Have you ever been somewhere where you had to hold back due to the people around you? For instance, working with older people meant that you couldn’t play football with them after the morning service. Or when coaching a junior high basketball team, you would have to coach to their level and abilities. In both cases, you would have to hold back what you are able to do in order to work with the people who are with you. If you did not hold back, things would not go very well.
In today’s passage, Paul reveals that relationships in the church can be like that. In every church, there are a variety of people. Some are mature and are confident in their relationship with the Lord. Others are still learning (as we all should be) and have not come to conclusions about certain things. In a church, it is important for all of the believers to patiently work together. As they do this, they will do a better job of accomplishing God’s will in their community. But this is not always easy. This is why Paul brings up the topic in this passage.
- What does it say? (Rom. 14:1-12)
1You should accept the person who is weak in faith but not for figuring out disputes. 2For it is true that one believes he can eat all things while another who is weak chooses to eat vegetables. 3The one who is eating must not look down on the one who does not eat. The one who is not eating must not judge the one who is eating because God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands firm or collapses. He will be upheld because the Lord is able to support him. 5Now it is true that one person judges a day to be above another day. However, another person judges every day the same. Let each person be convinced in his own mind. 6The person who has an opinion about the day has an opinion to the Lord. The person who does not hold an opinion about the day, does not hold an opinion to the Lord. The person who eats eats to the Lord. He is grateful to the Lord while the one who does not eat does not eat to the Lord. He also is grateful to God. 7For no one lives to himself and no one dies to himself. 8If both people happen to live, we are living for the Lord. And if we happen to die, we are dying for the Lord. So, if we both happen to live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For this is the reason why Christ died and lived so that He might have dominion over the dead and the living. 10So why are you judging your brother, or why are you despising your brother? For we all will stand before the judgment seat of God. 11For it has been written, As I live, says the Lord, that every knee will bow to Me and every tongue will openly confess to God. 12Because of that, each of us will give account for ourselves to God. - What does it mean?
God wants you to accept weaker Christians (Rom. 14:1-2).
In these verses, Paul speaks about someone who is weak in faith. This type of Christian should be received as a believer. However, there is a need to be careful with him in regard to disputes about doubtful things. The example given is that one person is free to eat anything while the weak believer only eats vegetables. It appears that he believes that eating only vegetables is the right thing to do as opposed to the other person.
This brings up several questions. First, what does “weak in faith” mean? Second, to what does “doubtful things” refer?
“Weak in faith” refers to someone who is hindered by conscience from being involved with certain activities. He is a believer because it mentions that he has faith. But his faith is weak for some reason. In this situation, the weaker brother is unable to take part in certain things because he cannot do them in faith. He doesn’t believe that God would be pleased if he did them.
“Doubtful things” refers to things that there is some question as to whether they are right or wrong. There are many things that are very clear in the Bible. Christians are not to steal, use inappropriate language, or be worldly. These are clearly wrong. However, there are other things that are not so clear. They are considered doubtful things because they are not expressly forbidden by Scripture. There are differences of opinion about whether they are good or bad.
The example given here is someone who has beliefs about what food Christians are allowed to eat. One person thinks that he can eat anything while another thinks he can only eat vegetables. This may sound strange to us today, but back then people were transitioning from Jewish beliefs to Christian beliefs. The Old Testament law prohibited eating certain foods. So, there could be people who still were unsure if they should eat certain things. Should such people be allowed to be part of the church? Yes, but they needed to be careful how they treated these people who had different beliefs.
God does not want you to despise other Christians (Rom. 14:3-5).
In these verses, Paul tells us to be careful how we treat people with different opinions about “doubtful things.” He is not referring to the clear prohibitions in Scripture but to things that are not clear. It would be easy for someone with confidence to despise someone with a narrower view. It would also be easy for someone with a narrower view to look down on someone with an opposing view. Neither would be appropriate. But why?
The reason why these people should respect the other believer is that God has accepted them. God doesn’t accept people because they eat or don’t eat certain things. He accepts them because of their faith in Jesus. When someone turns from his sin and places his faith in Jesus, he is accepted by God. His opinions about doubtful things are not taken into account. Can a vegetarian be a Christian? Yes. Can a meat-eating person be a Christian? Yes. Both are accepted by God regardless of their opinions on side issues.
In the end, God is the One who will judge each individual. Whether others agree with their opinion about eating foods or celebrating certain days is not important. The main thing is that each person is accountable to God and must be fully convinced in his own mind about what is right. Not all will come to the same conclusion about certain issues, but all must answer to God.
