Nothing Is Unclean in Itself

In one paragraph

This message continued a study of Romans 14, picking up where the previous week left off. Pastor Carl walked the congregation through what it looks like, in practical and personal terms, to stop judging one another over disputable matters and to start living in a way that does not cause a fellow believer to stumble. The communion service concluded the morning. Romans 14:13 opens with the word...

Read together

1. Romans 14:1-12 examined the previous week on disputable matters, ending with each person giving account of himself to God
2. Romans 14:12 quoted directly: each one of us will give an account of himself to God
3. Romans 14:13 quoted on not judging one another and not putting an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother's way
4. Romans 14:14 quoted on being convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but to him who thinks anything unclean, to him it is unclean
5. Romans 14:15 quoted on not destroying with your food him for whom Christ died, and no longer walking according to love
6. Romans 14:16 quoted on not letting what is a good thing for you be spoken of as evil
7. Romans 14:17 quoted that the kingdom of God is not eating or drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
8. Romans 14:18 quoted that he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men
9. Romans 14:19 used as benediction: pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another
10. Leviticus 19 quoted on not cursing a deaf man and not placing a stumbling block before the blind, because you shall revere your God

Talk about it

1. The pastor talked about assuming that other Christians are doing whatever they do out of devoted service to Christ, even when you disagree with their choices. How hard is that to actually do, and where do you find it breaks down for you?
2. The sermon described the medium itself as neutral, whether that is food, music, radio, print, or social media, and said the heart is the real issue. Do you agree with that? Where does that idea get complicated?
3. The pastor told the story of his church voting on whether to remove a deacon over his gas station selling beer, and he said he walked out rather than cast a vote. What do you think about how he handled that, and what would you have done?
4. Romans 14 says the kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Can you think of a time when your church, your family, or you personally treated a non-sin issue as if it were the kingdom itself?
5. The pastor said that from either extreme, the person in the middle looks wishy-washy, and he said he was willing to take that criticism. When does holding a middle position reflect genuine love for the body, and when might it just be avoiding a hard call?