Tag: Pondering Accountability

Make, Take Time for the Holy One. Take, Make “Every Effort” to do what Leads to Your Peace and Your Mutual Edification. Mark 1:35-39

In the streaming series The Chosen, one episode depicts Jesus returning to a camp where he and his disciples are staying for the night.

It is late, and Jesus has spent the day healing crowds of people.

He stumbles into camp, exhausted from the day’s ministry.

The disciples can only watch him, surprised at how tired he is.

His teaching and healing work must have been exhausting.

Though he was fully God, Jesus was also fully human, so he got tired and needed sleep (see Mark 4:38; John 4:6).

Our narrative reading for today explains that after a long day of teaching and healing, Jesus rose early in the morning to pray.

Jesus needed time to connect with his Father in prayer, resting in his Father’s presence and focusing and resting for a while to then refocus on his purpose.

He had come to do much more than heal people in Capernaum, even though that was clearly important while he was there.

When the disciples went out and found him, he said, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Does Jesus ever stop?

Does Jesus have limitless energy to just “keep going and going and going?”

No! Even Jesus needed His rest and time to refresh his physical body and soul.

Jesus too spent considerable time in prayer with his Father, and in the process and short, but extremely intense ministry he remained focused on his purpose.

If this was important to Jesus, it is certainly important for his followers too.

Be sure to spend personal time with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each day!

Mark 1:35-39Amplified Bible

35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him, 37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!” 38 He replied, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may preach there also; that is why I came [from the Father].” 39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching [the gospel] in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

“Let us therefore make every effort [possible] to [‘perpetually’ keep right on doing every single day] what leads [us all] to peace and to mutual edification”

But lets us be reasonable with ourselves – what does that phrase mean to Us?

Are we expected to be like the “Energizer Bunny” that can outlast all others.

Are You and I Energizer Bunny Christians?

Or always like the “other bunny” who runs out of battery power far too soon?

We don’t make it easy for new Christians to become engaged with their faith journey because we throw some pretty confusing concepts and ideas at them.

Two of my favorites that are really not intuitive for most people are the idea of the Holy Spirit or simply The Spirit and the concept of “growing in your faith.”

Our evangelical reflex is to strive to simplify the equation by simply telling new Christians to “follow Jesus” which is not necessarily any more helpful.

The real trick is to show them how to engage with the Spirit for the strength to follow Jesus that will facilitate our faith growth.

Easy, right?

No, most lifelong Christians struggle to understand how to live a Christian life, so how can we expect a person new to Christianity understand it any better.

A metaphor to help us understand these concepts and ideas a little better is to “borrow” from Madison Avenue one of its most iconic spokespersons

– the Energizer Bunny.

The Energizer Bunny is powered by Energizer batteries that reputedly are longer lasting than the average battery.

So, the Energizer Bunny continues moving in the direction that it is pointed until its batteries run out of power – if it ever runs out of power.

Has anyone ever seen on those television commercials the Energizer Bunny running out of battery power even ONCE? Does anyone ever change batteries?

It keeps going and going and going… remember.

A new Christian, or any of us mature and maturing Christians for that matter, is trying their hardest, with all available energy, to be the Energizer Bunny.

On Sundays, we ‘preach it,’ set them in motion to follow Jesus by instructing them in worshiping, reading the Bible, serving others, loving our neighbors.

Our batteries are powered by the Spirit which can actually keep our “bunny” moving forever forward and around and drum beating, but our batteries run out because of our human incapacity to sustain anything for a long period of time.

So, we are “making every effort” at “growing in faith” by ‘perpetually’ doing these activities that help us to follow Jesus, propelled by the power of the Spirit.

Again, this ‘perpetual motion Christianity’ is easy, right, because if we are all doing all these things then ‘Holy Spirit empowered’ we should be good forever.

Well, the problem with that supposition is that we are still merely human.

Our capacity to convert the Spirit’s power into action in our lives can cause us to become excessively weary due to our own overexertion, excessive enthusiasm.

