Daily Bread 2011 - Romans 14
Romans 14
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
What Does This Mean?
As Paul makes the transition from the old covenant and its focus on following the Law, to the new covenant which is written on people’s hearts, he had to teach on some practical matters. Practical matters such as eating certain kinds of meat and honoring certain days, like the Sabbath, over others.
First, in principle, he teaches that food in itself does not make a person clean, or unclean; and secondly, no day is holier than any other. But he recognizes that, for some, their conscience will still give them problems when they disregard these laws that that they had grown up observing. He calls these persons “weaker” brothers or sister. Meaning they are Christian believers, but their confidence still in some measure lies in their ability to keep the requirements of the Law. For the stronger believer, the one whose confidence relies solely on what Christ has done to make them right with God, they are not to judge these weaker believers. And at times the stronger believer, in order to help the weaker believer, would abstain from their freedom to eat meat in order not cause their brother or sister to stumble.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Applying this teaching can be a huge challenge for the church. On the one hand is the danger of going back to a legalism that says what we do is the basis for our relationship with God. But the principle Paul lays out is that everything should be done in love. Our freedom in Christ should be used to serve each other.
For instance if you know someone who is thirty days sober from alcoholism, it might be a stumbling block to go out with him and order a drink, as it could lead to them losing their sobriety. In your freedom you would not be doing anything morally or spiritually wrong by having a drink, and yet your freedom could be used to serve your brother or sister and build them up in their effort to remain sober. Or, if you know someone has a hard time with gossip, you might not want to make any comments that would open the door for them to start gossiping. Of course there are many applications, but the principle Paul teaches is, “Don’t use your freedom if it is a stumbling block to your brother or sister in Christ.”
Heavenly Father, thank you for the freedom we have been given through the once and for all sacrifice Jesus made for us. Help us to use our freedoms to serve each other and build each other up. In Your name we pray, Amen.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
What Does This Mean?
As Paul makes the transition from the old covenant and its focus on following the Law, to the new covenant which is written on people’s hearts, he had to teach on some practical matters. Practical matters such as eating certain kinds of meat and honoring certain days, like the Sabbath, over others.
First, in principle, he teaches that food in itself does not make a person clean, or unclean; and secondly, no day is holier than any other. But he recognizes that, for some, their conscience will still give them problems when they disregard these laws that that they had grown up observing. He calls these persons “weaker” brothers or sister. Meaning they are Christian believers, but their confidence still in some measure lies in their ability to keep the requirements of the Law. For the stronger believer, the one whose confidence relies solely on what Christ has done to make them right with God, they are not to judge these weaker believers. And at times the stronger believer, in order to help the weaker believer, would abstain from their freedom to eat meat in order not cause their brother or sister to stumble.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Applying this teaching can be a huge challenge for the church. On the one hand is the danger of going back to a legalism that says what we do is the basis for our relationship with God. But the principle Paul lays out is that everything should be done in love. Our freedom in Christ should be used to serve each other.
For instance if you know someone who is thirty days sober from alcoholism, it might be a stumbling block to go out with him and order a drink, as it could lead to them losing their sobriety. In your freedom you would not be doing anything morally or spiritually wrong by having a drink, and yet your freedom could be used to serve your brother or sister and build them up in their effort to remain sober. Or, if you know someone has a hard time with gossip, you might not want to make any comments that would open the door for them to start gossiping. Of course there are many applications, but the principle Paul teaches is, “Don’t use your freedom if it is a stumbling block to your brother or sister in Christ.”
Heavenly Father, thank you for the freedom we have been given through the once and for all sacrifice Jesus made for us. Help us to use our freedoms to serve each other and build each other up. In Your name we pray, Amen.
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