No Condemning, Just loving

DEVOTION

ROMANS

NO CONDEMNING JUST LOVING

Rom 14:19-23

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

NIV

Paul gets to the final point about this food and wine business. It does come down to being able to enjoy the taste of good food and fine wine as long as we keep our freedom in Christ between God and ourselves. We should not go about teaching this to other believers for their faith may be harmed. On the other hand if we believe eating certain food and drinking wine is bad, then we should keep that between us and the Lord. Either way if we teach total abstinence from certain food and wine, we could destroy the work of God in someone’s life. On the other hand if we taught we are free to eat whatever we want and drink want ever we want, we could destroy the work of God in someone’s life. But we have to see that all food is clean, all food is acceptable as is wine. Here is where transparency among believers may not be as good as it sounds. We do not want a fellow believer to stumble on our account, so let us keep our beliefs regarding these items between God and ourselves. The problem is those who believe drinking wine is bad do promote their beliefs, at least as a denominational stand. Some denominations stipulate what is acceptable and want is not and drinking is an issue. It does seem some of those strict rules have been relaxed, but still there are many believers who feel drinking wine is not right, and by announcing their tee-totaling position could make those who have the freedom in Christ to drink wine feel guilty. It always comes down to this keeping our position on food and beverage a private matter between God and ourselves. But opinions or beliefs in the case of spiritual matters are right for each person as God works in each person’s life. There is not a right or wrong belief in regard to food and drink. The central point is to make every effect which leads to peace and mutual edification. If either belief makes another feel poorly in some way, that is not making an effect toward peace. So this is an area we just have to keep silent about. Those who think drinking wine is fine, drink wine. Those who think it is not fine, don’t drink wine. It goes the same with food.  If those who think all food is good, they should go ahead and eat whatever they want. The same goes for wine, if those who think is alright, they should enjoy their wine. The problem exists in both camps regarding excess. Drinking too much leads to drunkenness which is not alright. Eating too much which leads to gluttony and that is not alright. If the person who drinks a little too much does it in the privacy of their home, no one would know, so that is between them and God. The person who eats too much cannot hide that within the privacy of their home, for it becomes obvious to others that someone is eating too much. Not that all large people are a result of overeating. But again who are either of us to judge the other. So we live and let live in regards to this matter. We simply love one another, build each other up, that is what mutual edification is all about. No, judging. No condemning, just loving.