Or we will run headlong and head strong directly into adversity which causes us to disconnect from the Spirit because we can fix the problem on our own power.

Sometimes, we just get distracted by those shiny, new indestructible thingies being stored up for us in our heavenly storehouses that appear into our path.

No matter how many times you talk about “consistency in your spiritual life,” realize we are human and inherently, inconsistent creatures.

If we as God’s “chosen” preachers and teachers or Laity are truly worth our salt, we will be encouraging people to be the best ‘faithful’ followers of Jesus they can be, giving them tools to help them be better today than they were yesterday.

Now back to the problem of ‘Energizer Bunny Christianity’ which is what do we do when we will finally let our batteries run out of power – how do we recharge?

I think there are three critical tools that God created so that we can energize our batteries on the fly and help us to be the servants we were created to become.

Like the man Rabbi Jesus intentionally planned for regular “time away from the crowds” Fellowship and intentionally praying and worshiping regularly with a community of other Jesus followers which gives us an energy boost as well as a better understanding of what all this new 2022 Christian ‘stuff’ means for us.

Now, hear me clearly, I am endorsing you to go to church somewhere else with other people; not just listening to Christian satellite music or Spotify or a preset list of “meditative” music or some sermon podcast in the car on your daily work commute. And don’t get me started on the “I can worship God anywhere” folks, which is a whole different – and YES! a very aggravating topic for another day.

I am a very strong advocate and even stronger proponent of ‘living’ in Acts 2:

Acts 2:43-47Amplified Bible

43 A sense of awe was felt by [a]everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] [b]were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. 45 And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. 46 Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, 47 praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Striving to be Acts 2 Community – Making Every Effort – to be GOD’S Church;

Actively seek other Jesus followers to go on this journey with you. God created Eve from Adam so Adam would not be alone, and God intends the same for us.

Start or join a small “accountability” fellowship group or a Sunday School class, serve on a prayer team or ‘go forth’ mission team, whatever works best for you.

Go on a Christian Retreat make the effort to engage with people one-on-one,

to find new and insightful answers to old lingering energy draining questions, Koinonia support for making tough decisions, or a mentor to provide guidance.

Intentionally take Sabbath time regularly to rest and relax your brain and body.

God created the concept of Sabbath, which is another one of those complex church ideas, but simply stated its our time to let the Spirit re-energize our batteries so that we are prepared to go [refreshed and refocused] where Jesus asks us to go and [refreshed and refocused] do the things God calls us to do.

Let’s make it a [refreshing] priority to help people find the best place to engage ‘their Sabbath Day‘ keeping it holy, with the Holy Spiri, keep batteries charged.

I truly believe if Christians of any maturity level can help their own people find worship, find other people, and find their Sabbath rest, then they will find Jesus!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Father, I so very much need to spend time with you, just as Jesus did. Lord, lead me, guide me, and give me the strength I need for the work you have planned. Amen.

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Maximum Availability: Make Every Effort to Pursue, Promote Peace and Mutual Edification. Romans 14:19-21

Romans 14:19-21Amplified Bible

19 So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth]. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, tear down the work of God. All things indeed are [ceremonially] clean, but they are wrong for the person who eats and offends [another’s conscience in the process]. 21 It is good [to do the right thing and] not eat meat or drink wine or do anything that offends your brother, and which weakens him spiritually.

Romans 14:19-21The Message

19-21 So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Do not eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

From one of those many “feel good” stories I receive on my Facebook feed.

“Yesterday my young son and went to the local Animal Shelter. I adopted the oldest, sickest, and sorest shelter dog. I’ll never forget his eyes. When I went into the cage he didn’t even bother to look, he knew I wouldn’t even see him.

Curling around the corner He’d accepted his fate. The volunteer said to me many times… Are you sure this one? Are you sure? He was abandoned six months ago. Many have looked at him. YES! This is our dog. He opened the cage and the other dogs fell on me. I ran towards that old and sullen dog as he cowered in the corner shaking and shivering, suddenly he looked at me as if he saw an angel… I hugged him and told him now; he will be happy again. Now, he sleeps in my son’s lap… probably the first peaceful sleep he ever had.”

