Romans 14:16

Romans 14:16 says, Let not then your good be evil spoken of:  I believe Paul is again warning us against allowing our good, our right relationship with God, to be spoken ill of because we insist that everyone live in the freedom that we have through Christ.  We must live with consideration of how our actions might affect others.  This does not mean we are to be hypocritical, because we must always live under the authority of the Holy Spirit.  It does mean that those who are stronger in their faith must put those who are weaker ahead of their own freedom over things of this world.  If our actions cause anyone else to stumble in their relationship to Christ, or even in coming to Christ, we are to put concern for them ahead of our own freedom through Christ.  We cannot become morally superior in our actions. Verse seventeen adds, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  I believe Paul is telling us why the things of this world should not become stumbling blocks.  God's kingdom is not about anything material, but is about righteousness, and peace, and joy through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Our actions should display these things and not lead to hatred and division.  If we are living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we will never have any doubts about how to act with others.  Verse eighteen continues, For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.  Paul tells us that we are to serve God in all things through Christ. When we live under the authority of the Holy Spirit, our actions will always be acceptable to God and bring honor to Him.  Paul also tells us that when we live in a right relationship to God that by our actions we will be approved by men.  Verse nineteen states, Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  We as followers of Christ are to seek to live in peace, especially with our fellow believers, and to edify, or build up, each other's faith.  Verse twenty adds, For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.  I believe Paul was telling us that what we eat or don't eat cannot stand between God and us of itself, but that if we feel that it is wrong to eat certain things then we should not eat them.  We are not to try to impose our beliefs about this on others, but we are not to allow our beliefs to come between God and other people either.  Verse twenty-one continues, 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. This is a further statement of what was just said.  We may not personally see anything wrong with eating or drinking certain things, but we should not do so if it causes someone else to fall.  Verse twenty-two says, Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. Paul tells us that we should live by our faith in God and not condemn ourselves by our actions. Whatever we allow for in life should be consistent with our faith in God and bring glory to Him without weakening the faith of others. Verse twenty-three adds, And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.  I believe Paul is telling us that even if everything is pure to eat, if we doubt that, then we should not eat whatever we feel that it is wrong to eat. If we cannot in God faith do something, then for us it is wrong. Still, we must always remember that the things of this world cannot separate us from salvation through Christ.