May 4 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Romans 14:13-15 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Having discussed the importance Christian liberty, Paul now talks about some of the limitations that we should be put on our liberty. He starts off by stating that, rather than judging the decisions of others in the areas of doubtful disputations, we should make our own decision to stop making choices that harm others. The Greek word that is translated "stumblingblock" is the word from which we get our English word "scandalize". It referred to the part of an animal trap on which the bait was laid, and that when touched caused the trap to close on its prey, It ultimately came to mean any entanglement. What Paul is indicating is that the choices that one Christian makes can wind up ensnaring another brother, and can ruin his spiritual life.

How does this happen? Certainly there are many ways that one believer can have a negative influence on another believer. However, in this context, the issue is Christian liberty. According to verse 14 Paul says that there are things that are not inherently wrong to do. These are areas about which the Bible does not speak, and thus would be situations in which Christians have liberty. However, in any given situation, there may be some folks, probably newer believers, who believe that a certain activity is wrong, even though the Bible does not forbid it. Here is the principle found at the end of verse 14: if someone truly believes that it would be a sin for him to do something, then he shouldn't do it, even though the Bible does not expressly forbid it. Here is an example that I have used in church on numerous occasions. I have known church members who believe that it is wrong to celebrate Christmas. Some oppose the gift giving, some oppose the tree, some oppose the entire concept. These are not wicked people; they simply do not believe that Christmas should be celebrated as a holiday. I personally have no problem celebrating Christmas. If, under pressure from me or other church members, these folks participated in all the Christmas festivities, but in their hearts they still believed that it was wrong to do so, they would be sinning, because they are violating their God-given conscience. They truly believed that it was wrong, but did it anyway. That's sin.

John MacArthur wrote this:

"If your conscience tells you it is wrong to do something, and you do it, then you will suffer with a guilty conscience....The Lord wants a clean conscience. You should never train yourself to violate or ignore your conscience. That would be training yourself to ignore the instrument through which the Spirit of God leads you. Desire to have a conscience void of offense toward God (Acts 24:16)."

Paul adds something else to this in verse 15. There he talks about our brother being distressed ("grieved") with our meat. In other words, not only do I not want to make my brother violate his conscience by convincing him to do that which he believes is wrong, I also have an obligation not to hurt him spiritually by flaunting the liberty that I have. A younger Christian seeing an older Christian do something that that younger thinks is sinful could do great harm to him. According to verse 15, it could destroy him, and that would be sin on the mature believer's part. In I Corinthians 8:12 Paul wrote,

"But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ."

"Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

Paul has more to say on this subject that we will look at tomorrow.