Romans 14:19-21 : So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another. Overthrow not for meat's sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth. No Christian should push his opinions and personal rights to the disturbance of the church. Peace is so delightful and helpful that no thoughtful Christian will needlessly cause confusion and strife, but will give "diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). Peace with one another is necessary to edifying one another. To edify is to build up--to build up in knowledge, faith, and right living. Confusion does not edify any one; it builds up nothing but strife and par-ties in the church. But if the truth of God is at stake, the good soldier of Jesus Christ will fight the good fight. He will contend earnestly for the faith, but not for traditions, opinions, and customs. If a professed Christian indulges in questionable practices, or in his determination to have his way about things of no importance, he may overthrow the faith of one whose faith is not very strong. A Christian is a work of God. The command, "Overthrow not for meat's sake the work of God," will apply to any matter of indifference or of personal rights. In overthrowing the faith of a Christian we destroy the work of God, and that is a serious matter. The statement that "all things are clean" applies to meats. The law declared certain animals unclean; that law was no longer binding. Legally no animal was now unclean, but it is evil to the man who eats with offense. And this has no reference to merely hurting the feelings of another. Here are some of the meanings of offense as given by Webster: "An occasion of sin; a stumbling block. . . . A breach of conduct; an infraction of law; crime; sin; transgression misdeed." Thayer gives this definition and explanation of the Greek word: "A stumbling block, i.e. an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he necessarily stumbles or falls; trop., that over which the soul stumbles, i.e. by which it is impelled to sin." To eat with offense was to eat certain meat under circumstances that would lead a weaker person to eat against his convictions. A Christian stumbles, or sins, when he violates his convictions; and it is evil for anyone to lead a person to go against his convictions, no matter how innocent the act within itself may be. Romans 14:21 shows clearly that to eat with offense is to eat under circumstances that causes a brother to stumble. There is no danger in this country that eating meat will cause any one to go against his convictions, nor to eat in honor of an idol, and thereby destroy him; but a person by moderate drinking may lead another to become a drunkard. A Christian should think of the possible influence of his actions before he engages in things that seem to him to be innocent. It is good to keep out of anything that might cause another to stumble.