Just Say No to Steaks and Beer!

Last Sunday morning, we began looking at Romans 14 and the first of a three sermon series on what the KJV calls “doubtful issues” and the NKJV calls “doubtful things” and the NASB calls “opinions.”  I referred to these issues as “gray areas” or “preferences.”

 

What are we talking about?  We are talking about issues that the Bible doesn’t clearly address one way or another or even at all.  We are talking about issues that are to be left up to the conscience and or conviction of each individual believer.

 

We saw in Rome that there were divisions in the church between what Paul called “weak in faith” Christians and “strong in faith” Christians.  The weak in faith were probably Jewish Christians.  The strong in faith were probably Gentile Christians, but both groups were definitely followers of Christ. 

 

These two groups were divided over diets and days.  Many of the Jewish Christians were vegetarians so as not to run the risk of violating the Mosaic Law’s dietary codes.  Specifically, they tried to avoid eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  The Gentiles felt the freedom to eat whatever and felt no obligation to the OT Law unless Jesus had repeated it in the NT.

 

These two groups were also divided over days or the celebration of religious festivals and holy days.  The Jews were strict observers of the Sabbath.  The Gentiles were clearly not.  They only observed the Lord’s Day or Sunday.

 

There was one main point from last Sunday’s message, and it was addressed to both groups.  That main point was to receive or accept one another in spite of differences of opinions.  Don’t try to change to convert or change to your opinion or preference.  Simply receive or accept one another. 

 

Remember that there are some issues that don’t fit this category of “doubtful things” or “gray areas.”  Sexual immorality of any kind, drunkenness, stealing, lying, and divisiveness are not doubtful issues.  However, the following are: alcohol use, Bible translations, dress, gambling, piercings, tattoos, and music.   

 

Today, we will add another more guidelines for addressing doubtful issues or gray areas in the life of a believer.  My message this morning is “Just Say No to Beer and Steaks!”

 

 

15. Don’t hinder your fellow Believer as a stumbling block, Romans 14:13-15.

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.

 

Paul began where he left off last week.  Instead of judging one another, the Roman Christians should determine not to be a stumbling block.  The NKJV says “resolve.”  The NIV says “make up your mind.”  The NLT says “decide.”  We must make a conscious decision not to hinder or bring down our fellow brothers and sisters by being a stumbling block.

 

Stumbling block can be defined as an example that leads another Christian to sin.  In this verse that Paul uses the phrase “stumbling block” and the word “cause” or “obstacle.”  Stumbling block is meant to represent unintentionally leading a Christian astray.  Obstacle means intentionally leading a Christian astray. 

 

Regardless, his admonition is to resolve or decide or determine, make a conscious decision, not to be a stumbling block, intentionally or unintentionally for any brother or sister in Christ.

 

Jesus gave a strong warning about stumbling blocks or offenses in Matthew 18:7.

 

Matthew 18:7, “7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”

 

Yes, stumbling blocks will come, but don’t you be a stumbling block or else suffer the consequences.  When it comes to doubtful issues, determine not to be a stumbling block.

 

In verses 14-15, we see the rationale for not being a stumbling block.  We must keep others in mind.  Paul acknowledges that nothing is evil in of itself.  However, something might be evil to an individual. 

 

In verse 14, Paul seems to even acknowledge that he personally would identify more with the strong in faith when it comes to eating meat.  After all, nothing is unclean in and of itself.  That is exactly what Jesus said to Peter in Acts 10:15.

 

Acts 10:15, 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

 

However, some meats may seem to be unclean to some Christians.  Therefore, if your eating certain meats hurts another brother or sister in Christ and you refuse to stop, you are no longer walking or treating them with love. 

 

Christ died for these weak in the faith brothers and sisters.  Don’t you destroy them with your freedom in Christ.  Paul is saying here that our actions affect others.  Don’t you think otherwise.

 

Don’t hinder your fellow believer as a stumbling block.

