Romans Chapter 14 – Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

When we truly love someone, we seek to understand their heart, empathise with them, and feel what they feel. 

We who love God are called to know His heart.

God’s heart is for humanity, having so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to save them (John 3:16).

But even more so, God’s heart is for His beloved people, the holy ones whom He has chosen and redeemed (Colossians 3:12). 

One of the things that constitute loving our Lord is loving His people, and ensuring they do not stumble. This is one of the key ideas of Romans 14.

The chapter encourages us not to judge or look down on our brethren who are weak in faith. In its context, “weak in faith” refers to a person whose conscience would rebuke them if they didn’t abide by certain rules and thought they weren’t making God happy (see 1 Corinthians 8:9-12). 

During the time that Paul wrote this, there were believers who abstained from certain foods or observed certain days, thinking that doing so would please God (Romans 14:6).

By extension, their consciences were pricked when they did not abide by these standards, as we see from the word “unclean” in this verse:

“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.” (Romans 14:14)

In our society today, this could be believers abstaining from eating meat, choosing not to watch movies to keep themselves sanctified from worldly influences, or even determining to fast on certain days. Some may also believe that they should only consider a future spouse recommended to them by the church’s Marriage Facilitators. 

Our instinctive reactions to someone who holds different standards from us may be that of shock or judgment. 

“Huh? You mean you make yourself do that?” 

While such a response may be natural, Romans 14:1 reminds us to do what is counterintuitive and welcome the weak.

This means not to despise this individual (Romans 14:3), and not to cause him or her to stumble over these matters (Romans 14:13).  

In fact, from 1 Corinthians 8, we can see that welcoming someone who is weak includes being sensitive to his conscience. For instance, if we are around believers who do not eat meat, we should be considerate, not compelling them to eat meat or make condescending remarks about their beliefs. 

God does not wish for us to despise or judge our brethren because it divides the body of Christ. And so, Romans 14:1 teaches us to stay away from quarrelling over opinions.

It’s important to note that these are not rules strictly etched in the Bible, unlike the Ten Commandments or the teachings of salvation. Instead, these are people’s individual standards of practicing their faiths.

In our opinionated society, it may be challenging to for us to meekly accept the perspectives of another. For some of us, it’s even a default practice to stand up for our opinions and immediately “correct” someone we think is wrong. 

However, these believers who may not practise their faith in the same exact manner like ours answer to God, not you and me. 

“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4) 

If we make our brethren grieved by what we eat, we are no longer walking in love (Romans 14:15). And God has called us to love both God and our neighbor too (Mark 12:29-31). 

At the end of the day, “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)

There are things that have little relevance to our relationship with God, such as our dietary choices, and then there are spiritual qualities that God delights in—what truly matters. 

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