Dealing With Differences of Opinion, Part 2

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:10-19

Judgment Belongs to The Lord, 14:10-13a

Again, Paul introduces a new line of argumentation with a question: “but why do you judge your brother?” (14:10a). Before it was, why judge God’s servant? Now he focuses on the familial relationship by the term “brother.” Paul not only is concerned at this point with judging but again with holding each other of differing opinions as of no value and worthless.

Why is it wrong to convict and condemn another over matters of opinion? First, Paul reminds them that everyone will come before God in judgment. Second, he quotes Isaiah 45:23 showing the universal response to God at Judgment. It is a prophecy concerning a day when even the Gentiles will confess God. Third, the final Judgment is an individual accounting to God. No one can influence God in His judgment of another. God has the final say. If God will not condemn either group over their opinions concerning diet or days, then “let us not judge one another anymore.” Obviously, no Christian is qualified to mete out final judgment upon another even in areas of pertaining to immorality and false teaching? How much less qualified are we in judgment in matters that are indifferent to the Law of Christ and the final Judge?

Pursue Edification of One Another, 14:13b-19

Instead of trying to resolve whether the meat eater is right or wrong or whether the vegetarian is right or wrong, a Christian should stop focusing his attention on the who is wrong and focus on what is wrong. It is wrong “to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (14:13b). If a brother in Christ believes it is a sin for him to eat bacon because that is what his conscience tells him after a pervious lifetime being so instructed as a Jew or Muslim, then the strong should not lay a trap by serving him bacon for breakfast. It may not be a sin not to eat bacon, but it is clearly a sin to cause another to sin.

Paul admits bacon and anything else is not ceremonially unclean. He learned this from the Lord. Paul does realize that those who in their conscience believe it to be unclean than that is a matter of their personal conviction. It must be respected as such. As a Jew, Paul would not have eaten bacon. As a Christian he would have been able to eat it with a clear conscience. Just because another brother may hold bacon to be unclean does not make it so.

What should a saint do when he is at breakfast with a brother who sincerely is offended with another eating bacon? Should he order and eat bacon in front of him? Should he serve it to him? The Christian’s right or liberty to eat bacon can cause the weak brother to be “grieved” (14:15a) that is, violated his conscience. Paul says the brother who would so trip up another into violating his conscience is “no longer walking in love” (14:15b). According to Paul, “Love suffers long and is kind;…is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, … bears all things, …endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4,5,7). Next, he must avoid destroying his brother over food (14:15c). The same Greek term for “destroy” is used to refer to eternal damnation in Matthew 10:28 and Romans 2:12.

Imagine ruining another brother’s chance at eternal life over a strip of bacon. Christ loved the weak brother enough to die for him. How can any Christian be so callous as to destroy that same soul by the loveless act of being a part of the violation of his conscience? Should a Christian love food more than the soul of his brother in Christ? “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13).

Continuing our illustration with bacon, consider the fact that eating bacon with thanksgiving to God is considered good. All food is to be received with thanksgiving (1 Tim. 4:3). However, the good can be eclipsed by using the same food to cause another to violate his convictions and eat bacon. God, faithful brethren, people of the world, and perhaps even the offended brother will be able to condemn him for his sins. Being right, having a right concerning the eating of bacon does not give anyone the right to use their liberty to eat as a tool of offense.

Paul points out that the church or kingdom is not made for eating and drinking. It is a spiritual not a social, secular institution. Upon entering the kingdom by being born again (John 3:3-5) Christians are citizens of a spiritual realm. This realm is composed of three things: “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (14:17b). Being right before God and enjoying this harmony and gladness can be disrupted over one’s misuse of their diet. Either by violating one’s one conscience or that of someone else’s.

Paul returns to the idea of serving the Lord. Every servant of Christ who obeys Paul commands in regard to the strong and the weak will accomplish two things: being “acceptable to God and approved by men” (14:18b). In the first case, he may not please himself, but he pleases God. Secondly, his fellow brethren will approve of his behavior. This is especially true of a brother who was given preference because of his conscience.

The conclusion of all this is for all the brethren to pursue two things. First, he should pursue “things which make for peace” (14:19a). Paul already commanded us to pursue peace in chapter twelve. The limitation of this command has to do with our ability and the other party’s cooperation. If we can be at peace with another by not eating bacon when we dine together, then so be it. Second, a Christian needs to follow after “the things by which one may edify another” (14:19b). To edify is to build up another in faith. There are things which make for spiritual growth, such as, showing consideration to the feelings and weaknesses of another.

– Daniel R. Vess