Romans 14:19-23 – Peace and Mutual Upbuilding

Topic: Peace and Mutual Upbuilding

Reading: Romans 14:19-23

19 Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for any one to make others fall by what he eats; 21 it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God; happy is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves. 23 But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats, because he does not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Introduction and Overview

When it comes to walking in love and fulfilling the requirements of the great commandment to love one another, this is the core message. In all of our relationships we are called to pursue peace and mutual upbuilding. When we deal with others on a day to day basis it should be to upbuild them, to lift them up, and to encourage them.

This is not just about what we say, but in many ways what we do is more important. We can say we are pursuing peace and mutual upbuilding, but it is our actions that prove our stated claims. People watch others to see if they are what they claim to be. Even the scripture says in Matthew 7:15-20 that, “You will know them by their fruits.” The fruits of any person is the output of the inputs within them. If they are filled with hate, selfishness, guile, envy, jealousy, greed, and the like, the fruits of what they do will reflect these things. And they will be labelled as hypocrites if they then claim to be working for peace and mutual upbuilding, especially as such attitudes only tear down.

But the person who seeks to be filled with love, joy, charity, humility, patience, kindness, and all the fruits of the Spirit, will reflect these things in their relationships. They will seek what is best for others and naturally pursue the things that make for peace and mutual upbuilding.

When we lift others up through what we do, we are lifted as well. As we seek for peace and mutual upbuilding, we too receive peace and upbuilding as well. As we walk in love towards others, we receive that same love in return. And even if we don’t, we receive the blessings of God because we have acted and behaved in a godly manner to try to bring about peace and mutual upbuilding. The point of the commandment to love one another is this. When we seek peace and mutual upbuilding we are following the requirements of the commandment to love one another.

Key points from reading:

1. Seek peace and mutual upbuilding in all of our relationships and dealings with people around us.
2. Identify what the other person believes and try to behave in a manner that is consistent with their level of faith, but without compromising your own faith.
3. Walk in harmony and empathy with others and retain the faith you have between yourself and God.

Discussion:

