350 The Spiritual Man
propriety could be eaten. But others, having long been accustomed to
idols, could not help viewing the food as though it were truly offered
to an idol. They felt uneasy when eating it. Because their conscience
was weak while eating the food, they were defiled (v.7). The Apostle
treated this divergence of view as a matter of knowledge (v.7). The
former had light and therefore did not sin when they ate, for their
conscience did not bother them; the latter, however, not enjoying
such knowledge, felt uneasy while eating and so were guilty. Thus
we see the great importance of knowledge. The increase of it
sometimes may increase the condemnation of conscience but it may
equally decrease its condemnation.
It is advisable for us to beseech the Lord to grant us more
knowledge in order that we may not be bound unreasonably, but this
knowledge must be kept in humility lest we, like the Corinthians, fall
into the flesh. In case our knowledge is inadequate and our
conscience continues its censure, we must obey its voice at all cost.
We should never philosophize that since this thing is not wrong
according to God’s highest standard, we can do it in spite of what our
conscience says. Let us not forget that conscience is our current
standard of God’s leading. We need to submit to it, else we sin. God
judges whatever conscience judges.
What we have discussed here concerns merely outward items such
as food. In those items of a more spiritual character there can be no
such difference of liberty and bondage, however much our
knowledge grows. Only in these external physical matters does God
deal with us according to our age. In the young believers He pays
much attention to their food, clothing and other external issues,
because He desires to put to death the evil deeds of the body. If the
young genuinely have a heart to follow the Lord they shall find Him
frequently calling them, through their spirit’s conscience, to subdue
themselves in these matters. But those with deeper experience in the
Lord seem to enjoy more liberty in their conscience with respect to
these items because they already have learned how to obey Him.