“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.” (Romans 14:1)
The early church had a raging debate brewing within congregations. Is it okay to eat meat from the meat market… even though that meat might be from idol’s temples? Meat markets weren’t exactly known for being concerned with the source of the meat, just the quality of it. So, could a Christian eat idol-sourced meat? Some said yes, and strong in their faith were unafraid to eat it – after all, idols are just imaginary gods. Strong in faith, they weren’t going to let their imagination run the show! However, others were weaker in faith; they were concerned about the meat/idolatry issue and decided it was better to be safe than sorry… no meat for them, only vegetables.
So, with two opposing views – how does the church avoid division? They accept one another and instead of passing judgment on the “weaker” brother, the stronger brother loves them for their commitment and convictions. The vegetarian brethren accept the “stronger” brethren, too. After all, they have a Judge, and it isn’t them. Each stands before the Lord. This is the message of Romans 14. Sometimes unity exists by staying in our own lanes. There is a right answer, but the patience to allow each of us to search for it on our own is important, too.
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
Today’s Reading: Romans 14:1-12
Questions to ask:
- How is Paul feeling as he writes today’s passage? What is his mood?
- What are the central themes in Paul’s preaching and teaching which are being emphasized, or how are the central themes in this epistle being emphasized in today’s reading?
- How does our reading show Paul’s people skills, especially how he handles conflict?
- What in this passage would change the lives of the believer(s) being addressed? How does it make me a better disciple?
- How does this show the “good news” of the gospel? How can I share that with someone else?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision