13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Love Of The Lord – Romans 14:13-23 
Do Judge This 13-23
Paul gives a quick summary of the previous point and paragraph. Romans 14:13 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Judge this, Paul says, don’t be or place stumbling blocks that would cause others to fall in their relationship with the Lord and with you.
Instead of judging our sibling in the Savior, we need to be judging the stumbling blocks in ourselves. A stumbling block is something that causes a fall or an offence.
It means that a church member acts in such a way, speaks in such a way or “Dear Lord forgive us” gossips in a manner that brings a fellow believer to a place where they are hurt or offended and their fellowship with me and their walk with the Lord God is hindered. Just like stretching a tripwire in the aisle when someone was coming forward at the invitation.
Paul gives the church at Rome instructions in understanding how to deal with differing convictions.
First, Understand the truth of freedom and the reality of convictions.
Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
This is a strong statement by the apostle, I know and am persuaded, fully convinced that in these areas of personal convictions, it is not an issue of right or wrong, but the reality of strong personal convictions. If you don’t understand then you will be a stumbling block, an offence to the work of God. What they were so adamant about making others do or don’t do becomes the real sin.
Second, Paul points out we should understand our priorities vs. 15-20
Romans 14:15-20 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. (in the love of the Lord) Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
What is more important, Paul is asking the believers at Rome, the kind of food you will or won’t eat or your fellowship with the family of God? Don't let your good, your liberty and freedom in Christ, be made evil. The kingdom of God is not food and drink, but spiritual. Worshiping and serving God in all that is done or not done is acceptable to God and men. Your priority as a child of God, a part of the family of God and the body of Christ in the church must be for peace and edifying your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Paul sums up the weak brother principle vs. 21-23
Romans 14:21-23 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
For meat (the gray area of convictions) don't destroy the work of God. All things (these areas of liberty) are pure, but not if you practice them and wind up offend and hurting those you should be loving in Christ.
The best practice is to put aside our liberty for the sake of our weak brother's conscience. Do you have faith in your freedom, then have it before God, Rejoice in your liberty. But remember if there is doubt (no faith) of the practice then there is judgment (of self), because whatever is not of faith is sin.
Ready, Set, Stop (Being Critical)
I can’t emphasize enough how important the weak brother principle is to the life of a church. I think that only gossip is more deadly to a local church than a wrong understanding of convictions and tolerance. Let me just emphasize a couple of things as we move on.
First when it comes to the weak brother principle, you are always the strong brother or sister. The Holy Spirit is talking to you as the strong sibling not to you someone else who is carrying the wrong translation or wearing the wrong apparel to church. Lord help you if you are upset with someone who wears boots to church in Texas or anywhere in the southwest for that matter.
What this means is you, as the stronger in faith and wisdom in this equation can’t walk up to someone and say, “Your beard offends me and so according to Romans 14 you need to shave it off.” Or any other form of that address which is exactly the opposite of what Paul was saying. You are the strong brother not the weak, you can’t use Romans 14 to force your convictions on someone else or make them give up their convictions. Stronger here means your strength is in understanding and then tolerating the difference which we all have in our convictions. “Do you have faith in your convictions? Have it to yourself before God. You’ll be happy” The key phrase is “have it to yourself before God.”
Don’t brag about your Christmas Tree when you know your brother or Sister in Christ doesn’t believe they should be put up. Don’t make snide remarks about how your wife or daughters honor the Lord by wearing dresses to church when a fellow sister in the church wears their nicest pant suit. (Do women even wear pantsuits anymore? I have no idea. In this day and age, I’m just glad they’re wearing something.)
Don’t let your good things in the Lord, your freedom, the liberty of your convictions, be turned into evil things because you couldn’t figure out how to handle the differences of those convictions.
Illustration
The Easter Sunday short shorts. LeeOra and I once ran a bus route for our Sunday School at Faith Temple Baptist in Farmers Branch. We picked up between 10 and 20 kids on Sundays. Most of the kids were just being babysat, their parents were hungover, still asleep and really just wanting a couple of hours to stay in bed. So we got kids who were not at all traditional church kids, from traditional church families. One Easter Sunday I remember picking up some children and because it was Easter most of them were more dressed up as usual. House after house we would pull up, one of us would run up and knock on the door and if everyone was awake, the kids would come out ready for church. On this Sunday one little girl came out dressed in a brand new outfit for Easter Sunday. She was only about 8 or so and her Mom had bought her a jumper I guess you’d call it that it had straps that went over a blouse but oh my goodness! They were shorts. I mean they were shorts. Shorts in church on Easter Sunday! Did I tell you they were shorts? Cause they were definitely shorts.
What do I do as the bus Capitan? Do you turn her back and tell her, you’ can’t wear shorts to church! Especially, on Easter Sunday morning! That was my first thought. Then I saw the look of pride on her sweet 8-year-old face. Her mom had bought her this brand new outfit for Easter Sunday!
You know what I said, “Wow, you look wonderful all dressed up for Easter. Is that a outfit? I’m so glad you wore it to Sunday School.” Think of the consequences if I had turned her away. Now think of those who you may not see in church anymore and ask yourself did I love them in the Lord or did I condemn them by my convictions?
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