Romans 14:1-18
The book of Acts shows us how the Christians who had come out of Judaism had difficulty in freeing themselves from the outward forms of their religion. In Christendom today there are many believers who attach importance to external forms: abstention from eating meat, keeping special days . . . Let us refrain from criticising them! I have no right to doubt that another Christian is not acting "as unto the Lord" (v. 6) whose responsible servant he is. Speaking generally, the habit of judging others is always the proof that I do not know my own heart. For if I am truly convinced both as to abhorrence of myself and at the same time of the grace which God affords me, all sense of superiority disappears from my thinking. Besides, can I set myself up as judge, when before long I shall have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ (v. 10; although I am already justified)? Not only must I not judge the motives for another’s behaviour, but I must be on the alert not to stumble others by my own. I am exhorted to abstain from anything which could destroy another believer (as opposed to building him up). V. 15 gives me the decisive argument against that: this brother is he "for whom Christ died".