"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." Romans 14:13 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul wrote these words, under the divine influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in Rome. This was part of his discussion on the strong believers helping, and not hindering, the weaker believers. At issue here was the eating of meat by one in front of one who believed the meat to be "unclean" and was a vegetarian. If one believes that eating meat is wrong, and is distressed by the eating of meat by the other, then the meat eater is causing the vegetarian to think, and maybe act, in a non-Christ-like manner. (Romans 14:15 and 14:20)
The point here goes far beyond the eating of meat, or the eating of any food. All believers are not at the same place in their Christian walk, their level of faith and their knowledge of The Word of God differs. We are not to judge one another because of that difference. We are charged to avoid even the appearance of evil or wrong doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) There are those who will become disillusioned and fall away from the faith because they saw someone they looked up to, doing that which appeared to be wrong. We are not to do, or say, anything which would cause our brother to think, speak, or act in a less than Christ-like manner. (Romans 14:21) In fact, there is a blessing in store for those of us who avoid condemning ourselves by the things which we approve of. (Romans 14:22) Do not be a stumbling block. Do not cause a believer to fall into sinful behavior. Let us endeavor to do all that we can to walk in a Christ-like manner and to let our light shine in a way to help edify one another. (Romans 14:19) Some times we should keep what we think and what we believe between ourselves and God. (Romans 14:22)
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