“Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” -Romans 14:20–21
In true Pauline fashion, the Apostle summarizes what he has been arguing. He makes a generic declaration that all things—diets and days—are clean; but what is not clean is to make another stumble by our liberty and destroy the work of God. Just as it is good to eat or drink freely; it is also equally good to keep one’s brother from stumbling. We have liberty and privilege to do both. And if these two goods happen to cross ways, then we should choose our brother’s welfare over food and drink.
One question that might raise a concern for Paul’s audience is how a mere mortal could “destroy the work of God.” Jesus explained to his disciples that in this life “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!” (Luke 17:1).
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