Avoid using liberty which stumble others: (14:14-16):
Paul affirms that nothing intrinsically unclean about the meat or food except which was offered to idols. It is imperative that a Christian must keep away from the food sacrificed to idols. Although the OT testament gives many unclean foods and clean foods, but in Christian era, nothing is unclean food in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If we think it wrong to eat pork, we should not eat pork and should not pressurise others into doing it. On the other hand, if our conscious is clear for eating port, but if it affects the conscious of our fellow brethren, then we must avoid it. The unclean food is no longer a matter to God. However, our food must not hurt the feelings of fellow brethren. Such hurt feeling could push a person away from Christ. The issue here is not my personal liberty, but it is walking in love towards one whom Jesus loved and died for him too. If the Lord Jesus was willing to sacrifice His life for the sake sinners just like us, I can certainly give up such small things so that my fellow believer would accommodated. If our fellow Christian is distressed because of what we eat, we are no longer acting in love. Someone might be offended so serious that he could think that “if Christianity allows such a thing, I do not want to become Christian.” Therefore the non-moral issues could become moral if we destroy our members and ruin their faith.
We need to maintain the balance in our faith and in our food habits. Viz.
- Never make our behaviour to be the cause for others to sin.
- Never allow other’ conscience dictate our action.
Look forward to higher calling: (14:16-18):
Christian freedom is one of the good things of the Christian faith. But a Christian ought not to act in such a way that this good can be blasphemed. We should never allow our freedom to destroy another brother in Christ, if it so, it is spoken as evil. Many churches are divided over trivial matters. The Kingdom of God is not eating certain foods or drinking certain drinks. If a church or community gives importance to food and drink than the righteousness, peace and joy, then we are hopelessly out of touch with God’s priorities. The Apostle puts in a very perfect way: For Serving God, we are to be acceptable to God and approved by men. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but God’s righteousness and peace and joy. We can put in 3-ways:
- As we seek God’s righteousness (Matt.6:33), our devotion and respect for God would increase.
- When we want peace, we need to respect our neighbours, our fellow brethren in the church.
- The joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that we experience in our heart, which is again a respect to ourselves.
So the Kingdom of God is: (thought taken from The Bible Illustrator)
- Not enjoying the earthly pleasures.
- Not observing the rituals and traditions of the church.
- Not adoption religious behaviours.
- Not the zeal for orthodoxy. But
- Seeking God’s righteousness.
- Seeking peace with God and with others in the church.
- Experiencing joy even in times of reproach and sorrow.
So this is the way we can build and extend God’s Kingdom. This is the kind of service that is acceptable to God.
Mature Christians to become stepping stone to others: (14:19-23):
The external behaviour would not bring us near to God. But the eternals viz. righteousness, peace and joy which come from the Holy Spirit would bring us near to God. If every believer would yield to the Spirit and major in godly life, we would not have Christians fighting with each other over minor matters. Spiritual priorities are essential to harmony in the church. All believers must strive to edify peace with one another.
Food and personal convictions of the externals are not so important than the spiritual condition of fellow brethren in the church. It is wrong to insist on one’s personal freedom in Christ concerning food. No food and drink is unclean as long as his conscious allows it. But if it causes someone to stumble in his spiritual life, it is better not to eat it. Meat or drink or anything else should be put aside if it causes our fellow Christian to fall or stumble. At times our Christian liberty must be relinquished for the sake of others. “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial” (1 Cor.10:23). We need to be careful “that the exercise of our freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Cor.8:9). As long a brother is weak in the faith, we must lovingly help him to grow. It is a terrible sight if a Christian remains immature with weak conscious even after many years. The weak must learn from the strong, and the strong must love the weak. The result will be peace and maturity to the glory of God. But the young Christians need the kind of protection, encouragement and fellowship to grow spiritually. When they grow spiritually, they would adjust themselves in a way to please God. One such beautiful example is our home.
Ex: When a newly born child comes to home, everything has to change in the home. Mother and father would be careful not to leave sharp or dangerous objects at child’s reach. But as the child grows, he would learn and understand what is good for him and dangerous for him.
Therefore the strong believers, although their conscious is clean about certain foods and drinks must shun from eating because of the weak believer. They must avoid passing judgement on others. Further it is very important that no one should eat unclean food if he has doubts about the rightness of the activity. Further food sacrificed to idols must be avoided even though it has no bearing. Anything which does not proceed from faith is sin.
Further our personal convictions sometimes differ from others, must not be forced upon others. Our personal convictions are between me and my God. We have no reason to influence others. Finally Paul says: blessed is the one who does not doubt in his conscious what he approves regarding the food and also not pass judgement on others regarding food, drinks, religious activities, traditions, rituals etc. But anything consumed with doubt, is condemned, because it did not proceed from faith.
A few questions to answer before we move to next chapter:
- What are my opinions and convictions? Am I trying to look down others who are not in my line? (14:1-4)
- Does my life style is in agreement with the Lord? Whether I belong to the Lord? (14:5-8)
- Will I stand the test at the Judgement Seat? (14:9-12)
- Am I causing others to stumble in their faith? (14:13-16)
- What is my understanding of the Kingdom of God? (14:17-19)
- How am I trying to build up other Christians in love and in faith? (14:20-21).
- How can I get approved from God in regard to Christian community? (14:22-23).