Romans 14:13-23

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                  

CEV

Rom 14:13  We must stop judging others. We must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith. 

Rom 14:14  The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit. 

Rom 14:15  If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for. 

Rom 14:16  Don't let your right to eat bring shame to Christ. 

Rom 14:17  God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. 

Rom 14:18  If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people. 

Rom 14:19  We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith. 

Rom 14:20  Don't let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat. 

Rom 14:21  It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord. 

Rom 14:22  What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts. 

Rom 14:23  But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin. 

 

Main Points: In the end, practicing liberties should always be with the “weaker” Christian in mind. If for some reason taking a liberty may cause another to fall, don’t do it. (Be ready to discuss the nuances)

 

9. What must we devote ourselves to? (13) “never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother”  - This is an active thinking statement. We are to think of others when we practice anything that may encourage others to sin against their conscience. Note a couple of things:

1) This still situates the weaker faith in the weak position, it does not give occasion to handing over leadership, or leadership decisions to the weaker Christian.

2) It does not necessarily require the weaker Christian to “grow” into a “stronger” conscience. The weakness might be life long, and other Christians are to exercise patience with them.

 

10. What principle is taught in verse 14? How do you apply this principle properly?

This situation deals directly with the eating of certain foods. Some Jews might never see fit to eat pork, although it is fully acceptable. A gentile may decide never to eat meat that comes from a specific market if they know it could very well have been a sacrifice to one of the Roman gods.
Paul understands these things. Paul also addresses this issue in ICor 8. He knows idols are just superstitious nonsense so eating anything offered to them means nothing to the one whose faith is at that level. However, some actually believed in these gods. These idols are “alive” in their conscience and they believe they would be disrespecting Jehovah if that eat that meat (against their conscience).  

 

11. What principles taught in verses 15-16 must govern our actions?

One must consider their affect on others before taking liberties. According to Paul it can “destroy” the weaker Christian: ἀπόλλυμι apollumiap-ol'-loo-meeFrom G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose)

Do not allow our actions for an occasion for accusation and ill speaking about God/Church: βλασφημέω blasphēmeō blas-fay-meh'-o From G989; to vilify; specifically to speak impiously: - (speak) blaspheme (-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil.

Paul’s directive seems to be addressing a still very immature body, but again, this does not give occasion for the weak Christian to take control of a group. It’s important to understand that if the weaker Christian sees something that drives them to walk away from the church and God, that decision is on their head.

12. What do we learn in verses 19-21?
It is better not to take liberties for the sake of the weaker Christian.
Stumbling here means: To strike at
Offend : Means to entrap
Make weak: Means to be feeble or diseased
If the stronger Christian insists of taking liberties IN SPITE of his brother, these are the actions he is taking against him (or her). It is an overt assault.

This is why Paul says: “Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for”

 

13. What does verse 22 tell us we can do with our knowledge?
“Keep it between yourself and God.”  Happy, is the one who is not tried for what he knows. This responsibility is borne by the stronger Christian. We do not see any avenue of growth here indicated (required) for the weaker Christian. Shouldn’t that be an expectation? Logically, we say yes, however, Paul puts the onus of peacemaker on the stronger in faith.

 

14. What does verse 23 tell us about our convictions? Convictions or “matters of conscience” will determine whether sin has been accomplished. It is a matter of heart. God wants His children to disassociate from any questionable act. If we do things that are “questionable,” we must ask ourselves “if this sin, why am I doing it?” That however does not exclude any room for growth.
(opinion) – It seems expected that a young faith might see issues with some liberties. In a long-standing faith if a believer is still a babe we must ask why. Shouldn’t we? Aren’t Christians of today afforded many manifold platforms to the Word? If we are honestly seeking God through His word, shouldn’t our faith grow with it?
That is not to say that a person may no longer have “conscience” issue with it, but shouldn’t maturity bring the believer to understand that one’s issue of conscience may not be shared by others? If we are agents of peace, then are we not all under obligation to make that peace? I say all that with the understanding that Paul’s directive is paramount, especially in cases where the congregation is young (in faith).

 

 

Additional:

13) stumbling block: G4348 πρόσκομμα proskomma pros'-kom-mah From G4350; a stub, that is, (figuratively) occasion of apostasy - root word means – “to strike at”

Hindrance: G4625 σκάνδαλον skandalon skan'-dal-on A “scandal”; probably from a derivative of G2578; a trap stick (bent sapling), that is, snare (figuratively cause of displeasure or sin): - occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumbling-block.