As we progressed all the way through Romans, we have found that the very life of God in us will reflect in our obedience to God’s purposes and principles in our lives. And how does this look in the culture around us? The principles are eternal, but sometimes specific instances require us to ponder on and make choices that might not be directly spoken of. We will see matters of opinion in , but if we are first connected to God, we will be able to work out and make decisions in life choices.
We are called to accept those in weak faith, without arguing with their options in their weak faith. We are not to argue or try to change their opinion, but we are to be together. Nowhere do we find that we should divide based on preferences or opinions. It is the same way that we don’t have separate “traditional” and “contemporary” worship meetings at our church. We are to worship together and be a blending of our personal preferences.
What Paul is not saying, is that we should accept those opinions that are against the Word of God. We can unite on our differences and preferences without inviting a different gospel into the church.
In the past, we have discussed the Triangle of Unity (click here to read that message). Remember that our unity is based on three things: Person of Jesus, Biblical Passages, and God’s Principles. Our diversity is based on two things: Preferences and Practices. If we all agree on the foundation, we will find unity and we will walk together in diversity. But if we don’t agree on the foundation, our unity will be compromised and instead of diversity, we will find frustration and confusion.
This isn’t a passage that is saying that being a vegetarian is a sign of being of weak faith. But it was speaking of a specific cultural issue at the time of the letter. Basically, the Christian Jews were still eating only vegetables and the Christian gentiles were eating meat. So they started thinking that maybe the other side was wrong or should change.
Paul reminds them that God doesn’t care what people eat. We are not to treat people different or say they are wrong or less Christian when they are different in practices and preferences. God has received them, we are to receive them, and we are never to make those practices and preferences to be a wall that we place between us. We can talk about and discuss those areas, but it cannot be a reason to divide.
Who are we to judge them? They have to answer to God in the same way we all must answer to God. And when we find our unity moving us through our diversity, we will find ourselves stronger than we ever could imagine. We all worship in different and correct ways. We all live and die belonging to God.
We must all live in a way that God has called us to. Paul is talking about functional issues, not foundational issues. These are disputable matters that there is no principle to tell right and wrong for a specific preference. What is right in these situations is walking together, and what is wrong is to make these reasons to divide.
14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
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.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)
14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. (ESV)
2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. (ESV)
3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. (ESV)
4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. (ESV)