Anything that does not proceed from faith is sin

In Romans 14, we come across the Apostle Paul addressing several open handed issues within the Christian faith and how we should interact with them as mature believers - how to bear with one another in love.

There seem to be divisions and differences of opinion among followers of Jesus concerning what is and is not acceptable to eat and drink as well as what day is most fitting for worshiping God.  Paul enters into this conversation with a word from the Lord and a surprisingly non-legalistic and autonomous approach to how Christians should handle such disagreements.  He instructs believers to leave the judgment of others to God, to live in a way that would not cause other believers to stumble but would instead build them up, and finally, Paul warns the church at Rome that anything that does not proceed from faith is sin. 

1. Leave the judgment of others to the Lord.  I like the way the NLT states verse 4- “Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong.” (Romans 14:4-NLT).  We all have blind spots and ultimately it is by grace alone that we can stand before God at all so as this passage says- “with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval” (v. 4b NLT). This passage seems to be pointing toward the importance of the voice of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Much of this passage seems to be pointing toward the importance of developing true convictions around what you believe rather than simply adopting the opinions of parents or others - what are YOUR convictions on this issue? Verse 5 says, “each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” To have convictions is a good thing, but to let those convictions (on open handed issues) bleed over to the insistence of all believers is not within our authority as Christians. Developing our own convictions is not about having different opinions or elevating our own view on an issue. Instead it’s about learning to listen to the Holy Spirit - this is the only way we can leave the judgment of others to the Lord. Let the Lord be the judge and inasmuch as we choose to judge others, may we remember the grace that the Lord has shown us. 
2. Christians are called to live in a way that will not cause other believers to stumble - “never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (v. 13) but will instead build them up - “let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding"(v. 19). Some of the hindrances in Rome included the days on which people chose to worship and the foods people chose to eat and the drinks people chose to drink. This principle could be applied to any number of issues, but Paul chooses here to address a couple of the things that are causing tension in the lives of the Christians in Rome.  The issues are not particularly days or food and drink; the issues are righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (v. 17).  So Christians are called to pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding (v. 19).  We live in a day where it is tempting to focus on the things that we disagree on more than the things that we agree on - and nowhere is this more true than in the church. The church should be known by what we are for - the Gospel - rather than primarily what we are against. If Christians would heed Paul’s teaching here we would save much heartache among believers and much embarrassment in the eyes of non-believers who could easily see the way many Christians handle the smallest of theological disagreements with little grace and much hostility. Instead, let us handle these differences with the grace that has been shown to us in Christ.  He was absolutely perfect in every way and yet He interacted with sinners in such a humble way - showing patience, grace, and kindness to the most sinful of people. Who are we to condemn those for whom Christ died (v. 15)?
3. Anything that does not proceed from faith is sin.  Everything is clean (v. 14), but it is wrong to make another stumble by what one eats. It sometimes violates a person’s conscience to eat or drink something or worship on a certain day even if it is not necessarily a sin to do it. Paul is not addressing things here that are clear moral commands like do not become drunk on wine.  Imagine being a Jew during Paul’s day and suddenly going against a tradition you’ve followed your entire life because you became a Christian.  It is not a biblical requirement of a Christian to worship on Sunday, so continuing to worship on the Sabbath (Saturday) would be a perfectly reasonable pathway for a Jewish Christian, however it would not be in any way better than a Christian who chooses to gather with the church on the Lord’s Day (Sunday).  Or imagine being an alcoholic for 30 years, becoming a Christian, and sobering up. Would having a drink now be a sin? Not necessarily, but it also may not be wise. Having alcohol in the presence of a former alcoholic might also be to put a stumbling block in his or her path, so abstaining from alcohol while in the presence of  a former alcoholic would be a way to serve them and bear with them in love. The list of stumbling blocks could include any number of food, drinks, activities, or lifestyle choices, however the heart of this passage is to encourage the church toward pursuing what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding (v. 19). 

Just as in being human we share far more in common with our brothers and sisters in the human race than we share differences, in the body of Christ, we share faith in a crucified, risen, and resurrected savior which is far more important than all of the issues that divide us.  Therefore, as a blood-bought people, let us proceed in faith with a good will toward one another bearing with one another in love and pursuing righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit together.  Let us be a people who set an example of grace for others that is worth emulating. Let us live lives that are compelling to a watching world, leaving the judgment of others to God, living in a way that doesn’t cause others to stumble but builds them up, and making choices that proceed from faith rather than doubt. 

May we do this for God’s glory and our good, by His grace.