October 16, 2024

Romans 14:13-23  (HCSB)
The Law of Love
13 Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. 14 (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.) 15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat.
16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. 21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. 22 Do you have a conviction? Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed. 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from a conviction, and everything that is not from a conviction is sin.

Kim Ivey
Let me present a scenario. You, as a mature and seasoned Christian, have taken on the responsibility of discipling a newer believer, Sue, and you’ve arranged to meet at Cracker Barrel. Before you meet, however, Sue assures you that she will not eat the biscuits because she knows it is a grievous sin to eat biscuits. That is what she has always been taught and has never had a biscuit and has never even considered eating one because “it grieves God.” You, of course, know that God has no problem with biscuits and have never gone to Cracker Barrel and not eaten at least 2 biscuits. You wonder how you’re going to handle this. Well, as soon as you sit down to eat, biscuits are delivered to the table next to you. When you look at Sue to catch her reaction, you are surprised to see a look of pity on her face and tears in her eyes as she gazes on the “sweet older couple stuck in their sin.” You realize that at this point, if you tried to convince Sue to eat a biscuit, it would rock her world and not in a good way. For one thing, a bite of biscuit, in her heart, would constitute an act of rebellion against God. Rebellion against God = sin. Second, her trust in you as a mentor in the faith is shot. And if she can’t trust you, then who can she trust? So instead, you request the cornbread and trust that as you study the Bible together, the Holy Spirit will reveal to Sue her freedoms in Christ.