Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:13-23 NIV
If the “weaker brother” is convinced that what I am eating, drinking or doing is wrong, then for me to continue eating, drinking, or doing that in his presence is not teaching; it is flaunting in his face what he believes to be sin. That does not edify him, it causes him to judge and then he is the actual sinner—out of fellowship with God, though he may not realize it.
In the Church Age all foods are acceptable to eat. There were specific reasons for those Old Testament dietary laws, which do not apply today. Foodborne diseases and improper cooking methods come to mind, though God is not obligated to explain. His people are obligated to obey. Never mind the reason. God has lifted the restrictions on foods, and that is all we need to know. My freedom, however, is not understood by some believers. Therefore, my freedom can be their cause for personal sin. If they decide to emulate my behavior and then feel sinful and guilty about it, that is not an expression of faith, so it is sin for them. If they think and speak critically of me for openly enjoying my freedom, that judgment on their part is personal sin. This creates tension and confusion among the brethren. That is not conducive to spiritual growth or to Christian unity.
What is the issue? Not food or drink! The issue is the absolute Righteousness we have received through faith in the finished Work of Christ. That Righteousness brings with it God’s perfect peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of our bodies. We don’t have to flaunt our freedom to enjoy the benefits of God’s Righteousness. We do have to respect our brothers’ sensibilities in order to nurture them in the faith without losing their respect and causing them to commit personal sins against us.
This is not legalism. It is the manifestation of grace to those who are in danger of being so distracted by our personal behavior that their spiritual growth will be stunted. Their growth is more important than my freedom to indulge. I will enjoy my indulgences in private before God, knowing that God has given me that freedom, but not the freedom to offend my baby brother.
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