of food which of itself is perfectly good,
but may be a means of great harm when associated with the purposes of
evil. The passages are as follows: "Let us not therefore judge one
another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling
block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am
persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself:
but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not
charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not
then your good be evil spoken of: for the kingdom of God is not meat and
drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he
that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved
of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the
work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who
eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine,
nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made
weak" (Rom. 14: 13-21). "What say I then? that the idol is anything, or
that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? But I say, that
the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and
not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke
the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He? All things are lawful for
me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but
all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's
wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question
for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness
thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be
disposed to go; whatsover is set before you, eat, asking no question for
conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in
sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for
conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof:
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