Daniel Asks: Can you share your thoughts about what the stumbling block is in the following verses?
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak (Romans 14:15-22).
Joe Keim Responds: Paul wrote this letter to a mostly Gentile church. Before they were saved, the Gentiles were idol worshipers who often sacrificed meat to idols. Afterward, some believers felt free to eat that meat, while others were uncomfortable because it had been used in idol worship.
Paul is saying it is not sinful to eat the meat itself, but if eating it offends a brother in the church, you should not eat the meat in his presence. Eating idol-offered meat in front of a weaker believer could cause him to stumble in his new faith.
Later, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.”
Daniel Asks: So what would you say to someone who compares the meat to technology and says they feel uncomfortable as your brothers in Christ if you have, for example, a phone or a truck? Am I being a stumbling block to my brothers if I keep these things, knowing they have a problem with them, even though I personally believe there is nothing wrong with them?
Joe Keim Responds: Daniel, those are very good questions. In Romans 14, two main areas of contention are mentioned: idol worship and alcohol.
1. Idol Worship
Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly warned His people not to serve or worship other gods. (See Deuteronomy 8:19; Joshua 23:7, 16; Judges 2:11–13; 1 Kings 9:6–9; 2 Kings 17:35–39; Jeremiah 25:6.)
For example:
• Exodus 20:4–5 forbids making or bowing down to idols.
• Deuteronomy 6:14–15 says, “Ye shall not go after other gods.”
Eating meat that had been offered to idols was closely tied to idol worship. Though the meat itself was not sinful, eating it could easily appear as participation in idolatry, especially to those with weak consciences.
2. Alcohol
Alcohol in itself is not sinful. Jesus turned water into wine. But drunkenness is clearly condemned in Scripture.
In 1 Corinthians 11:17–34, Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for turning the Lord’s Supper into a self-centered feast. Some were even getting drunk. Because of this mockery, verse 30 says, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (Some had died under God’s judgment.)
Likewise, Galatians 5 lists drunkenness among sins that keep a person from inheriting the kingdom of God. So, while wine itself is not sinful, drunkenness is. Some believers avoided even a sip of wine out of concern for others who might struggle with it.
That is why Paul says in Romans 14:21:
“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
Applying This to Technology and Vehicles
So what about technology, electricity in the home, or owning a vehicle? Yes, these things may offend some of the brethren in the church. But does that mean you are a stumbling block simply for having them?
Common sense tells us we cannot please everyone all the time. It is impossible. Scripture also makes clear that Jesus freed us from man-made rules and restrictions.
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us… and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14).
Owning a vehicle, having electricity, or using a smartphone are modern conveniences that make life easier. They are not spiritual issues like idol worship or drunkenness.
• Vehicle vs. horse and buggy = both are transportation.
• Electricity vs. batteries = both provide power.
• Phone vs. pen and paper = both are ways to communicate.
These things fall under Colossians 2, not Romans 14. They are practical matters, not moral ones. In short, Paul’s teaching in Romans 14 applies when our actions might lead another believer into sin, not simply when they make someone uncomfortable with our modern tools.
The truth is that much of what we have today are modern tools. that were not around in Jesus’ day or even 600 years ago, such as: printing press, thrashing machine, chain saw, phone, electricity, car, tractor, corn binder, combine, baler, septic system, refrigerator, gas lantern, clothing patterns, etc.
Paul warns believers not to go back under legalism after being set free through Christ.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1)
Paul calls believers to stay free and not return to legal bondage. Salvation and acceptance with God are not earned by keeping rules. True freedom is found in walking by the Spirit.
The old written code brought death, but the Spirit gives life.
“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6-11).
In Matthew 23:24, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy: “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.”
Meaning of Matthew 23:24
Jesus was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, religious leaders who focused on very small details of the law but ignored the weightier matters like mercy, justice, and faith.
The phrase “strain at a gnat” refers to their habit of filtering or straining their drink to make sure no tiny, unclean insect (like a gnat) would accidentally be swallowed, because that would make them “unclean” under their traditions.
But then Jesus said they would “swallow a camel,” meaning they committed far greater sins, such as pride, greed, and hypocrisy, while congratulating themselves for keeping small outward rules.
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Simple Explanation
They were careful about little things that did not matter much, but careless about big things that mattered most to God. In other words, they majored on the minors and minored on the majors.
Lesson for Us
• We can be so focused on small outward things that we forget the bigger issues of the heart – the ones that truly affect us in eternity.
• God cares more about truth, mercy, and humility than about outward appearances or man-made rules.
• Jesus wants us to live with a pure heart, not just a clean cup on the outside.
– Joe Keim (419) 651-6813