Stumble

When the church first began, there were numerous conflicts surrounding amoral activities. For example, there was a conflict about whether or not Jesus followers should eat certain foods. According to the laws God had given the people of Israel, these foods were forbidden; but Jesus taught that all food was acceptable (check out Mark 7:1-23). Similar conflicts concerning amoral activities among Jesus followers still exist. In today’s passage, Paul talks about how we should handle these situations.


Romans 14
10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
11 For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’”
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.
15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.
16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.
17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.
19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.
21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.


Stumble. One of the most important “steps” a Jesus follower takes in their journey is the transition from self-centered to others-focused. This issue offers us an opportunity to work on that step. There is a lot of freedom in God’s grace ... a lot of things that we have the “right” to do while on our journey; but part of the process of maturing as a Jesus follower is knowing when my right interferes with my responsibility. It is our responsibility to help other Jesus followers on their journey and you never know when exercising your right might cause another follower to stumble.