Don't Flaunt Your Faith

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. ²¹ It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.^{[c] 22}The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. ²³But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.<sup>[  Rmoan 14

Here I am again,  using you to make sense of what I am reading.  My mom is much better at working out things God is teaching her.  We have had some discussion at our church,  and in past  churches,  about drinking and other things (movies,  food, books, games) and if these are allowable to a Christian.  I really feel this passage sums it up.  It begins by referring to food,  but then in vs 21 says wine or anything.  Don't you think a good summary of vs 22 is "Don't flaunt your faith!" ?  

The whole gist of this passage is encouraging our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  Anytime I see the words "Blessed is the man...",   I want that blessing.  In this case,  scripture is saying blessed is the one who is secure in what he does (eats, drinks, watches, plays)  BECAUSE he has brought it before the Lord and IN FAITH is assured that the Lord has spoken to him about what is good and right for HIMSELF ONLY. 

I began to think about this.  There are areas in my life where I am NOT sure the Lord has spoken about this to me (possibly because I did not bring it before Him for help in discerning?).   I waiver so much on movies,  t.v. shows,  and food.  I have felt great conviction in the past on books  (you KNOW I love to read.  Oh,  and a post coming on the book sale I just went to.)  I was convicted many years ago about books that portray romance in a worldly view.  It undermined God's reality and made things a little distorted.  This extended, for me, into Christian romance.  A couple of years into child rearing I was convicted of reading mostly Christian child rearing books,  and neglecting the ONE TRUE child rearing book,  the Bible.  So I got rid of most of them and started looking to God as my source of understanding. 

All this to say that vs 23b says,  "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."  So that means,   that if I watch a movie and I am not FULLY convinced it is ok for me,  it is NOT ok and a sin.  If I eat 15 cupcakes, and am not fully convinced it is ok from the Lord,  it is a sin.  This will require more prayer,  less watching, less eating, and less of other things.  I can only see good come out of this.</sup>  

<sup>I would love to know what you think. 

thanks for reading,

Reb

ps.  I had to throw in a picture of these Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes we made last week.  I told some friends that came over,  "Please eat as many as you  want,  or I WILL!"   They did and we were all happier in the end.</sup>