14:1-9 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
14:1-9 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
The point Paul makes here is that Christians are not to impose their personal convictions concerning non-essential scruples upon each other.
The strong are not to be contemptuous of the weak for their lack of freedom, and the weak are not to condemn the strong for what they believe is a misuse of freedom. Whoever judges another puts themselves above God and is in grave danger of forfeiting their salvation (CP Isa 33:22; Mt 7:1-5; Jas 4:11-12).
Only Jesus has the authority to judge, and each of us is personally responsible to Him for what we allow ourselves to do aside from what is forbidden to all. We must all follow the dictates of our own conscience in matters not specifically commanded or forbidden in scripture (CP Ro 2:14-16; 1Cor 4:3-5; 2Cor 1:12; 1Jn 3:20-21).
No one will fall who conscientiously follows Christ in accordance with the light they have received. God is able to make them stand.
In Ro 14:13-21 Paul especially admonishes strong Christians not to become embroiled in arguments with weak Christians over their personal convictions, but to stop doing anything that could cause them to stumble and fall away. This applies not only to food and drink, but anything at all that could be a stumbling block to them (CP V13-21; 1Cor 8:4-13; 9:19-23; 10:19-33; Ga 5:13).
These scriptures all teach that mature Christians demonstrate their love for those weaker in the faith by not participating in the things their faith allows, but which the weaker Christians faith does not, and which would cause them to sin if they participated (CP Ro 14:23).
See also comments on Mt 7:1-5; Ro 14:22-23; 1Cor 8:1-13; Ga 5:13; Php 2:5-8 and Jas 4:11-12 and author's study How Christians are to Love One Another in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith.
None of this is to be construed as moral indifference however. Christians are obliged to guard the moral purity and doctrinal integrity of the church (CP Mt 18:15-17; 1Cor 5:1-8; Col 1:28; Tit 2:11-15; 3:10-11; 2Jn 7-11). See also comments on 1Cor 5:8; Tit 3:10; 2Jn 1:9-11.