Friday Romans 14:13-23

Don’t condemn each other over non-essentials.

Click here for an online Bible. Romans 14:13-23

There were many pagan temples in Rome. Meat purchased at the local market may have been involved in a sacrifice to an idol. Some of the Christians in Rome were very distressed by this possibility. The thought of eating meat that had been involved in a pagan sacrifice was very offensive. They viewed is as violation of their Christian walk.

Paul says that buying meat from the market that may or may not have been involved in a pagan sacrifice was not like going to the pagan temple and participating in the sacrifice. It was just meat. A Christian is free in his following Christ to buy meat without having to have a pedigree on where it had come from. There is freedom in Christ.

However, as Christians, we also have a responsibility to others. We are not to flaunt our freedom so as to cause a problem with others. My actions are more important than my freedom. I am a slave to righteousness. I am a slave to God, so my responsibility to Him overshadows my freedom.

Paul is saying to the spiritually immature Roman, “Don’t get weirded out by the meat.” But he is also saying to the more spiritually mature Roman, “Stay away from meat if it is going to affect your fellow Christian.”

A prime example to us is the issue of alcohol. Many people were raised in church traditions with a strict prohibition against the use of alcohol. Girls grew up saying, “Lips that touch wine will never touch mine.” The problem is that the Bible does not prohibit drinking alcohol. It does prohibit drunkenness, but not drinking altogether. There is a freedom to drink responsibly. But there is a responsibility not to offend others. To drink irresponsibly is sin. To fear alcohol because of religious tradition is spiritually immature. To demand the freedom to drink is selfish. The spiritually mature person does not condemn those who fear drinking or those who chose to drink. However, the spiritually mature person voluntarily forfeits his or her freedom to drink for the sake of others.