Free to Love Others

Isn't freedom dangerous? If one did away with all of the external rules of dos and don'ts, doesn't this lead to license to sin? If you believe this, you do not understand grace nor Christian liberty. We indeed are free in Christ, but not free to live anyway we want. We are not to use our liberty as a base of operation for the flesh, but rather as an opportunity to lovingly serve one another. The 'loving thing to do' is the Biblical thing-- what God has prescribed for us to do in obedience to Him. But what about this situations where there is no clear-cut biblical prescription? Paul gives three principles to govern our freedom. Is it helpful to do in light of my Christian testimony? Is it habit-forming which will hinder my Christian commitment? And will it build up or tear down another believer's faith? When we lovingly serve one another, we fulfill the Law of God. Failure to do so can result in cannibalism in the body of Christ. To keep peace and to promote unity, at times, those who are mature must give up the exercise of their liberty so as to benefit the whole. Bottom line is that 'each of us most please his neighbor for his own good, leading to edification.' (Romans 15:2)