JP’s Mind

Rom 14:1-6 AS FOR the man who is a weak believer, welcome him [into your fellowship], but not to criticize his opinions or pass judgment on his scruples or perplex him with discussions. (2) One [man's faith permits him to] believe he may eat anything, while a weaker one [limits his] eating to vegetables. (3) Let not him who eats look down on or despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize and pass judgment on him who eats; for God has accepted and welcomed him. (4) Who are you to pass judgment on and censure another’s household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand. (5) One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike [sacred]. Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind. (6) He who observes the day observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

It is apparent that differences of opinion existed with Christians even among the immediate followers of Christ Jesus, just as it is today. Paul used much of this chapter to discuss this idea, but he did not attempt to put an end to those differences of opinion yet chose to try to find a balance.

Paul makes distinction between those strong in the faith and those weak in the faith, and many scholars debate still as to who is who exactly. The most common understanding is that Paul referred to the converted Jews as those weak in the faith, but I would offer that he more so referred to those who take a legalistic view of faith, obedience, and doctrine as those who were weak. In that the view of ‘must do’ and ‘must not do’ in terms of Christianity offers a crutch to those who cannot release themselves to the truth of the Gospel given to us repeatedly as; salvation by Grace through faith, and not of works, or self-effort:

Rom 3:28 For we hold that a man is justified and made upright by faith independent of and distinctly apart from good deeds (works of the Law). [The observance of the Law has nothing to do with justification.]

Rom 4:5 But to one who, not working [by the Law], trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God).

Eph 2:8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

Gal 2:16 Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law, but [only] through faith and [absolute] reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). [Therefore] even we [ourselves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law [for we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the Law given by Moses], because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human being can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in right standing with God). [Ps. 143:2.]

The difficulty here is that this legalism, this weakness of faith, compels one to assent to doctrine or practices which one does not fully embrace. This hypocrisy avails the believer no benefit and leads unconstrained to self-righteousness.

I also believe that Paul understood that any attempts for producing absolute oneness of mind among Christians would be useless; but he desired instead to push the idea that Christian fellowship should not be disturbed with the ‘striving of words’. It would be wise for us to ask ourselves, when tempted to disdain and blame our brothers in Christ; “Does not God own them?” and if He does own them, dare I disown them?

Paul’s admonitions here are twofold: Let not the Christian who uses his liberty, despise his weak brother as ignorant and superstitious, and let not the scrupulous believer find fault with his liberated brother, for God accepted him, without regarding the distinctions of meats, days, etc. If we do so, we usurp the place of God, and take upon us the responsibility to judge the thoughts and intentions of others, which are out of our view.

Rom 14:7-13 None of us lives to himself [but to the Lord], and none of us dies to himself [but to the Lord, for] (8) If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. (9) For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (10) Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall 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 [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. [Isa. 45:23.] (12) And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. (13) Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.

Although some are weak, and others are strong, all must agree not to live to themselves. No one who has given up his name to Christ is, or can be, a self-seeker; that is against true Christianity. The business of our lives is not to please ourselves, but to please God. That is true Christianity, which makes Christ all in all. Though Christians are of different strength, capacities, and practices in lesser things, they are all the Lord’s; all are looking and serving, and approving themselves to Christ.

Christians should not judge, in the spirit of condemnation, or despise one another, because both will have to give an account to the Lord. Every one of us should search his own heart and life; those of use who are strict in judging and humbling ourselves, will not be so ready to judge and despise his brother. Nor should we say or do things which may cause a brother to stumble or to fall, and nothing creates a more prominent stumbling block than judgment and condemnation.

Rom 14:14-18 I know and am convinced (persuaded) as one in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is [forbidden as] essentially unclean (defiled and unholy in itself). But [none the less] it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to anyone who thinks it is unclean. (15) But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! (16) Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.] (17) [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men.

Paul expresses his absolute certainty that nothing is essentially unclean for those who abide in the Lord – nothing in and of itself that is. He tells us though that if one views something as ‘unclean’, then it is; and because of that truth, we are not to engage in those things that pains our brothers. We should not give others an occasion to criticize us for our actions – regardless if we feel justified in those actions spiritually. Because the truth of the matter is that the Kingdom of God is not about getting or doing the things we like but in living in righteousness, peace, love and joy.

Basically, if we are in fellowship, and I view the use of foul language as unclean or improper and you do not view it as such and so continue to use such language in my presence, then you are no longer walking in love. I take the time here to remind us Christ Jesus’ command to us all:

Mat 22:36-40 Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light--which are heavy?] (37) And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.] (38) This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. (39) And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.] (40) These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

Rom 14:19-23 So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another. (20) You must not, for the sake of food, undo and break down and destroy the work of God! Everything is indeed [ceremonially] clean and pure, but it is wrong for anyone to hurt the conscience of others or to make them fall by what he eats. (21) The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no wine [at all], or [do anything else] if it makes your brother stumble or hurts his conscience or offends or weakens him. (22) Your personal convictions [on such matters]–exercise [them] as in God’s presence, keeping them to yourself [striving only to know the truth and obey His will]. Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves [who does not convict himself by what he chooses to do]. (23) But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful].

This then is the culmination of the concept of Christian liberty, and the truth concerning what we can do, cannot do, and more importantly what we should do or should not do.

We are admonished to eagerly work for harmony and the building up of each other, which is the foundation of a Body working together as detailed in Romans 12. We cannot edify one another, work together for the good of God’s purposes when we are quarreling about things that have no bearing on the truth of the Gospel; that of salvation by grace through faith and the glory of a Christ sacrificed on our behalf and raised again into eternal life.

Personal convictions on what is right, or wrong, are simply that: personal convictions. We must endeavor not to lead another brother (or sister) to participate in that which they feel is wrong, nor should we offend those brethren by subjecting them to our participating in those things.

Let me reiterate verse 21:

Rom 14:21 The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no wine [at all], or [do anything else] if it makes your brother stumble or hurts his conscience or offends or weakens him.

Certainly Paul refers specifically to eating and drinking in this verse, as the contention regarding the consumption of ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ foods was the specific quarrel he was addressing. However, that does not deter from the fact that Paul is clear in the concept he was presenting as a much broader concern. It is the right thing to not do something if it makes your brother stumble, if it causes him offense, or if it weakens his faith. That applies to everything in our lives be it eating pork, drinking wine, smoking, cussing, et al.

Some have taken the concepts in this chapter, particularly the first half, and have flipped the meaning in order to fly in the face of the sensibilities of other Christians and the spiritual leadership of their particular congregation. Basically they use this chapter to tell other Christians to ‘talk to the hand’ when they are approached regarding their behavior and their conformity to the ways of the world. This is simply wrong.

Indeed scripture does confirm that we have freedom in our lives that we have no condemnation, as adopted heirs to the glory of God, and Paul confirms this freedom in this chapter. However, this is not the intent of this writing by Paul. He was not telling us “Hey, as Christians we are basically free to do what we want the way we want so take your complaints and shove them.”

What he was telling us is; yes, we are free in Christ. Yes I view certain things as acceptable and I am free to participate in them, however, I understand that my participation in those things causes you offense, injures you in your faith, and subsequently I will abstain from those things in the spirit of love and unity. If I place my personal convictions of freedom over my concerns for your spiritual welfare, then I am not walking in love as commanded by Christ Jesus.