On a nearby wall of the animal shelter hung an old sign:

“Give it a life. Give it a hug. They need all of us all of the time.”

“From a dad and his son who just saved a lost soul.“

Make every Effort to Pursue Peace and Mutual Edification—Romans 14:19

“Make every effort!”

“Make every effort???”

“Make every effort to do the minimum with the maximum amount of effort.”

“Make every effort to do the maximum with the minimum amount of effort.”

Those statements present our 2o22 representation of alleged “Christianity,” quite the significant personal and corporate (meaning our church) challenge.

“Make every effort …!”

But notice where that exertion is to be focused: peace and mutual edification.

Both sides of this exhortation are two-way responsibilities.

I must pursue and share peace if I am going to have it myself.

I must edify, be open to being edified, if mutual edification is going to happen.

In other words, we live with other people in God’s family.

He wants us to be responsible for making relationships work in our spiritual family.

He reminds us it will require strenuous effort.

But isn’t that true in every family relationship?

Love means sacrifice, effort, and concern for others. When we all share our love willingly, however, we are much more likely to see blessings coming back to us!

Instead of taking this “maximum effort with maximum effect” seriously, what have we instead accomplished with the minimum effort with maximum effect?

DIVISION – “US versus THEM” IRRECONCILABLE MINUTIAE – CHASMS –

Mind the Chasm ….

Make the effort to “mind the chasm” ….

Make every effort to “mind the chasm!”

Make the effort to Mind the Chasm with the maximum amount of effort ….

With maximum effort, “Mind the chasm” between God and HIS Neighborhood.

With minimum effort, “Mind the chasm” between God and HIS Neighborhood.

With maximum effort, “Mind the chasm” between God’s Neighborhood and our “irreconcilable” nit-picky Minutiae ministering inside of God’s Neighborhood.

With minimum effort, “Mind the chasm” between God’s Neighborhood and our “irreconcilable” nit-picky Minutiae ministering inside of God’s Neighborhood.

Make every effort to “hit the ground running” pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

Make the effort to Mind the chasm with the minimum amount of effort ….

Make the minimal effort to “hit the ground walking” to pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

Make the effort to Mind the chasm with no effort whatsoever …. in other words,

make no effort at all to expend any level of energy to barely “look up from our smart phones” to pursue [with {any}enthusiasm {from our church pews}] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth]. – Make the maximum effort to pursue the Status Quo.

In other words, make every single effort to be like the guy who ignored Lazarus:

Luke 16:25-26Amplified Bible

25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things [all the comforts and delights], and Lazarus likewise bad things [all the discomforts and distresses]; but now he is comforted here [in paradise], while you are in severe agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you [people] a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to come over from here to you will not be able, and none may cross over from there to us.’

Luke 16:25-26The Message

25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’

Jesus taught his followers highly insightful things about the kingdom of God.

Care and compassion for everyone in God’s Neighborhood without exception.

With maximum effort expended: Breaking down those “uncrossable” barriers.

Risk everything to take a sledgehammer, vigorously pound into and through “worldly values, worldly traditions, rituals, worldly morals, worldly ethics.”

To rigorously pound down, pound through every single facet of what divides us.

Without any mind or thought for whose agenda was more right or more wrong, thoughts of whose beliefs were more correct than the others, care for the poor was high on his agenda, as we see in his parable about the rich man, Lazarus.

Lazarus, an extremely poor man, was covered with sores and was hungry. An untouchable. For who knows how long, he lay outside the gate of a wealthy man who lived in power and luxury. But he was ignored, and his needs went unmet.

When the poor man died, he was taken to rest with Abra­ham, where he finally was comforted. And when the rich man died, he was consigned to Hades, where he was in torment. He pleaded for relief and begged for a warning to be sent to his brothers. Abraham explained that there was an impassable gap between them, and that the man’s brothers already had all the instructions they needed.

