The Word
1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or 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 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? 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 GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 14:1-12 (NASB)
What is it saying?
- Do not fight over opinions
- Example: Are all foods OK to eat or are Jewish dietary laws still in effect?
- The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. The one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
- Example: Are all foods OK to eat or are Jewish dietary laws still in effect?
- The master is the one who judges
- Example: Observing the Sabbath
- The one who observes, observes in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. The one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
- Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s
- Why judge your brother? We will all stand before the judgement seat of God one day.
What does it mean?
- There are essential beliefs and there are places where there are legitimate differences of opinion.
- Don’t look down on someone who has a stricter view and don’t judge someone who has a more lenient view.
- Whatever your position, it should be motivated by a desire to honor God in it.
What am I going to do with it?
- Are there non-essentials where I hold on too tightly, assuming that only my way is right and judging others?
- Are my opinions in these things driven by a desire to honor God in them or a desire to do what is most comfortable to me?
ryan
jsegars
