So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),  yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t they be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

—1 Corinthians 8:4-13 (TNIV)

Here Paul talks about the essence and nature of Christian love, how believers should act toward one another. The specific context is whether believers should eat meat sacrificed to idols. But the general issue that Paul addresses here is what should believers do with their Christian freedom? As usual, Paul counsels us to look out for the other person before we seek to satisfy our own desires.

For example, there are those Christians who believe that consuming alcohol is wrong, while other Christians believe there is no biblical warrant against drinking alcohol, but rather against drunkenness. So what should the latter do when they are with the former and have an opportunity to have a drink, say when they are out having dinner together? The latter should abstain, of course, not because having a drink is wrong but because it may be perceived as scandalous by those whom we are with. In refusing to exercise our Christian freedom in this matter, we are looking out for the welfare of others so that our actions do not make them stumble and fall in their faith journey. Talk about being counter-cultural in a day and age when the individual and freedom of choice is made king!