 

 

18. Don’t bring down the Kingdom of God with your freedom, Romans 14:16-18.

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.

 

In verse 16, Paul spoke of our good.  What was that?  Most of this second half of Romans is for the Gentile Christians, those strong in the faith.  They felt like their freedom in Christ allowed them to eat any meat and only observe the Lord’s Day.  Their freedom was their good.

 

However, Paul exhorted them to consider how their treatment of other Christians looked in the eyes of the world.  Don’t give the world any ammunition against the church.  Don’t give the world any evidence that you treat your brothers and sisters in Christ in any other way than with love. 

 

After all, isn’t the kingdom of God more than eating and drinking?  Obviously, the answer to that is yes.  The kingdom of God is more than our own opinions.  The kingdom of God is more than personal preferences. 

 

Did you notice that he appears to introduce a third cause of division?  Look also at 14:21.  We saw last week that eating meat had caused a division.  Observance of the Sabbath had caused a division.  Now, it appears that drinking wine had caused a division.

 

Again, the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking but about righteousness, peace and joy.  All of those are fruits of the Holy Spirit and essential for a healthy body of Christ.  Own opinions are not.  Personal preferences are not. 

 

When we walk in love rather than hurting our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are accepted by God and approved by men.  We give the world no cause or ammunition to speak evil of the church when we walk in love by determining not to be stumbling blocks.

 

 

• Don’t hinder your fellow Believer as a stumbling block, Romans 14:19-23.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 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. 21 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. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

 

Here now is a third piece of advice regarding doubtful issues, but it actually is our first thought for today but important enough to repeat.  Let us have a desire to pursue peace and building up of one another within the body.  Let us eliminate the divisions over doubtful issues by pursuing peace, and here’s the imperative…don’t destroy the work of God.  In other words, as we each are the work of God, don’t hinder your brother or sister by engaging in that which is a stumbling block to them. 

 

After all, its just food.  It’s just a day.  It’s just a drink.  It’s just a lottery ticket.  It’s just a piercing.  It’s just a tattoo.  Yes, all things are clean in and of themselves, but not every person understands that, and until they do, desire peace and the good of the body rather than what you want to do personally.

 

 

Conclusion

The last three verses show us how series Paul is in thinking of the other person and not being a stumbling block.  If eating meat causes others to stumble, don’t eat meat.  If drinking wine causes others to stumble, don’t drink wine.  Delete these practices from your life for the sake of the peace and unity of the body.

 

Verse 22 says you don’t have to change your preference, but keep that between you and God, but as he said previously, change your practice.  Whatever, you do, if you doubt, don’t do it.  When we doubt, that is a sure sign our actions are wrong.  Doubting is the governor of the soul that is intended to keep our actions in check.

 

Finally, what happens or what do you get when you determine not to be a stumbling block for Christians by walking in love, desiring peace, and deleting doubtful issues in your life?  Look back again at Romans 14:18, 22b.

 

18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

 

22b Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

 

1. You serve Christ.
2. You are accepted by God.
3. You are approved by men.
4. You are happier than if you had continued be a stumbling block.
5. You avoid condemnation.

 

 

Invitation

If you are here today and you are Christian, my invitation is for you to take an honest look at your life.  Are there any doubtful issues in your life that are creating stumbling blocks for other brothers and sisters?  If yes, then I am asking you today to delete them.  I am asking you today to walk in love toward other believers and sacrifice your own personal preferences for the peace and unity of the body.  Would you serve Christ today by doing just that?  Would you let go of music or movies or piercings or alcohol or smoking for the sake of others?

 

If you here today and you are not a Christian, Christ did this very thing that we have been talking about today for you.  He laid aside his own will and did what was best for the world.  He did what was best for you.  That is dying on the cross for our sins, your sins, and if you will confess Him as Lord and Savior today, He will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from your unrighteousness and save your soul and reserve for you a place in heaven.  Will do that this morning?