So stop judging each other. Instead, this is what you should decide: never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister. I know and I’m convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is wrong to eat in itself. But if someone thinks something is wrong to eat, it becomes wrong for that person. If your brother or sister is upset by your food, you are no longer walking in love. Don’t let your food destroy someone for whom Christ died. And don’t let something you consider to be good be criticized as wrong. God’s kingdom isn’t about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ this way pleases God and gets human approval. So let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up. Don’t destroy what God has done because of food. All food is acceptable, but it’s a bad thing if it trips someone else. It’s a good thing not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that trips your brother or sister. Keep the belief that you have to yourself—it’s between you and God. People are blessed who don’t convict themselves by the things they approve. But those who have doubts are convicted if they go ahead and eat, because they aren’t acting on the basis of faith. Everything that isn’t based on faith is sin. We who are powerful need to be patient with the weakness of those who don’t have power, and not please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good in order to build them up. (Romans 14:13-15:2, CEB)
Everything that isn’t based on faith is sin.
We need to not judge others and not put a stumbling block in front of someone else.
Paul talks about this here using food, saying that everything is fine to eat, but if someone else has a problem with what you are eating then you should not eat it because that is a stumbling block for them. And with food this is ok, but what about not food Paul? Now take the passage before which refers back to Romans 13:13-14 which says “Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.” A moral code if you will, and yet we disagree on what this says. What is obscene behavior? And if my behavior is something that someone else finds obscene then I should not do it, but what if by not doing that thing that someone finds obscene is part of who I am. So not doing that is denying myself and being something I am not so that others don’t stumble, but in doing that I stumble.
Food is easy. Life is not.
We need to build each other up and not tear others apart. This is done by accepting people where they are and allowing God to work in and through all things. We do not judge others, but love. Lifting each other up.
Your faith is yours, and not someone else’s, you can not make them live your faith as they should not want you to live their faith.
Love.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 