Do Not Be A Stumbling Block
The Tension of Christian Liberty and Corporate Unity
In the life of the Christian community, a recurring tension exists between the pursuit of personal holiness and the exercise of individual liberty. As a people committed to the authority of the Scriptures, believers hold firmly to the clear commands of God. However, the Bible does not explicitly address every nuance of modern life. There exists a category of “open-handed” issues—matters that are amoral or extra-biblical—where the text allows for interpretive differences. The challenge for the church is to navigate these gray areas without compromising the essential unity found in the gospel. While the world often attempts to turn black-and-white moral issues into shades of gray, the religious impulse often attempts the opposite: transforming matters of liberty into rigid legalistic requirements.
Romans 14:1 (NASB) Now accept the one who is weak in faith, [but] not for [the purpose of] passing judgment on his opinions.
Defining the Weak and the Strong
In the early Roman church, these tensions manifested primarily through disagreements over dietary restrictions and the observance of holy days. The Apostle Paul identifies two distinct groups within the congregation: those “weak in faith” and those “strong in faith.” The person weak in faith is one who, despite embracing the gospel, does not feel the freedom to partake in certain activities, fearing that such participation might lead to sin or a violated conscience. Conversely, the strong in faith possess a sense of latitude, believing they can participate in these amoral activities without spiritual compromise.
It is vital to note that Paul neither commends nor condemns either group for their specific convictions. Instead, he emphasizes that both the weak and the strong are seeking to honor the Lord through their choices. The danger lies not in the conviction itself, but in the posture one adopts toward those with differing views. The weak are prone to judging the strong as compromisers, while the strong are prone to regarding the weak with contempt as legalists.
Romans 14:12-13 (NASB) So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this– not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
The Function and Frailty of the Conscience
The root of these disagreements often lies in the human conscience. The conscience serves as an internal warning system, but it is not synonymous with the Holy Spirit. While the conscience can be informed by Scripture, it is also heavily shaped by family of origin, personal experience, and cultural upbringing. Because the conscience is fickle and inconsistent, a person’s convictions may shift over time. An activity that once felt like a violation of faith may later be viewed with freedom, or vice versa.
Because the conscience is so central to a person’s walk with God, Paul argues that to violate one’s conscience is a serious matter. Even if an act is not inherently sinful, it becomes sin for the person who believes it to be wrong, as they are acting apart from faith. Therefore, the goal of the Christian life is not to force uniformity of conscience, but to foster an environment where each person can be fully convinced in their own mind before God.
Romans 14:23 (NASB) But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [his eating is] not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
The Priority of Love Over Liberty
While both groups have responsibilities, a higher calling is placed upon those who consider themselves strong in faith. Christian maturity is not measured by how much freedom one can exercise, but by how much freedom one is willing to sacrifice for the sake of a brother or sister. The exercise of liberty must always be governed by the law of love. If a person’s use of freedom causes another to stumble or causes distress to their faith, that freedom has become a weapon rather than a blessing.
The highest expression of strength is not the defense of one’s rights, but the voluntary deferral to the needs of the weak. This is a direct reflection of the gospel itself. Just as Christ did not live to please Himself but took on the burdens of others, believers are called to regard others as more important than themselves. The church is a covenant family, a body where the health of the whole is more significant than the preferences of the individual.
Romans 15:1-3 (NASB) Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not [just] please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.’
Countering the Culture of Expressive Individualism
This biblical call to self-sacrifice stands in stark contrast to the modern philosophy of “expressive individualism.” In contemporary culture, identity is often viewed as something found exclusively within the self, and the chief goal of life is to express that internal identity to the world. This mindset demands that others affirm one’s self-defined truth, viewing any disagreement as a personal assault.
However, the Christian identity is not self-defined; it is hidden with Christ. For the believer, the “true self” is found in the person and work of Jesus. Consequently, the call to unity is not a call to affirm every individual opinion, but a call to strive together for the sake of the gospel. Unity is achieved when believers stop looking at the issues that divide them and start looking at the Christ who unites them.
Philippians 2:1-4 (NASB) Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not [merely] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Conclusion: Pursuing a Higher Kingdom
Ultimately, the kingdom of God is not defined by external regulations or personal liberties regarding food, drink, or secondary traditions. It is defined by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. When a congregation prioritizes these spiritual realities over “open-handed” disputes, it puts the power of the gospel on display to a watching world.
The path to such unity requires constant prayer, a deep immersion in the Word, and a willingness to engage in the messy process of trial and error within a community. It demands that weapons be laid down on matters of secondary importance so that the church may contend for the faith with one heart. By pursuing the things that make for peace and the building up of one another, the body of Christ fulfills its calling to be a place where diverse people dwell together in a harmony that only the gospel can produce.
Romans 14:17-19 (NASB) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this [way] serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.