Romans 14:1-12

(Romans 14:1-12)

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

Saints live with many people and experience various conflicts. The causes of the conflict are mostly because people think and judge egocentrically. People use what they learn and know and what they are convinced of through experience as a criterion for judging the right or wrong of others' actions or convictions. Particularly in the life of faith in obeying the Lord in the church, if the confidence and standards they have are centered, it can bring the risk of breaking the community of faith. If the standards and convictions of their view of others are excessive, conflicts and disputes arise about the life of faith with others because of those standards and convictions.

 

Even in the Roman church, one's own life of faith became the standard, causing inconveniences to each other. In particular, disagreements have arisen between eating certain kinds of food and observing special days. And condemnation for different things occurred, and as a result of difficulties, divisions and conflicts arose in the church. So, "The contents of the apostle Paul's exhortation to the members of the Roman church on what to do with this problem" are recorded from verses 1 to 12.

 

The first is about food in verses 1 to 4. At that time, there were many cases in Roman society selling food that had been sacrificed to foreign gods on the market. The meat offered as an idol's offering was reluctant to eat for some Christians. Also, the Jewish laws of Judaism, which have long been traditionally followed by the Jews, distinguish between clean and unclean food, so the Jews did not eat unclean food. Because this is a discipline that has been strictly followed, there were still some of the Jewish Christians who kept the law and refused to eat unclean and unclean food. They not only did not eat unclean meat, they questioned the faith of those who ate and condemned and condemned such behavior.

 

On the contrary, some people freely ate "Idol offerings or foods that were declared unclean by Judaism," claiming that food did not defile people. There was often a contempt in the church, saying, "Those who do not eat unclean food are those who are bound by the law, and those who fear because of weak faith." 『Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 』 The apostle Paul categorized those who eat freely and those who do not have strong faith and those who are weak, and encourages them not to despise or criticize believers who have different positions in any position. Because they have already received their faith from God and acknowledged their faith.

『Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 』

The saints in the church are those saved by the Lord and are those who belong to him, so if they accuse each other of being different, the accusation is directed toward the Lord. The Lord, so that the servants will not fall, is built by the Lord, their master. But he himself is a servant, and he says,'Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?' to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 』 Christians are God's servants, and God is the master who guides their faith in His power, so if you criticize the master's servant, you will be criticizing the master who established the servant, God, so do not criticize it.

 

Second, the issue of valuing certain distinct days, that is, observing a feast or a special day, created a conflict between people. 『One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 』

At the time of the early church, although the Old Testament rules for the Sabbath and the obligations of the holy days kept by the Gentiles felt invalid in Christ, many still disagreed with this point. Therefore, there was a disagreement among the members of the early church in terms of how to celebrate the feast, the problem of setting the date, and the scope of the event. The saints became uncomfortable with each other and tried to criticize each other or attract each other according to their position. Paul said to accept and accept this divisional movement, even if the views and actions were different, if the motive was for God and for serving God well.

 

『He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 』 Whatever you do, whatever you do, it tells you to do it for the Lord. Even if a situation of conflict and division arises, if the motive is for the Lord and the intention is the same, many members of the church appreciate it and admit that they are different, and encourage them to become believers who look forward to the Lord as they are, for the Lord as they are together.

 

Finally, the apostle Paul said that it is not our own, but God who finally judges the judgment and actions of food, days and seasons, so it is not something to go ahead and criticize and condemn the details. will be. 『For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 』 Rather, remember that you will be judged before God for your actions and beliefs, and have a fearful and trembling mindset. He tells us to look back on ourselves, remember the last time we stand before the Lord, and live in truth and humility before God today.

 

『But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It cannot but be a strict word that is truly terrifying and trembling. The apostle Paul says that such judgments and actions are actions that will break the unity of the church community and ultimately be judged by God. However, we are habitually accustomed to criticizing me and others, and communities of faith that are different from us. We have to think about whether we are leading division or unity. If where I am, what I say and what I do, is causing divisions, hurts, or conflicts in the communities I belong to, I need to turn back now.

 

We do not condemn it and cause conflict and division, even if the way and form of our faith life is a little different, but it is the Lord's pleasure to leave and accept the way we are. Praying, hoping, and acknowledging to build up with strong faith without losing is building a healthy community of faith. But whatever we do, we can be grateful and blessed if we can do it for the Lord. “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 』