The chasm is the result of the “rich man” ignoring all of God’s teachings about neighbor love and justice for all of our brothers and sisters. These teachings are plentiful in the Bible, reminding us God loves the all poor, the sinners, demands justice for all of them, and “upholds the cause of all the needy” (Psalm 140:12).

The reasons for God loving everyone in His neighborhood are often complex and far beyond our ability to question, but the reality is simple: there is great need to pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

God’s Word still reminds us of his special care for every single neighbor we share with God in His Neighborhood. The reality is that God’s Word does not allow, make any room whatsoever, for exceptions to living out the example of Jesus established in his earthly ministry to follow as we love all our neighbors.

Make Every Effort to Pursue Maximum Peace and Maximum Mutual Edification—Romans 14:19.

Romans 14:19-21NKJV

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may [a]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 [b]offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles [c]or is offended or is made weak.

As believers we have more in common than we acknowledge with our brothers and sisters in Christ than we have with the natural family we were born into.

When we accepted Jesus as our Savior, we were reborn into God’s family and now share with everyone a wonderful heavenly heritage based on His promises.

This all stems from faith in Jesus and is a bond that will transcend both time and distance. We will spend all eternity with these people, so it makes sense for us to aim and eagerly pursue harmony and mutual edification with each other.

So many times, we let nit-picky minutiae, minor divisions separate and cause dissension among us instead of realizing that we were ALL called into one body.

We should be pursuing peace among each other, encouraging and building up one another instead of tearing each other down by our actions and behaviors.

No matter what personal and or “Christian” or “Biblical” convictions we hold to we are to always give a greater measure of consideration to every one of our fellow brethren and conduct our “Christianity” in God’s neighborhood, behave in such a way that will build them up instead of causing confusion in their lives.

The Apostle Paul said in the previous verses of Romans chapter 14 ….  

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” (Romans 14:17-18).

There are infinitely more important things to consider than satisfying our own needs. We are all a part of the kingdom and what we do has eternal significance.

So many people struggle for acknowledgment and validation over these kinds of issues such as “eating, drinking” or “traditions” and “doctrines” of the church.

But Paul gave a great rule of thumb in 1 Corinthians, 

“So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (I Corinthians 10:31-33).

God’s Word! The bottom line is that whatever you do make sure you are doing it for the glory of God, and absolutely none of your own and it will be accepted.

Our behavior should be above reproach in this world not because our acceptance with God our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior depends on it, but because our “truest” behavior will be seen by others and by this thereby glorify our Father in heaven or make every single effort to run like crazy in the opposite direction.

Paul sought to please others in order that many would be saved. The same principle applies to us today, we should not seek our own interest, but the interests of Christ and all of our actions should build and encourage His body.

What an amazing thing to belong to something so wonderful.

We do not belong to ourselves anymore and as such we should live like WHO we are and WHOSE we are.

Today I pray that we will behave with an eternal perspective in life and that our behavior and our actions reflect that mindset.

May you live your life making every effort, leading to the maximum pursuit of peace and mutual edification in the body of Christ and your actions lead others into this fellowship by turning them towards Jesus who can save them, Amen.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Dear Heavenly Father, turn me towards the Cross where your Son died for me. Pray, forgive me for my impatience and selfishness. Defeat the bad attitude of shallow divisiveness that I often display in arguments and disagreements with others in your family. Energize me by your Spirit to see areas where I can be a truer blessing and an encouragement to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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What About “Maximum Availability of our Hearts and Souls?” The Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit—Romans 14:16-18

Romans 14:16-18Amplified Bible

16 Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you [because of your freedom to choose] be spoken of as evil [by someone else]; 17 for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Romans chapter 14 encourages us to consider everything we do as if we are all doing it for the Lord. It is a call to do what leads to peace and mutual edification within the body of Christ.

We are not to condemn or look down on those who are weaker, less mature, slowly, slower growing in faith but be fully convinced of what is acceptable in our own minds, as everything which does not come from faith in God is sin.

