September 2, 2020
Freedom Comes with Responsibility
Romans 14:13-23
Dwane Rose
Central Truth
Christian life is not a solitary activity. We are part of a team. Being on a team brings responsibilities toward others.
Key Verse | Romans 14:20
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.
Romans 14:13-23
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. 1 14:21 Some manuscripts add or be hindered or be weakened 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. 2 14:23 Some manuscripts insert here 16:2527
Dive Deeper | Romans 14:13-23
Thus far in Romans, we have read about man's need and God's provision. In these later chapters, we see how, as believers, we are to live as a result of His provision. Today, we discuss how to relate to one another.
The example given in these verses is eating. One area I struggle with is comfort, particularly as it relates to food. I can get overly focused on food. God created many wonderful types of food for our enjoyment. God's creativity is demonstrated through the numerous ingredients that make up food. He wants us to enjoy food. But food is not what life as Christians is all about. We have a more important responsibility to other believers.
Today's passage is about our relationship with Christians around us, like our community group. It also reaches broader to those in other churches.
Paul tells us in Romans 14:13 that we are not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. But am I really responsible for others? In Genesis 4:9, after killing his brother, Cain asks, "[A]m I my brother's keeper?" God clearly tells us that we are.
Romans 14:13 also calls us to make a decision—how we relate with others is our decision to make. Those of us who have a relationship with God are responsible for others. That responsibility toward others is in contrast to our society’s emphasis on individual freedoms. At times, I want to take advantage of these freedoms to solely benefit myself, but, in doing so, I fail to consider my actions' consequences on others. That is wrong.
Today, we have the freedom to make choices regarding food, drinks, movies, screen-time entertainment, clothes, houses, and cars. Regardless of our freedoms, we should not make choices that result in sin. Paul indicates that even if a person thinks a choice might be sinful, then that person has already sinned. Further, it is not only wrong for us to perform that sinful act, but it is also wrong for us to lead another person to do it. By doing so, we are also causing that person to sin.
It is critical to consider how our actions impact others.
Discussion Questions
1. Are you involved in any activities that are causing your Christian friends, including your community group, to question your devotion to God? If so, what reconciliation do you need to seek with them?
2. Do you have believer friends who attend a church with beliefs that are not essential to biblical faith? If so, how can you speak truth to those friends? (There is a good Watermark message series on the essentials of biblical faith called “The 7”.)
3. How do you balance the phrase “Everything is indeed clean” in Romans 14:20 with other Scripture to ensure we do not overly feed our earthly desires?