Do you know what makes everyone uncomfortable? Sin. No one wants to talk about that. Let me take that back. We like to talk about the sins of others. We just don’t want to talk about our own. Right?

Are you still reading? Good. Those who are easily offended have moved on! Let’s get down to business.

St. Paul in his letter to the church of Rome (also known as Romans) defined sin this way, “everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23b A “definition” is much different than a list isn’t it? Often when we start talking about sin we revert to lists of things we (and everyone else) shouldn’t do.

Yet, Paul gives us a definition. Sure there are some things we should not do as Christian because they are self-serving and self-gratifying but those things point back to the definition he provided. Anything we do that does not point to Jesus Christ is sinful. That is a whole lot of stuff including every day sort of activities. They may not be harmful, but they do not “come from faith” and therefore are sinful.

Paul isn’t trying to turn us into Pharisees nor is he reverting back to his previous profession as a Pharisee. Paul is trying to point out that life is full of sin and sinful people, including us. Yet if we look at the whole chapter (Romans 14) we start see a bigger picture. Take a look; I dare you! If you read the chapter literally you would think that it is all about what you eat. It is way more than that. Paul is talking about sin! He just happens to apply it to the big issue of his day: eating certain foods that were sacrificed to false gods.

He is quick to acknowledge that what is sin to some people is not sinful to others. What??? Can you imagine? Not all sin is universal.

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Romans 14:1-3

Paul says don’t argue about stuff that is debatable or not settled. Judging someone and calling them a sinner based on our list of sins is the wrong approach according to Paul. The litmus test is this: Does this action come out of our faith? It is clear by Paul’s example that it depends upon the person and their motivation.

It is not enough to say, “That is a sin” or “That is not a sin” because someone maybe doing something out of devotion to God which is an act of faith. Yes it is true many people have done some horrible things throughout history with Godly intentions. This definition is not complete. We must also turn to the words of Jesus, which we all know so well, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39

Ahhh, things become clearer. Now we have two criteria for evaluating sin: Does it point to Christ and is it loving?

If the answer is no to either, we might have a problem. Paul puts it this way in Romans 14:13 “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.”

Paul says, appearances matter. Judging others without knowing their heart is a problem (we can never know another’s heart) AND doing something that might make someone stumble because of their faith is weaker or stronger is also a problem—even if it is not a sin!

For example: if Baptists regard drinking alcohol as a sin, then Lutherans shouldn’t drink in front of Baptists even though Lutherans do not regard drinking as a sin.

This is not the only example. We must regard the faith of others when exercising our freedom. As Paul also said, “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

We need to think twice before judge someone and call them a “sinner.” We are all sinners. Instead, let us not be stumbling blocks to one another.