Paul’s full throated and thorough presentation of the gospel in Romans, places the Christian pilgrim, regardless of degrees of maturity, on a firm foundation.

It brings us, step by step, into spiritual maturity and holy living. It develops in us a steadfast and prayerfully immovable faith with a total Christlike attitude towards others. Slowly it helps to conform us into the image and likeness of the lovely Lord Jesus, as we develop in godly discernment and wisdom from above.

This epistle to the followers at Rome lays a solid foundation on which to build.

It warns of several pitfalls to avoid and behaviors to cultivate.

Paul’s approach was incredibly practical, gave eminently practical instructions.

He knew that all of us were accountable to God and every person was at a different level of understanding.

Because of this he gave instruction that lead toward mutual edification and building up of the body instead of tearing down by focusing on these divisions.

Much of his instruction in Romans 14 is about eating and drinking, what is (not) acceptable, and the underlying principle is just as true today as then.

The principle of what Paul is saying is that we are to fully live for God, what we do and don’t do should come out of a heart and soul conviction and not because of “obeying” rules and regulations given by others. What God has revealed to us as acceptable before him, we should accept and be confident in. (Acts 10:9-22)

Paul also reminded us that in our approach with our brothers and sisters we should be patient and loving with others in their walk without causing them confusion and putting stumbling stones in their way (Romans 14:15).

But in the same way we should not allow or give room to others to condemn us for the freedom that Christ has revealed to us.

Perhaps that is accomplished by not giving them opportunity to criticize us.

We can do this by abiding in our freedom without flaunting or making a big deal about it.

The bottom line is that the kingdom of God which we have been called into is not about these physical things and mental debates but about our availability.

Making ourselves fully available to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

100% Surrendering, unhitching ourselves from what burdens our souls so much we are infinitely too distracted from giving our full attention to God, neighbor.

We should settle in our hearts and souls to consciously remove the minutiae, walk in the truth we know, as the kingdom is about righteousness, peace, joy.

Righteousness is the state which makes a person acceptable to God.

Through our Savior Jesus we are righteous before God as we have been given His righteousness through faith (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. 21 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

Next comes peace and joy, this should continually be the state of our heart.

We should strive to always walk in supernatural peace and joy because these are the fruit of the Spirit that was given to us at salvation (Galatians 5:22-24).

22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the [a]sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

Paul said in the next sentence, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. 26 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

These things are the true things that we should consider important and which we should, with eyes and hearts of utmost humility, see operating in our lives.

When we “arrive at that place” and “understand” the kingdom isn’t about the natural but is about the amazing things Jesus did and provided for us we can toss aside all of these minor details, habits and hang-ups that hold us back.

Verse 18 says that “anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” (Romans 14:18). 

As much or as little we make our hearts and souls available to God, if we truly, genuinely, live this way in righteousness, peace and joy, then God has accepted and approved our behavior and we will win favor among mankind as well. 

Colossians 4:1-4J.B. Phillips New Testament

4 Remember, then, you employers, that your responsibility is to be fair and just towards those whom you employ, never forgetting that you yourselves have a heavenly employer.

Some simple, practical advice

2-4 Always maintain the habit of prayer: be both alert and thankful as you pray. Include us in your prayers, please, that God may open for us a door for the entrance of the Gospel. Pray that we may talk freely of the mystery of Christ (for which I am at present in chains), and that I may make that mystery plain to men, which I know is my duty.

Today, I am simply pondering the fullness of God and pray that you understand this amazing truth and disregard the meaningless minutiae, the non-essentials that divide, hinder you and I pray you maximally pursue God’s kingdom today!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Loving Father, I want to please You, not only in what I do but by who I am in Christ Jesus – my Lord and King. Thank You, that my salvation does not depend on keeping rites and rituals, but comes through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Thank You, that righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit, comes through faith in Him. May my life be a reflection of His beauty so that in thought, word, deed, and motive I will proclaim His kingdom through my life, to the glory of Your name. In Savior Jesus’ name I pray, Alleluia! Amen.

