Day 47

Romans 14-16

As I was thinking about today's passage, it reminded me of growing up in rural Pennsylvania. The times dictated for stores to be closed on Sundays. The general understanding by some people was that it was wrong to shop on the Lord's Day. One day the stores began to open their doors on Sundays and I remember people being upset over it. Then I can remember going to McDonald's after church. Things seemed to change over time. Now, we really don't think twice as we plan shopping trips on Sunday afternoons or stop to pick up something for lunch on the way home from church. People change but God's word never changes. We view Scripture in light of the times we are living in. I hear stories of when certain races of people were discriminated against by pastors and other leaders in the church based on Scripture. The dress expectations has changed in many churches.

There are many different things that can distract us and divide us from the things that really matter. Paul wrote this in Romans 14:19-23, "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 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. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

The result of this passage is for people to be built up and edify one another. With the things that we do, we must never cause another person to stumble in their faith. This seems to be very difficult. I am still thinking through this one. I never want to be the one that causes another Christian to fail. If someone would look at my life, imatate me, and then fail, I would be very sorry. Nor, do I want to place restrictions on people's lives as if they are in Scripture when they are just my own beliefs. There was a time when I first became a Christian that I thought all secular and some Christian music was bad. I tried passing that idea on as Scriptural. While I don't want to cause other Christians to stumble, I never want to pass my own preferences as Scriptural command.