因拜惯了偶像，就以为所吃的是祭偶像之物。他们的良心既然软弱，也就污秽了。
8其实食物不能叫神看中我们，因为我们不吃也无损，吃也无益。
9只是你们要谨慎，恐怕你们这自由竟成了那软弱人的绊脚石。
10若有人见你这有知识的，在偶像的庙里坐席，这人的良心，若是软弱，岂不放胆去吃那祭偶像之物么？
11因此，基督为他死的那软弱弟兄，也就因你的知识沉沦了。
12你们这样得罪弟兄们，伤了他们软弱的良心，就是得罪基督。
13所以，食物若叫我弟兄跌倒，我就永远不吃肉，免得叫我弟兄跌倒了。
信息分享
信徒之间的关系既然是出于互爱，就必然会带来彼此的责任。因此，我必须时刻紧记，我在基督里的其他弟兄姊妹，可能正留意我的言行举止，也许还会效法我呢！我做的事情若然令他们软弱跌倒，那怎么办呢？
保罗在这里正是谈论这个重点，请特别留意第9节。保罗正回答哥林多教会的一个询问，是关系到信徒可否吃祭偶像的肉的问题。在信奉异教的哥林多城，几乎所有肉类都先在庙里祭祀偶像，然后才在市面发售。当时的基督徒为此事而深感困扰。
保罗在第13节厘定了一个原则，对今天信徒的行事为人仍然适用，那就是：「食物若叫我弟兄跌倒，我就永远不吃肉，免得叫我弟兄跌倒了。」
我们今天同样面对类似的问题，就是该如何决定去做还是不做某件事。我若私下做某件事，不会影响别人，是否就表示我可以随意去做呢？答案很简单：当我知道我做某件事，可能会对我的属灵生命有负面影响，或妨碍别人的属灵生命，那我就绝对不要去做了。
无论是甚么情形，若会影响我对神话语的渴慕、妨碍我的祷告或事奉、令我犯错跌倒、使我的见证大打折扣，或伤害神的家；那么，我就绝对不要去做了。
反思：
我若爱我的弟兄姊妹，就要做一些建立或帮助他们的事，绝不可故意绊倒他们。
LOVE FOR MY BROTHER
1 Corinthians 8
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Message
At the same time, this also brings great responsibility. I must remember I have brothers and sisters in Christ who may be watching what I do and even following me. What if I do something that would cause them to stumble or fall?
This is what Paul is talking about, particularly in verse 9. Paul is answering a question sent to him by the Church at Corinth. It concerned meat offered to idols. Should Christians eat it? In Corinth almost all meat was offered first to a heathen god in a temple. Christians were finding this a major problem.
Paul laid down a principle in verse 13 which still holds good, 'If by eating meat I make my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again'.
Our real problem today is where to draw the line? What can we do that won't be a stumbling block to someone else? The answer is simple. When I know that what I am doing is hurting my own spiritual life or hindering someone else's spiritual life, then I must stop doing that thing.
Anything that takes away my appetite for the Word of God, the house of God, prayer or service for Christ, is wrong for me and will hinder my example to others.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
If I love my brother, I will always help and never consciously hinder him.