#1657 Romans 14 Part 3 Blocks In The Road

 

13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather judge this—not to put a stumbling block or offense before a brother. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is defiled in itself; but to him who considers anything to be defiled, to him it is defiled. 15 For if because of food your brother is grieved, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be slandered; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is pleasing to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14: 13-23 LSB

Romans 14: 13-23

John Murray (introducing Ro 14:13-23) - This section is directed largely to the strong and enjoins upon them the action which love for the weak requires. In this part of the epistle it has been already noted how much emphasis falls upon love (cf. 12:9; 13:8–10). The necessity of walking according to love (vs. 15) is in this section applied to the behaviour which consideration for the well-being of weaker brethren must constrain on the part of the strong. (Epistle to the Romans - NICNT) - PA

Vs. 13-14 But rather judge this-not to put a stumbling block or offense before a brother - This will be a difficult section for those who think they are strong. I found it tantalizing as a young man to always look for the edge of things, run up to the point I thought my freedom ended and then see if I could push the line out a little further. So many are more fascinated with being edgy, pushing the envelope, ranting on and on about how they are too mature even to be judged. There is no one in the room their equal, and they know it is not what goes into a man that defiles him, and so they flaunt their liberty. I've seen many of them trespass this though, all the while fooling others, reassuring others that they are okay to be where they are, they are built differently after all. They think they are the teacher in a relationship they have with someone they are unequally yoked with, but they are the ones getting taught. A few weeks ago they taught a Sunday School class where they declared there is no such thing as missionary dating, yet here they are, well past their freedom, condoning sin, and not only that, they were someone who others looked up to. We learned about the perfect law of love, and how love fulfills all of the law, but here they are with an unbeliever, saying there is something different about me, I follow Christ, and the very sins that Christ died to save us from you participate in with someone who doesn't know Him, and you put the real Christ exponentially farther away from them. It's the furthest thing from love. You are in a mixed company of believers at your home, and there is a man there that you knew to be a raving alcoholic, but you learned how to make the best cocktail this weekend, and no way is his weakness going to interfere with your festivities tonight. You serve the drinks, and you don't get drunk, your too strong for that, and he fights a battle is his mind that keeps him staring at a glass of water all night. Some of these people are strong in the sense of knowing good doctrine, knowing that alcohol isn't inherently evil, but some of them become a stumbling block to themselves and some to others. Both see themselves as strong and that itself because a stumbling block. 

Barclay writes that "proskomma, means 'a barrier', 'a hindrance', 'a road-block'. It is the word that would be used for a tree that has been felled and laid across a road to block it. We must never do or allow anything which would be a road-block on the way to goodness. (William Barclay. New Testament Words)

In this verse proskomma speaks of the spiritual hindrance to another caused by a selfish use of liberty or alternatively our tendency to set up a list of do's and don'ts. Either way could cause the other person to stub his spiritual toe!. Paul says do not do this. - PA

…5And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!… Matthew 18: 5-7

V. 15 You are no longer walking according to love - Love appears to be more than a feeling, more than mere words, less about shared experience and good wishes, and this sort of love looks much more like the sacrifice of self. It pops the bubble of ego, and somehow finds joy in laying aside one's "rights and prerogatives" for the good of another's conscience. It would rather mend the broken arm then show it's own strength. If your brother can't go into this temple restaurant without feeling that he is somehow participating in idolatry, then don't press him to do so, and don't flaunt your ability to that with a clear conscience. You know an idol is nothing, it's not real, it's an invention of the mind and hands, and it cannot make the meat into anything other than meat. The food isn't evil, but the heart that lifts up the image is, yet this man cannot separate the two things in his mind. This is the gentleness of love. What is more important, your brother or the fine dining, the BOGO on meat or a still delicate conscience? So what of your great knowledge without love. 

