Romans 14. As we work through the end of Romans, the Apostle Paul continues writing about how followers of Jesus should relate to various groups of people. Romans 14 focuses on relationships with other Jesus followers. Remember that the church in Rome was new and quite varied in terms of its members’ backgrounds and experiences. Some members were recent converts to the Christian faith and came from a background that included idolatry, pagan practices, and immorality. Other new members came from a strict Jewish upbringing. I am sure it was quite the culture clash in the Roman church!

Paul’s instructions have one major focus – keep unity in the church by being thoughtful and respectful to other believers. This follows from the conclusion of Romans 13:10, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor” and that applies within the church as well.

Note that the issues discussed in Paul’s writing were not sinful choices but were instead gray areas where some Christians felt they had liberty and others disagreed. I am sure you can think of many gray areas today where Christians might disagree on what is correct behavior. We vary on our convictions in these gray areas because of our background, our exposure, our own struggles, our culture, God’s individual instructions to us, and so on. Honestly, we tend to have strong opinions on various gray areas and expected Christian behavior. We would do well to at least acknowledge that we have opinions – and that those areas are gray (not black and white). That would be a great starting point for our relationships with other Christians.

Romans 14 is broken into two large sections of text. The first is Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another (14:1-12). Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? (14:3-4). Paul’s reminder here is that individuals are accountable to God and so – regarding gray areas – they should live in accordance with their own convictions. It is before his own master that he stands or falls (14:4). We will all stand before the judgment seat of God… So, then each of us will give an account of himself to God (14:12).

The second is Do Not Cause Another to Stumble (14:13-23). While we might have freedom in certain gray areas of life,we must decide to never put a stumbling block or hinderance in the way of a brother… For if a brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love (14:13,15). Christians are to live in a way that brings love, support, and encouragement into the lives of others. Our personal freedoms are secondary to our thoughtfulness and concern for others. Let us pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding (14:19).

Do not, for the sake of food [for the sake of your personal freedoms] destroy the work of God (14:20). Let us be mindful of the struggles and convictions of our fellow Jesus followers and be thoughtful in how we interact with them.