Romans 14:13-23: "Building Up One Another"

We continue to learn about the relationship between the strong and weak Christian. Paul connects the last section with this section reminding us to "not judge one another anymore". Understanding that this was going on in the early church, Paul is trying to put a stop to the tearing down of other believer's, and working on the building up of one another. Instead of judging one another, Paul explains, "but rather determine this- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. MacArthur explains, "Paul's play on words demands that we should never be judgmental of fellow believers but instead should use our best judgment to help them". Paul in I Cor. 8:9, reminded the Corinthians, "Take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak". We must understand that our actions have an impact on other's around us, and we must be mindful that whatever we do does not cause others to stumble. For example, if I want to drink a glass of wine, which is lawful, in front of another brother, however, he once struggled with alcoholism, I must pass on my liberty to drink, and instead, care for my brother's well-being instead. The idea is of putting other's well being ahead of your right to partake in a certain activity.

Paul continues to show us our responsibility to the other brother, and encourages to make sure we do not hurt our brethren. He writes, "I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself". According to MacArthur, "He was not stating a personal opinion or preference about such things but was convinced in the Lord Jesus; that is, he knew by divine revelation. Here Paul is letting us know that nothing within the boundaries of scripture, or anything that is not a sin is free for us to partake in. However, Paul continues, "but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean". Here Paul is appealing to our consciences. There may be certain things that, although lawful, cause us to be convicted or feel uncomfortable doing. For that reason, if someone were to partake in that activity against his conscience to him it would be considered sin. On the flip side, if you know another activity, which does not convict you, but convicts a weaker brother, you should abstain from that activity to keep him from stumbling. MacArthur writes, "For various reasons, there are certain things that we know are not sinful but that we do not feel comfortable in doing or even being near. And as long as we feel discomfort about any such thing, we should avoid doing it". For, Paul says, "but to him who things anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean". In Paul's time apparently food was a major issue between believers, and for this reason he brings up food as an example. He writes, "if because of food your brother is hurt you are no longer walking according to love". We must therefore be sensitive to know that we are to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord by being sensitive to what may cause them hurt. MacArthur writes, "the best safeguard against grieving another believer's conscience is to determine to do the opposite of what the insensitive and unloving person does: to always walk according to love".

Paul then gets even more emphatic to remind us of the destruction we can cause with our freedom. "Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died". So not only can we grieve our brother by doing something that may cause them to stumble or be offended, but we can destroy them with our actions. MacArthur writes, "To destroy . . . him for whom Christ died, is not to cause his damnation but to seriously devastate his spiritual growth. When Jesus said, 'It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish' (Matt. 18:14), the context makes clear that 'these little ones' are believers. They have been 'converted and become like children' (v.3) and 'believe in Me' (v. 6). Jesus was not concerned about their loss of salvation but about their loss of spiritual well-being". We must be aware of the impact our lives can have on others, especially other believers.

Another reason we must watch what we allow ourselves to take liberty in is our witness to others. Paul says, "Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil". In other words, Paul is saying, don't let the joy of you partaking in an event because of your liberty be more important than your witness to others. If something you are doing, which in reality is a good thing, however, may cause other's to be offended or cause them to stumble, we must put that aside for the chance of us being spoken of as evil. What we may mean for good could be misconstrued and for that purpose we may hurt another believer, and we may be spoken poorly of because of our decision. MacArthur writes, "Although it brings much blessing and enjoyment to those who understand and exercise it properly. Christian liberty is not simply for our own benefit and certainly not for our selfish abuse. It is a gracious gift form God and a wonderfully good thing. But like every other diving blessing, it can be misused in ways that are outside of, and often contrary to, God's purposes". Paul helps us understand this in context, he writes, "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit". We must not get so narrow-sighted that we demand our writes in regards to eating and drinking, but instead understand what is truly important to God which is our fellowship with the Holy Spirit and one another. He would much rather see believers getting their enjoyment from God and one another, than the freedoms we have in Christ.

"MacArthur writes, "The loving and selfless Christian who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Dokimos (approved) refers to acceptance after careful examination, as when a jeweler carefully inspects a gem under a magnifying glass to determine its genuineness and value. When we serve Christ selflessly, we prove ourselves to 'be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world' (phil. 2:15)". We must have a mindset of selflessness that desires above all else to love others and obey Christ rather than focus on their own desires. If we desire to live in this way, we will be pleasing to both God and man. Paul continues, "So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another". Again, Paul reminds us of the important things in life and what we are to strive for. Rather than to receive for ourselves, we are to "make for peace" and desire to build "up of one another".

Just as Paul has told us to strive to build one another up, he reminds us that when we put our desires above anothers and cause them harm we are tearing down God's work. He writes, "Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food". Paul brings up food again to say that getting to exercise your liberty in eating whatever you want is not worth the tearing down of another believer. We must understand that other believers are "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:10), and because of this we must be careful not to tear down what Christ is building up.

MacArthur continues, "The apostle reminds us again that he is not speaking about sinful and unholy things, but about discretionary liberties that are good gifts from God. All such things are indeed clean and good in themselves (cf. vv. 14, 16). The danger is that, when they are exercised selfishly and carelessly by strong Christians, those very blessings can become evil for the man who eats and gives offense. Therefore, it is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, which are in themselves good, or to do anything else that is good in itself, by which your brother stumbles, because such stumbling hinders the work of God in and through that believer". Simply put, do not let your desire for any liberty become stronger than the desire to build up and encourage your brother in the Lord.

The last two verses, Paul is reminding us not to be careful in the liberties we take, not to bring condemnation onto ourselves. Paul writes, "The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God". As a believer we put ourselves under the direction of the Word of God. Our new hearts given to us by Christ convict us of sin before Christ, so that we know when we are doing something contrary to God's Word. Paul writes, "happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves". MacAthur explains, "When by sincere faith and a correct understanding of Scripture we have a conviction before God that a custom, a practice, or any activity is worthwhile and good, we dare not denounce it as sinful. Nor should we allow our conscience to condemn us for exercising it". Paul is saying that effective Christian living is done in such a way that the things we enjoy and approve of build up and edify the body rather than tear down. In the last verse directed at the weaker believer, Paul writes, "but he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin". MacArthur writes, "The corresponding stipulation is that, just as the strong believer commits sin by causing a weak brother to go against his own conscience, the weak brother sins, is condemned, when, contrary to the convictions of his own faith, he succumbs to that which his conscience condemns". Therefore, let us live in such a way that we can live free from the guilt of our consciences led by the word of God, free from the tearing down of other believers, and free from the opportunity for others to be ashamed or speak poorly of our witness.