1. Scripture: Romans 14:19
   • This verse describes the point of this whole message. “Let us pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding”
   • If we break this message down, the message is directed at “us.” It doesn’t say it’s up to others to do this, but it is up to “us” to pursue these things. It is our responsibility and purpose to find the path that leads to peace with others so that we can be mutually built up.
   • The second thing we see in this verse is that to get to this place of peace and mutual upbuilding, we must “pursue” it. To pursue something is to relentlessly chase after it, seeking to take hold of it. Think about how runners in a race chase after one another until they overtake them as they pursue the prize. They train and condition themselves, and then are relentless in their work to achieve the goal. In the same way we need to be relentless as we pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding.
   • This pursuit is for the purpose of finding peace. That is, peace within ourselves and peace in our dealings with others. We are pursuing a joint peace between each of us, as well as the inner peace of Christ Jesus. The important thing to note in this is that this peace doesn’t just happen. It has to be pursued. It takes energy and effort to find this peace. We have to reject our own negative emotions as they well up because they take away our peace. We have to recognise that others may do or say things that will take away our peace, and learn how to overlook or deal with those things while retaining our own peace.
   • Finally, we are seeking a shared encouragement as we seek mutual upbuilding. As we work and seek the upbuilding of the other person, we are built up ourselves. Neither we nor they are built up at the cost of the other persons feelings or actions. This is a mutual upbuilding and so both parties are built together to be encouraged.
2. Scripture: Romans 14:20-21
   • Throughout this chapter of Romans, Paul has been using the examples of eating clean or unclean foods. For example, under the Mosaic law, meat from animals that chew the cud and part the hoof are clan meats. Thus, lamb, beef, and goat meat were considered clean, while pig, camel, and horse flesh was not to be eaten.
   • If we happen to be in the company of someone who believes these things to be true, then we should follow their example. If you are with a Jew, don’t eat bacon. And even those who have strange beliefs that are not founded in scripture should be respected. For example, don’t eat any meat in the presence of a vegetarian or vegan as you will offend them. And if we offend them, how does that make for peace and mutual upbuilding?
   • Just being sensitive to the customs and beliefs of those we are around will go a long way towards pursuing peace and mutual upbuilding. You may recognise well enough that to eat meats is fine. Even the eating of pork and bacon is acceptable as we also see in these words that, “Everything is indeed clean.” But this proclamation is also followed by the instruction that, “…it is wrong for any one to make others fall by what he eats.” Our responsibility in the pursuit of what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding is to build others up, not cause them to fall.
   • As an example of how this might apply in your day to day life. Consider the beliefs of Roman Catholics. They believe that you should not eat red meats on Good Friday. In fact they believe you should not eat meat on any Friday, but especially on Good Friday, which is why they typically eat fish on Fridays. But as a non-Catholic, would it be right for me to roll into a group of Roman Catholics on Good Friday scoffing down a meat pie? I mean, I know for a fact that there is nothing in the scriptures about not eating meat on any day of the week or year, but they don’t know this. The Roman Catholic belief is just a tradition of men, not a commandment of God. Yet if I ignore their tradition, which is not opposed to what I believe, and eat a meat pie in their presence, then I am upsetting their faith. How could I then work towards peace and mutual upbuilding? Instead I’d be more likely to end up with anger, hostility, and rejection.
   • This is why Paul says that it is right not to do anything that is likely to make others stumble. We are trying to find peace and mutual upbuilding, not a head to head hostility. Follow the lead of those with whom you are with. Do as they do, but always remaining true to the faith you have in Christ. You should not do anything that compromises or jeopardises your own faith. If the situation will not do that, then find the path of peace. But if they are seeking to do something that is wrong, simply abstain or walk away. And if they ask why you do not participate, explain why in gentle and peaceful terms.
3. Scripture: Romans 14:22
   • This verse builds on the last showing that we need to consider our own faith as we seek for peace and mutual upbuilding. We do not compromise our faith in the pursuit of peace and mutual upbuilding.
   • Our ultimate responsibility is to God. For that reason we have to ensure we are at peace with God and doing what is pleasing to Him. To compromise our faith at the expense of doing something that opposes the will and word of God would be wrong. When we are at peace with God, then we can pursue peace with others. If we were to do something that we would condemn ourselves over later, then we should not do it. As the scripture says, “…happy is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves.”
   • Do seek for mutual encouragement, peace, and upbuilding with others, but not at the expense of your faith and relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Keep yourself unstained from what is evil and always seek the good in everything.
4. Scripture: Romans 14:23
   • This verse tells us and warns us about what happens when we do compromise our faith. Let us presume that we hold the belief that you should not eat unclean meats, such as pork or bacon. If we happen to be in a place where we do eat bacon, then we will likely condemn ourselves later. Our doubts will cause us to walk in self-condemnation, and that is to be avoided. Just because we are with others that eat bacon does not mean that we should do it if we believe we should not.
   • Ultimately, we all have to hold fast to the things we believe. In the case of eating bacon, it will neither win us approval or condemnation before God. Eating bacon, in and of itself, is neither a good thing or a bad thing. But anyone who believes it is wrong will condemn themselves if they do eat bacon.
   • This principle applies in many situations and it can help guide us in how we relate to other people. Many things and situations are basically neutral, like eating bacon. But when such an action is overlaid with the culture, customs, and beliefs of an individual, it is then that the eating of bacon takes on a positive or negative aspect. And it is the same with drinking alcohol and many other things.
   • The key to all of this is to speak and act in accordance with what you believe. If you believe it is wrong to eat or drink certain things, then don’t do it. But if such things are not an issue from a faith perspective, then do that, but only if it will not negatively impact someone else.
   • So, learn to balance the line between keeping true to your faith with God while you walk in love and harmony with those around you. If we hold fast to our faith in God,doing what we believe to be right in His eyes, while walking in harmony with others we will do well.

Prayer Points

1. Pray for the Lord to help you to walk the line between holding fast your faith while seeking for peace and mutual upbuilding with others. Seek to never put a stumbling block in the path of others but instead encourage and help them to find the path of peace.
2. Pray also for the insight to know what is right in every situation and your relationships with people. Follow their lead, but always retaining and not compromising your faith.