January 1, 2009

New Year’s Resolution

“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. 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. 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. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things [is] acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things [which make] for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed [are] pure, but [it is] evil for the man who eats with offense. [It is] good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor [do anything] by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have [it] to yourself before God. Happy [is] he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] from faith; for whatever [is] not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:13-23 NKJV)

If you like to make New Year’s Resolutions, here is a good one, only, don’t break it. Resolve not to judge anyone, and not to put a stumbling block before your brother.

A stumbling block is not what most people think it is if my exposure is any measure of the whole. Most people I speak with believe you are never to practice your liberty for fear that someone will be upset with you.

The stumbling block is something that causes a brother to do something against his conscience. For example, and I’ll use an absurd example so as not to be controversial, lets say you think that it is a sin to eat apples. However, I know that it is not a sin to eat apples, and I eat them regularly. Then I find out that you think this is sinful. Now, because I think you are missing the joys of apple eating, I start to tempt you to eat apples with me, or my constant flaunting of my liberties shames you into eating apples. Now, I have caused you to stumble because your conscience still believes it is a sin. The reason this is true is he who doubts is condemned if he eats because he does not eat from faith.

Now, that deals with the stumbling block, but what about grieving your brother? Love demands that you not flaunt your liberties before weaker brothers. If you know that your liberty is grievous to a brother, do not practice it in front of him. That doesn’t mean you can’t practice your liberties. You can, and proof that you can is found in the command do not judge your brother.

However, as the passage says the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. May you experience that joy this year and forever! Amen.