God wants you to live for Him (Rom. 14:6-8).
In these verses, Paul points out the importance of living for the Lord. Besides eating meat, some people were convinced that certain days were to be observed for the Lord. Perhaps they thought that the Sabbath day was to be kept each week like the Jews were supposed to. You can imagine the difference between Jewish and Greek Christians on that issue. One would have strong feelings about the Sabbath while the other would not.
Paul never mentions what he thought about the issues. He only pointed out the need to do what you do for the Lord. If you were to dedicate a certain day to the Lord, then make sure that you do it for the Lord. If you do not dedicate a certain day, then that’s okay. Just do everything with the Lord in mind. Whether we live or die, all must be done to honor the Lord. As said in another part of the Bible, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).
God wants you to focus on your own responsibilities (Rom. 14:9-12).
While it is true that Jesus died for our sins, there is another reason. Jesus died, rose, and lived again to become our Lord. He is the Lord (the One in charge) of those who are living and those who have died. That is why He is called the Lord Jesus Christ. With that in mind, if He is our Lord, why do we think we can judge another Christian brother about insignificant matters? Do we think that we can take the place of the Lord Jesus? We should not think this way.
However, we must carefully understand what is being said here. There are times when it is appropriate to confront another Christian about sinful behaviors. Remember that Paul is talking here about “doubtful things” not known rights and wrongs. So, when someone is sinning against God, it is appropriate to “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and to “warn those who are unruly” (1 Thess. 5:14). Paul is not telling us to never confront someone about known sin. Instead, he is talking about matters that are not clearly spelled out in Scripture.
Now, let’s get back to the Scripture. Paul reminds us that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ someday. He then quotes from Isaiah 45:23 which reveals that we will all bow before the Lord and confess that He is God in the future. Does that make you want to judge other people? Or does it make you think about your own life? It should motivate you to look at your own needs. So, instead of looking down on someone with a different view about doubtful things, we should be more concerned with our selves. What will the Lord say to me at the judgment? Have I faithfully lived my life for Him? When you think of it that way, you will be less likely to judge others unnecessarily for their different opinions. - How does it apply?
Start by judging yourself.
This is where the rubber meets the road. We have been called to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. While God has called certain people to be leaders in the church, we all must remember that our ultimate authority is Jesus and not us. So, take the time to examine your own life on a daily basis. Ask God to reveal to you the things in your life that need to change (Psalm 139:23-24). And when He reveals things in your life that need to change, take the necessary steps to remove them from your life. You will find that when you are focused on being faithful to the Lord, it will keep you from judging other people unnecessarily.
Be patient with different people.
In every church there are people who have come from different backgrounds. Some grew up in church while others did not. Some experienced wild living while others were somewhat tame. Some know their Bibles well while others do not. Some have convictions about things while others do not. As you interact with people in the church, be patient and understanding. There will be opinions that others have that will not make sense to you. Why would anyone want to be a vegetarian? Why would anyone observe the Sabbath? Why would anyone…? And the list could go on. Just try to be patient. And remember that, if we are all Christians, we are on the same team. We are all people saved by God’s grace. So be patient.
Conclusion
At the beginning, I mentioned working with the elderly or a junior high basketball team. While there are definite things that limit both groups, there are also many things that each group excels in. The older people have wisdom from experience but less energy. The young people have lots of energy but don’t know much yet. Despite their limitations, both groups have value that they can offer to others.
The same is true about people in the church. Some are mature believers with experience and confidence. Some are young believers with little experience or confidence. But both are necessary for the continued ministry of the church. Those who are mature in the faith must not look down on those who are still figuring things out. Those who are young in the faith must be careful to think through their opinions with an open Bible and much prayer.
Our church is no different than the one to whom Paul wrote these verses. We must learn to work together with all the people in the congregation. Be patient. Be loving. Be helpful. Be prayerful. And in the end, seek to be a faithful follower of the Lord yourself. And if possible, see how you can help others to grow in their faith and confidence in what God teaches all of us in the Bible.
Bibliography
Gifford, E. H., Romans, Minneapolis: The James Family, 1977, orig. 1886.
Ironside, H. A., Lectures on the Epistle to the Romans, Neptune: Loizeaux Brothers, 1978, orig. 1928.
Witmer, John A., “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, USA: SP Publications, 1983.