“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.” Romans 14:12-13 NLT
It seems like it’s a lot more than just foody issues. This chapter is famous for the whole idea of Jewish vs Gentile food choices. It was a huge ordeal to the Jewish community because they were raised in a strict dietary culture obeying the commandments of God from the Old Testament. God’s food commandments were given for multiple reasons, primarily for their own health and safety. When God opened the door for the Gentiles (all non-Jews) to have access to salvation, He also let them drop most of the regulations and restrictions the Jews had practiced for thousands of years. It wasn’t just about eating pork and other foods formerly considered “unclean.” It was also this idea of where the food came from.
The Roman/Greek world worshipped multiple gods and they often connected that worship with a number of ritual practices. Some of those practices were sexual, which God forbid all followers of Jesus to participate in. Many practices involved the practice of bringing a food offering. The butcher business was booming in New Testament times! These meats and produce were often prepared for those rituals, then sold in the marketplace. Jewish believers only purchased their food from Jewish merchants. And, their food was prepared according to the rules of the Old Testament- especially the meat. Today, there are many groups of folks in our culture that still are required to only eat kosher foods. Foods properly prepared and blessed by priests or holy persons.
When Jewish believers started fellowshipping with Gentile believers, it usually meant there was food involved. The big concern was – where did the meat come from? Was it certified and approved or was it purchased from some street vendor who got it directly from a ritualistic offering to fake gods (idols)? You can see why this would cause problems for the Jewish believers! They could not even imagine anyone eating non-kosher, unclean meat, that had been used to worship idols. It was more than just offensive, it was repulsive!
Paul had been given the job of gently correcting both the Jewish and the Gentile folks, NOT in their preferences or their convictions, but in their behaviors and interactions with one another. This is never easy! How does one correct someone’s convictions? One holds deeply personal beliefs about their spiritual practices with God. The other does not have those internal convictions and came to Christ with little or no spiritual practices at all. Paul doesn’t go after the convictions, he goes after the attitudes and behaviors of those who believe differently than they do.
When it came to non-kosher meat, he appeals not to their sense of the law, but to their responsibility to grace. Wow – that’s tough. He implores the Jewish believers to accept the Gentile person, without needing to accept their preferences or lack of convictions. In other places, he refers to those who cling to the law over grace as the “weaker” faith! (Romans 14:1-2). Paul also deals with the brash, hubris behavior of the Gentile believers who felt free to flaunt their freedom, completely unconcerned about the convictions of their Jewish friends.
Paul writes this brilliant, Holy Spirit inspired word, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” (Romans 14:17-19). This goes far beyond eating preferences! This speaks to much of our current crisis of church raised believers verses non-church raised believers. There are a massive amount of convictions and preferences that have come from those who were raised in church families. Not all of which were good or even Biblical. Then, along comes hundreds, thousands of those with zero spiritual practices coming from a godly heritage. Paul’s words are more than appropriate today, they are necessary reminders! The Kingdom of God is not about such things as bowling alleys, moving picture shows, wearing jeans or tattoos! It is about a life of goodness, peace and joy which is specifically expressed in how we behave towards one another. One position should not SHUN the other. And, one position shouldn’t flaunt their freedoms either. We need unity over preferences and care over convictions.
Prayer
Dad,
Help us behave like we are family, under the lordship of Jesus. Help us fulfill the prayer of Jesus to be one, even as you are one!