No Good Answer

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Paul begins with this pressing question: "Why?" It's one of those questions that has no good answer.  Again, with the theme with which this letter began: we are without excuse. We have no excuse for our judgmental attitudes and actions. All it does is alienate us from others and put a hindrance in the way of the Gospel message from our lives.  We need to be as unoffensive as possible to others. This does not mean "compromising our convictions", but it does mean letting God deal with the heart of others, just like He does with us. Notice how verse 18 goes back to verses 1,2 - this is what pleases God: our submission to His Spirit and our pursuit of peace and oneness with fellow believers.  Let's do this!