S152P1 – Our saintly duty: no stumbling block
Rom. 14:20-23
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
When I first started studying the word, I was in my mid-twenties and had come from a lifestyle of doing what I wanted when I wanted and how I wanted. One of the constant discussions I had with my new group of Christian friends revolved around alcohol. I did not think it was a sin to have a drink although the Bible teaches that drunkenness is wrong. For me, my glass of wine with dinner was no different than a glass of soda or iced tea. We often agreed to disagree, but one issue brought things to a head for me. I was asked not to have a drink before those who thought that drinking was sinful, and that put me in a position of having to make a delicate decision.
Those group dinners after evening service were great, and I learned a lot from those casual discussions. At the time, I certainly felt restricted or controlled as an adult, but I see things differently now. My fellow brothers and sisters held a conviction I did not hold. For me to consider their conviction and deny myself that glass of wine before them did me no detriment. However, for me to ignore their conviction and drink in their presence could have damaged them spiritually or tempted them. Even if they did not take a sip themselves, they could have felt convicted by fellowshipping with a brother they saw committing what they thought was a sin. The decision I made was squarely a reflection of how much I cared for them.
It did not matter who was right on the issue of taking that drink. It also did not matter who was right on the issue of whether any food is unclean. What matters is how we consider our brothers and sisters who feel differently on the issue. Our responsibility is to make sure that our convictions or lack thereof do not cause them to defy their own convictions. This is not an issue of whose conviction is correct. This is an issue of how we yield when there is disagreement on a point of faith so that our brother or sister can keep a clear conscience. Father, help us to remain considerate of our brothers and sisters with different convictions that we would not cause them to stumble.