In matters if faith, unity.
In matters of opinion, liberty.
In all things, love.
This was the proclamation of the Restoration Movement churches of the 1800’s, and it reflects the teachings of Scripture. In Romans 14, we come to understand how to handle “disputable matters.”
People have different opinions and understandings of Scripture. Some believe that you should rest on the Sabbath. Some believe you are free to do so. Some believe you should not drink alcohol. Others believe that it is no problem.
In the case for Paul, some believed it was acceptable to eat meat sacrificed to idols, and others thought it was sinful and so they ate only vegetables. Some believed that there were special days still, others saw that the fulfillment was in Christ.
Were these essential matters? No. Important? Maybe. But not essential.
So Paul says here that those who are stronger should bear with the ones who are weaker. That the ones who feel free should not judge or cause to stumble those who do not share similar beliefs.
His point was we must walk in love towards one another. Not provoke and antagonize one another based on beliefs that are not essential.
“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. ” (v. 13-15).
Walk in love. Die to yourself. Do not cause someone to go against their conscience. Especially in regards to food.
Then Paul says something powerful:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (v. 17).
The kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit? That will preach!
Righteousness still matters. And peace is still the core of the Christian. And joy? Joy is everything. How much have we lost it! Restore it in me, Lord!
Paul closes with this. If a person is being pressured to go against their conscience because of you, you are not acting in love. It is also sin for them to go against our conscience. So don’t pressure them. You can discuss freedom, but not pressure.
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (v. 20-23).
Bottom line? Walk in love towards your fellow believer. Especially when it comes to disputable matters.
Romans 14
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master[a] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess[b] to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Do Not Cause Another to Stumble
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.[c] 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.[d]