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We are Accountable for our Christian Actions. Put No Stumbling Block in Your Brother’s Way—Romans 14:13-15

Romans 14:13-15Amplified Bible

13 Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer’s way. 14 I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean. 15 If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [toward him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

It is so easy (actually far too easy) for us to be incredibly judgmental of others.

We don’t know their struggles.

We don’t know their situation.

Most of all, we don’t know their hearts or their souls or their minds.

When we are judgmental, we erect a barrier between others and ourselves.

We often spread that judgmental impression to others in gossip.

Our stubbornness to only view them with a judgmental spirit erects a barrier, a true stumbling block, that can cause them to become discouraged and stumble.

It is easy to read a passage such as our text, think it does not apply to us today.

In general, we do not see the dietary struggles that the early church experienced because we are not barely trained with the Old Testament laws and regulations, they were trained in.

However, the underlining principal that the Apostle Paul is addressing in this passage still very much applies to our being accountable for Christian Actions.

First: Christian Actions first!

We are to judge ourselves to make sure we are not causing others to stumble by our actions. 

This should be a mindset not to use our freedom to destroy the faith of our brothers and sisters.

Paul was fully convinced that no food was unclean, but it was how that food was received that made it unclean for that individual.

If they were not receiving from a mindset of faith, then to them it was unclean.

Sometimes these truths take a while to take hold in our lives.

Paul told Timothy, 

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 1:4-5).

Everything that God made is good and nothing has to be refused if we receive it with grateful hearts and thanksgiving and from a mindset of true genuine faith.

This struggle between the old covenant law and the new and better covenant that we enjoy today extends far past dietary laws of eating and drinking.

Early Christians struggled over these things because they did not understand that they were a shadow of the things to come.

Colossians 2 speaks directly to this very thing, 

“Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

Likewise, it is still true to this day, today, that some Christians still hold to Old Testament ritual without any idea that the ritual has become reality in Christ.

But now that our Savior Jesus Christ has come, the rituals are meaningless and can, sadly, become oppressive. This is why it is important to fully understand the differences in the covenants so we can walk in the freedom and liberty that Christ purchased for us, His enemy, ratifying it with His precious life’s blood.

The bottom line is that we are all in different stages of maturity in Christ. We should encourage one another, and we should decide to walk in the freedom that Christ has revealed to us while making up our minds not to cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble in their faith by our faulty actions.

In the first twelve verses of chapter 14 Paul has taught Christians in that church to stop passing judgments on each other and despising each other.

Jewish Christians were condemning Gentiles Christians about eating unclean foods and not keeping the festivals of Moses.

Gentile Christians was despising Jewish Christians for not eating with them, eating all foods, and for keeping the Sabbath and other feasts of Moses.

They were to recognize God had received them both and that God was the judge.

Therefore, they were to welcome and accept one another, but not for the purpose of disputing over these things.

Paul is going to pursue this thinking further as he directs these early Christians concerning how to, and how not to act over these significantly divisive issues.

Romans 14:13-15ESV

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.

Never Put a Stumbling Block in The Way of Another Christian (14:13)

This is the key thought for this paragraph.

Stop passing judgment on one another.

Instead, resolve to never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

The same Greek word is used for what is translated “pass judgment” and “decide” in the ESV in verse 13.

Literally, this would read:

“Therefore, let us not judge one another any longer, but rather judge to never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”

In a sense Apostle Paul is saying that if you are going to judge, judge to never put a hindrance in your brother’s way. Stop judging one another.

Determine to not be a stumbling block or a hindrance.

This is a very important principle that we also must determine to do in our lives.

We need to make the Christian decision to never put a stumbling block in the way of our Christian brethren.

This is one point that we find in parallel to 1 Corinthians 8-10.

At the end of 1 Corinthians 8 Paul teaches that he would never eat meat again to keep his brother or sister from stumbling.

In chapter 9 Paul taught that he forfeits his rights for the sake of the gospel.