…9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.… 1 Corinthians 8: 9-11

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.… 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

…4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. 6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.… 1 Corinthians 13: 4-6

MacArthur - You need to set your life on a path that will not grieve others‑‑that will not make them follow you into something their conscience tells them not to. That means you have to get close enough to each other to know where you stand on those issues. You have to know the hearts of the people around you so you can be sure to have an unselfish love for them. (Building Up One Another Without Offending, Part 1 - See dropdown list) - PA

Vs. 16-17 The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking - As a Baptist I find that confusing. I thought it was all about pot lucks. But the understanding here is that you eating certain foods or not eating foods is not of any spiritual benefit. There are no godly recipes. I've known some people who thought that being Vegan made them more holy, more like our parents before the fall, and so they have a whole religion about food and others about certain preparations. The Jews who were just coming to the faith, were not to be Judaizers, the message of Christianity was not a return to Kosher living, that isn't the gospel. At the same time, there were things one could do to help a new believer, like not serve pork which they had been adverse to their whole life, or refrain from taking an ex heathen to the temple of Diana for a meal. If it isn't a small thing to you then you need to reevaluate your view of yourself, your hierarchy of significance. 

Hodges - This is a new reason for forbearance. No principle of duty is sacrificed; nothing essential to religion is disregarded, for religion does not consist in external observances, but in the inward graces of the Spirit. It has already been remarked (Romans 14:4), that with all his desire of peace, no one was more firm and unyielding, when any dereliction of Christian principle was required of him, than the apostle. But the case under consideration is very different. There is no sin in abstaining from certain meats, and therefore, if the good of others require this abstinence, we are bound to exercise it. The phrase, kingdom of God, almost uniformly signifies the kingdom of the Messiah, under some one of its aspects, as consisting of all professing Christians, of all his own people, of glorified believers, or as existing in the heart. It is the spiritual theocracy. The theocracy of the Old Testament was ceremonial and ritual; that of the New is inward and spiritual. Christianity, as we should say, does not consist in things external (like) Meat and drink. (Romans 14 - Hodge's Commentary on Romans) - PA

…16Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.… Colossians 2: 16-18

…20If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? 22These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.…

23Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Colossians 2: 20-23

Vs. 18-19 Let us pursue the things that make for peace - Constant debate over your freedoms, or pressing your restraints upon others is not seeking peace. We don't set aside sound doctrine, remember, the things we are talking about here are secondary issues at best, like I don't particularly care for country music, watching sports on television, and I find people who don't love fishing more than a little suspicious, but it is possible to still be saved and disagree with me on those issues, not likely, but with God all things are possible. Make sure we aren't pushing our preferences onto others, and that these are not the deciding factors of how we value one another. If they are saved then they are part of the same body to which you belong, and Christ is the head, not me, not you. 

…31Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.… Acts 20: 31-33

Vs 20-21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine - Abstinence is sometimes the simplest way to resolve this, to not give offense. It is not the religion of abstinence though, that is nothing, that is bad doctrine. This is for the sake of love. The cults do it for the sake of appearance, to create a works based religion, a false sense of righteousness. They will add more and more to the lifts of things to abstain from, so have some discernment and don't pledge to things too quickly, sometimes you are not even dealing with someone who believes, but rather someone carving out a totally different Christ than the One Who saves. 

…2influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. 3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,… 1 Timothy 4: 2-4

Vs. 22-23 Whatever is not from faith is sin - Err on the side of caution. Do not beat your conscience down till it can no longer do what it was designed for. The things that help both the weak and those who think they are strong are the Word of God and prayer. 

Warren Wiersbe - Christians must not force their opinions on others (Ro 14:22-23) There are certain truths that all Christians must accept because they are the foundation for the faith. But areas of honest disagreement must not be made a test of fellowship. If you have a sincere conviction from God about a matter, keep it to yourself and do not try to force everybody else to accept it. No Christian can “borrow” another Christian’s convictions and be honest in his Christian life. Unless he can hold them and practice them “by faith,” he is sinning. Even if a person’s convictions are immature, he must never violate his conscience. This would do great damage to his spiritual life. For example, the mature Christian knows that an idol is nothing. But a young Christian, just converted out of pagan idolatry, would still have fears about idols. If the strong believer forced the new Christian to eat meat sacrificed to an idol, the younger Christian would experience problems in his conscience that would only further weaken it (see 1Cor 8–9). Conscience is strengthened by knowledge. But knowledge must be balanced by love; otherwise it tears down instead of building up. The truth that “all foods are clean” (Ro 14:14, 20) will not of itself make a Christian grow. When this truth is taught in an atmosphere of love, then the younger Christian can grow and develop a strong conscience. Believers may hold different convictions about many matters, but they must hold them in love. (Bible Exposition Commentary) - PA

…15and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man. 17After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.… Acts 24: 15-17

11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers. 12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God— not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God. 13For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely,… 2 Corinthians 1: 11-13