The Great Argument for Abstinence
E. Hurndall 1 Corinthians 8:13 Why, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I make my brother to offend. I. ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF ABSTINENCE OFTEN RUN UPON SUCH LINES AS THE FOLLOWING: - 1. That from which we are enjoined to abstain is asserted to he dangerous to ourselves, since we may be led to indulge to excess. Or: 2. Is injurious to ourselves, physically, morally, or spiritually. Or: 3. Is pure waste, bringing with it no real benefit. Or: 4. Is intrinsically wrong. II. SUCH ARGUMENTS FREQUENTLY LACK COGENCY. 1. The fourth will have no application to the large class of things indifferent in themselves, and it is generally in respect of such that the war is waged. 2. The second and third will generally be open to question. The difficulty of proof is great. Facts, apparently conflicting, will be adduced, and where knowledge is limited and imperfect, the contest is likely to continue, the advantage now seemingly being on one side and then on the other. 3. The first seldom carries conviction, since every man deems it an impossibility for him to fall. Every one else may be weak, but we are certainly strong. The argument against often acts as a temptation, for when human nature is warned of peril it often delights to show how brave and steadfast it can be. III. THE APOSTOLIC ARGUMENT. 1. The apostle enlarges the view so that others are included as well as ourselves. Abstinence is not for ourselves alone, sometimes not for ourselves at all, but for our fellows. "Look not every man on his own things, but also on the things of others." Whether we realize it or not, we always decide for more than one. We are units, but united units. We cannot legislate merely for that little area which we ourselves occupy. 2. The apostle recognizes the influence of example. Mentally, we instantly assent to this; practically, we generally deny it. Our words are a spider's web; our acts are a cable, Men do what we show them, not what we tell them. And we cannot persuade men that we are strong and that they are weak; they will believe the opposite with very little persuasion. Men are like sheep: though the shepherd calls and the dog barks, if one sheep leads the way the others will follow, though it be over a precipice. 3. The apostle asserts the obligation of self sacrifice for the welfare of others. That which is "indifferent" becomes anything rather than indifferent if our indulgence in it is likely to cause injury to our fellows. We are not only to think of others, but to deny ourselves for others. Our sacrifice will often seem very small indeed compared with their possible loss. Here is an argument which will stand where many others fall. It has special force for Christians. (1) They have a great example of self sacrifice in their Master. They are to imitate him. "He saved others; himself he cannot save." He "gave himself for us." The apostle seems to suggest a comparison of Christ's sacrifice with the sacrifice which he desired the Corinthians to make. Christ died to save men: you are called upon to sacrifice what that men may not fall away from salvation: how little compared with how much! And to those not making the required sacrifice: Christ died to save the weak brother; you, to gratify your appetite, are causing him to perish. (2) They have a more impressive view of the issues involved in the fall of a fellow creature. (3) Their non abstinence may be a sin against a fellow Christian (ver. 11). The fall may be, not of an unbeliever, but of a brother, associated in Christian fellowship and service. And thus be (4) a sin against the brethren (ver. 12); against the Church, bringing scandal and disgrace through a brother's fall. And also (5) a sin against Christ (ver. 12). For Christ and Christians are one - he the Head and they the members. (6) They have in their ears certain suggestive utterances of their Master's; such as, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40); and, "Whoso shall offend ['cause to stumble,' as in text] one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6). - H. Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. WEB: Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I don't cause my brother to stumble.