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.
Check Your Heart
I believe that what Paul is talking about in this passage is a matter of the heart. In a sense, he’s suggesting that we need to have an attitude check. Are you willing to give up something just to help out another? Or do you always respond by saying something like, “Look, if you don’t like that I do that thing, then don’t hang around with me. I have a right to do it, and don’t believe it’s an issue, so deal with it on your own.”
Now, we probably don’t use those words, but I’ve heard many people respond that way when someone else struggles with a certain behaviour. But are we truly living in community with others when we respond like that? I think we do need to check our heart and consider just how vital that behaviour is.
But does that mean we should never do anything that bothers someone else? Of course not. If we tried to follow that kind of principle, we’d never do anything at all. Let’s face it, no matter what you do, someone will be bothered by it. I can remember the first article that was written in a local newspaper about Bikers’ Church. A few days later, there were a couple of letters to the editor. One in particular when on about how horrified the person was at the idea of a church for bikers. Bikers’ Church wouldn’t exist if we were worried about offending some religious person.
Having said that, we still need to check our heart – our attitude – when we feel that we must continue something even when it bothers other people. Is our heart pure before God? Are we doing whatever the behaviour is because we feel strongly that the Lord is directing us, or are we pushing to continue it just to drive home a point to someone who is offended?
It’s a question we must ask as a church and as individuals.
My prayer: Lord, I recognize that there are times when you will call us to do things that upset others. I know that your word makes it clear that we should chase after your approval rather than the approval of man. And yet, I also know that you call us to do so with a hear that is pure before you. Forgive me for the times when I just want to prove a point to someone. And help me to always demonstrate love when I must tell someone that I cannot stop what they don’t like. Amen.”
Until tomorrow.
