Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 131

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Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1950 131

to him through whom they come! It were better for him that
a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into. the sea,
than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Matt. 16: 23:
“Get thee behind Me, Satan; thou art an offense unto Me; for thou
savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
See Ex. 23:33: “They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make
thee sin against Me; for if thou serve their gods, it will surely
be a snare unto thee.”

The Word of God also teaches that offense is given not only.
by evil deeds, false doctrine, and a sinful life, but that it can be
given through an unwise, careless use of permissible things
(adiaphora), whereby a weak Christian may, be led to follow an
example in matters which his conscience, not guided and directed
by the Word of God, still considers to be sinful. The weak brother’s
faith is thereby jeopardized. Rom. 14:13f.: “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 thé Lord J esus, 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.” — V.19ff.: “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 offense.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything
whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that
condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he
that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith;
for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

As a rule we should not insist on the use of our Christian
liberty unless a denial of the truth of the Gospel is thereby
involved. This is, for example, the case if a weak brother insists
that his views be acknowledged as Scriptural doctrine and he
manifests this by judging and condemning those who have the
correct Scriptural knowledge and understanding as such as act
contrary to God’s Word. In these circumstances the weak brother
becomes a false teacher. Col. 2:16: “Let no man therefore judge
you in meat, etc.” Gal.5:1: “Stand fast, therefore, in the lib-
erty, etc.” If a weak brother is offended because we are compelled
to use our Christian liberty on account of the confession involved,
the guilt lies with the brother who takes offense, not with him who
exercises his Christian liberty. Compare Acts 16:3 and Gal. 2:3-5,
St. Paul’s position concerning the question of the circumcision of
Timothy and Titus.

Il. Taking Offense

Offense is taken by such as through their own spiritual weak-
ness, blindness, and/or wickedness take occasion to sin through
words or acts of others which in themselves are not wrong.

The Scriptures repeatedly speak of taking offense. 1 Cor. 1:23:
“We preach Christ Crucified, unto the Jews a_ stumbling block,
and unto the Greeks foolishness.” — Matt. 11: 6, 25-26,