Do Not Destroy God's Work
Thinking about Romans 14:20.
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. (Romans 14:20)
After urging Christians to build up the church rather than tear it down, Paul reveals the true significance of what destroying their brethren over matters of opinion meant.
Will you destroy what God has built?
Paul tells the “strong” Christians in Rome not to destroy or demolish their weaker brethren for the sake of food. Yes - they had freedom in Christ to eat whatever meat they liked (Romans 14:14). But they did not need to use their freedom to destroy their weaker brethren who had an issue of conscience against eating meat.
This phrase [do not destroy the work of God] may mean either that (1) the weak Christian who returned to Judaism in order to escape the condemnation of fellow Christians was spiritually destroyed, or (2) the sacrifice of Christ to bring salvation was neutralized if the person for whom He died left the faith over food disputes. In a broader sense, “the work of God” could be understood in reference to the church in Rome, meaning that the church could be preserved only if each group fulfilled the responsibility to treat one another properly. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 513
Christians are the work of God and the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:18-20). The Lord has paid a high price for His church (Acts 20:28), and Christians are built upon Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9-11).
Both the “strong” and the “weak” were part of what the Lord had built - who are the “strong” to deconstruct and demolish what Jesus built over matters of opinion and scruple?
Respect matters of conscience.
While Paul taught that Christians had freedom in Christ to eat whatever meat they wanted (Romans 14:14).
However, some still viewed it as “evil” in their own minds. While they had the freedom in Christ to eat certain meats, it would have violated their conscience to do so. The “strong” needed to be mindful of their brethren’s scruples.
If the “strong” brother presses his liberty and eats that which has been declared “clean” by God (Acts 10:15) while offending (causing his brother to fall), then exercising his “liberty” becomes “evil.” - Wacaster, Studies in Romans, 488
There are a couple of principles that shine through in Romans 14.
One is to treat others the way we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). At times we will need to make sacrifices and “go out of our way” to do something for our brethren. We do this because we love them, and we love our Lord who gave us this example.
The other principle that we should consider is the value of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus has shed His precious for us - for all of us (1 Peter 1:18-19). Who are we to be selfish and insist on “our way” when Jesus has sacrificed so much for us (Philippians 2:5-8)?
