Don’t throw stumbling blocks, they land at your feet

Don’t throw stumbling blocks, they land at your feet

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13

Paul spends most of this chapter discussing issues on secondary matters in the scripture.  What food is clean or unclean?  Which day is holy and which is not?  How do you live out these conviction without thinking you are “right” and they are “wrong”?

The key to this section found in verse 13, “stop passing judgment”.  Judging sets a barrier that excludes ‘grace’ from the conversation.  Judging blinds the eyes to unconditional love.  Judging exalts a position to one who has no authority to hold that position.  Appealing to the letter of the law as if you were the expert, does not accomplish the heart of the gospel to which all equally in need.

Again these are secondary issues and not the heart of the gospel about salvation.  The opposite of judging is a “preferring spirit”.  There would be little to no debating about how your viewpoint is “more correct”.  There would be NO gossip about the other person.  There would be a thankfulness for the person you disagree with, knowing that God’s diversity is good for the body of Christ.  Could you cheer on the person that you disagree with?  Would they think that you are such a trusted friend that you “would have their back”?  If not, are you willing for God to search your heart to see if you have the right heart attitude toward that person you disagree with?

Church congregations would operate so differently if we lived this principle of “stop passing judgment on one another.”  Repent and then listen to your words.  Stay in touch with attitudes that are unbecoming, caustic, or arrogant.  These are signs that you may be judgmental.

Father, forgive us for judging so quickly.  Help us to see every place that we are arrogant toward our brother or sister in Christ.  Help us to firm our convictions without imposing them on another person.  Thank you that you want us to work in harmony with one another.  In Jesus Name, Amen.