14:16–18 The strong are urged to weigh the importance of exercising their freedom against two considerations: (a) the use of their freedom may bring division and disrepute on the church; (b) God’s kingdom (and therefore our freedom) is not a matter of food and drink, but of the blessings of grace (5:1, 2). Since freedom does not consist in these things, it cannot be lost by our refraining from them.