These points are similarly made here in Romans 14.

We need to determine that we will choose not to do things when we know that such an activity is going to be a hindrance to other Christians.

The question is not simply is this okay for me to do.

The question is also is this something that could cause my brother or sister in Christ to engage in sin or be weak in conscience.

Do Not Grieve Your Brother (14:14-15)

Paul continues in verse 14 about his knowledge in the Lord that there is nothing clean or unclean any longer in Christ.

But can you imagine how difficult this knowledge was for those who grew up in Judaism?

All their lives they were rightly taught that certain foods defiled, and only other foods were clean for eating.

For years the conscience had been trained that these foods were unclean.

Even Peter did not readily accept this when three times in a vision God said, “Rise, kill and eat.” (Acts 10:13) (Whole thought: Acts 10:9-22)

Now these Jews had become Christians.

How difficult it was for them to change their eating habits from being Jews to liberated Christians.

Paul knows that all foods are clean.

However, for those who think the food is unclean, it is unclean.

The other parallel to 1 Corinthians 8-10 is found at this point also.

What another person believes is just as important as what you believe.

If a person sees the food as unclean, they should not engage in eating that food.

One can easily imagine the Jewish Christian knowing that the food is okay to eat, but the conscience is so strong that it will not allow that Jewish Christian to eat that meat.

Rather than instructing the strong to teach the weak the truth so that they are no longer weak, Apostle Paul is calling upon the strong to stop, to empathize, to come to a place where they try to understand where the weak are coming from.

The strong need to understand that the conscience is involved.

It is not simple for them to change regarding foods.

It is not so simple a thing for individuals to “dismantle” their belief systems.

It took them a lifetime to arrive at that place of practice and understanding.

Verse 15 capitalizes on this thought.

If your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.

You know you have a liberty, but you must have concern for your brother above all else.

We must have the determination to not put a stumbling block in the way of any person.

If we do not care what we are doing is causing a problem for another Christian, then we have a bigger problem.

The bigger problem is that we are not acting with the love that Jesus commands.

There may be things I think we should do in our worship or in our gatherings.

But I know that this could and would cause problems for other members.

Should I bully them into going along with me because “only I” have the proper understanding of the scriptures?

Absolutely not.

We may have beliefs concerning the scriptures which are different than the beliefs of others.

Should we “push” them into “seeing things my way?”

No. We are commanded to work with one another.

We are commanded by God to be more considerate, understanding about where the other person is coming from.

We need to consider that the other person may have serious convictions or a trained conscience that we do not want to “rush headlong into” and violate.

We need to acknowledge, recognize there are occasions when we need to hold back from our freedom for the sake of those whose Christian faith would be irreparably damaged by such behavior.

Paul gives us a very important thought that we must continue to keep in mind: “By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.”

How many ways to “stumble all over ourselves” to damage the faith of another?

How could we possibly live with ourselves if we ruin the faith of another?

We cannot and must not use our liberties to be a hindrance to another Christian.

Romans 14:13-14The Message

13-14 Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me! —that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

How we do this is by first Loving God, then loving our neighbor as ourselves.

In the previous chapter Paul summarized that our duty was to love and act in love toward one another (Romans 13:10).

If we ignore the influence our own actions have on others, we are not walking in love. So, we must continue towards the freedom into which we have been called while loving our God and extending grace and patience with all fellow believers.

As an incredibly wise sage once wrote some three thousand years ago:

(Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV)

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

And only God knows the end of it all ….

And in the end of it all, only God’s judgement of it all matters in the end.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14Amplified Bible

13 When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

God my Father, I ask you to conform my attitude toward others to match the redemptive grace you have for them. I want to be more patient with the failures of others, just as you are patient with mine. Forgive me for not being more of an encouragement to those who are weak and struggling and open my eyes to the ways I can be a blessing to them. Forgive me for those times when I have been a hindrance to others and pray, open my heart to share your blessings with them. Please use me to be an instrument of grace. In my Savior Jesus’ name. Amen.

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