Some years ago, when I said during a sermon, “We must be willing to give up our right if it will make a brother/sister fall,” I did not get a good reception. I could see the bewildered look on the congregation’s faces as if to say, “Why would I give up my right when it is my right?” If I read them right, it’s the mind that is entrenched in the American culture that would rather die than to give up our right. After all, many people fought to gain those rights…

For example, if a brother in your church thought that Christians should not drink wine, and he’s invited to your party where wine is typically served, would you, for that brother’s sake, not serve wine?

If you thought, “Well, that’s his problem. The Bible does not say that we can’t drink wine. It just tells us not to get drunk! So, it’s my party and I’m going to serve wine and if he has a problem, then he shouldn’t come!”

If so, you are not acting in love. Love would think, “I know it’s not wrong for Christians to drink wine as long as we don’t get drunk. But I have a brother who thinks it is and I don’t want to ruin his conscience. So, for his sake, I will give not serve wine at the party.”

“But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak… Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” 1 Cor 8:9, 13

Christ gave up His right to be worshipped on the cross (At least temporarily). If He had not given it up, we would be in hell forever. It was His love that caused Him to give up that which is rightly His. And if we love our brothers and sisters, we would think first about their conscience and their standing before God before we insist on our rights.

On Sundays lately, I’ve been dressing up more than usual. (Have you noticed?) It’s because I also preach at the Korean service while Pastor Min is in Vietnam. And I do not want to offend our Korean brothers/sisters by how casually I dress although I really prefer to dress more casually.

Let your love show even in the rights you give up for others.

PH