20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
***
V. 19 - “Pursue the things which make for peace” - If you didn’t already know it, then these verses will help you see that Christianity is personal (your salvation), public (sharing your faith with others), and corporate (living with other believers). Jesus came to seek and save the lost. (Luk 19:10) Jesus brought abundant life (John 10:10). Jesus brings peace with God, and the peace of God to the believer (Phil 4:7; Rom 5:1).
One of our pastors has said that Christianity is not for hermits, but for living in community with others. He is not saying hermits cannot be saved, but that Christian living is best when shared with others. Living at peace with others essentially involves not insisting on getting your own way. I don’t see this acted out like the ‘Chip & Dale’ cartoon (“You before me.” “No, you before me.” “No, I insist.” “No...” On and on.)
We are a fractious people, fighting for our ‘rights’ and demanding from others. We are on the outlook for the ways people are trying to pull one over on us. As believers, our attention should be running counter to that frame of mind. Live at peace with each other (Mk 9:50; 2 Cor 13:11). Jesus came that we might have peace. (Jn 14:27, 16:33) Live at peace with each other. (Rom 12:18; 1 Cor 14:33; Col 3:15; 1 Thes 5:13; Heb 12:14)
“building up of one another” - A large part of living in peace is encouraging and helping each other live our Christian lives. As we live in a secular world that is hostile to Christ, the church, and other believers can help us cope. Encouraging and building up each other is important. (See: Col 4:8; 1Thes 3:2, 4:1, 5:11, 14; Heb 3:13; 1 Cor 1:10, 4:16.)
V. 20 - “Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food” - This does not mean you, or a fellow believer, will lose salvation over eating certain foods. Whether foods forbidden by a previous covenant, or a different religion, or by tradition - these will not condemn you. Jesus came that we might have peace! Peace with God; peace with each other. Causing someone to be uncomfortable, or to feel guilty is robbing them of that peace. Destroying another’s peace is not be being thoughtful or considerate.
“they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense” - This is a “living with others” part of being a Christian. Eating or drinking when you are with another person that causes that person to question his faith in Christ, or leads that person into sin, is evil. That is a strong message! I don’t know how this applies if what you do is inadvertent - i.e., you don’t know the other is struggling in this area. If, however, you know your fellow believer is adversely effected by your activity and you do it anyway, you have just shown a callous disregard for their well-being.
V. 21 - “It is good not... to do anything by which your brother stumbles.” - Do not be confused, this is not just about what you eat. These next three verses (21-23) seem to go two directions: (1) causing someone to falter in their faith by your eating, or (2) causing someone to falter in their faith be being led to eat what they believe is wrong. Do not do anything that will lead another believer to question their faith and commitment to Christ. (See: 1 Cor 8:7-13)
V. 22 - “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God.” - The relationship you have with Jesus is very personal. I cannot live out your faith for you, nor you for me. Do not take off on the tangent of relativity - that is, ‘You have your truth. I have my truth.” There is only one way to be in the Lamb’s Book of Life (be saved, with eternal life in the presence of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) - believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, confess and commit to Him.
How you live out your faith, or as Paul says in Philippians, “work out your faith” (Phil 2:12), is between you, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. For example: Does drinking beer bring conviction of sin in your heart and mind? Then, don’t drink beer. The same could be said for any alcohol beverage. Does eating bacon bring conviction of sin? Don’t eat bacon.
Doing things that causes disquiet in your heart, soul, mind, or spirit are things that should not be done! That uneasiness you sense is the Holy Spirit prodding you. Let me be clear, there are things we might do that are sinful - no grey, just black and white. (Start with: No other gods but God, honor father and mother, lying, stealing, adultery, coveting, murder, blaspheming God - see Deut 5:7-21.) These are wrong whether Jewish or Christian. Paul is not warning us against these things - it is a given that these are sin.
“Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” - This is the positive outlook about living out your faith. If you can drink a beer without shame or guilt, then it is not a sin to you. Don’t talk yourself into doing something about which you feel uncomfortable. That discomfort is the Holy Spirit guiding you to peace with God and yourself.
If you have to argue with yourself, convince yourself that it’s OK - it probably is NOT OK for you. If you have, for all your life, have thought drinking alcohol is bad, violating that conviction is causing sin, guilt, and shame in you. On the other hand - Be careful: we can ‘sear’ our conscience with compromise and rationalization to the point our conscience no longer gives warning. Therefore, we must always listen to the urging of the Holy Spirit!
V. 23 - “he who doubts is condemned...” - If you are not sure you should be doing this (whatever the ‘this’ is), the unease is from the Holy Spirit. God is letting you know. Listen to Him. Seldom does God step up with a bullhorn, “Hey! You! Stop what you are doing!” More often it is a quiet whisper, “You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, ‘This is the correct way, walk in it,’ whether you are heading to the right or the left.” (Isa 30:21)
“whatever is not from faith is sin.“ - See: Jam 2:26, 4:17. Whatever we do should be done for God’s glory (1 Cor 10:25-31).
***
No comments:
Post a Comment