Romans 14

[Pamelasv]

Kind of wanted to post this in here instead of the doctrine forums because I think more people come in here, and it really isn't to understand the scripture, but to come up with ideas.

This chapter really talks about only food and wine, but I was wondering what else could make a 'weak' brother stumble, especially in this present time. Or does anybody have any hangups that you are not sure about? Lol.

Blessings......

Edited May 5, 2015 by Pamelasv

[other one]

 no one ever talks about building up that weak brother or sister..

[Guest shiloh357]

Actually that chapter is not talking about "weakness"  in the sense it is being taken.   Romans 14 has to do with extra biblical fast days that were already being observed.   Some were seeing themselves as more holy or more committed to God for observing them and looking down on the "weaker"  brothers who did not feel compelled to observe such things.

 

Paul is calling on both not to judge the other.   Those who do so, do so to honor the Lord and it is their right.    Those who do not should not be critical of those who choose to participate.

[Ezra]

This chapter is teaching us that certain things believed or taught among Christians  are best left alone if we do not agree. If some believe that pork is verboten, that should be fine with others who do not.  By the same token, when a vegetarian is invited by you for a meal, you should accommodate that person by serving vegetarian dishes, and not offend them with roast pork.

 

This would also apply to observing certain days as "holy" days.  What Paul is teaching is that Christian love allows for latitude in those things which are within the realm of personal freedom and personal decisions.  Neither party should sit in judgment over the other, and all should remember that each one will give account solely for himself, not for someone else. Therefore there is no need for disputes.

 

This does not mean that there should be no teaching regarding such things. Paul says that in God's eyes all meats are *clean*, and that the Kingdom of God does not consist of outward rituals and observances, but inward righteousness, peace among believers, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and that whatsover is not of faith is sin.  But there are also specific things from the Law of Moses which are forbidden to all Christians (see Acts 15).  There is no circumventing those injuctions.

 

We should always bear in mind that in the NT all churches comprised both Jews and Gentiles, and that Jewish believers would be very scrupulous about matters which meant little to Gentiles. Therefore we have this chapter to clear the air.  Today, Messianic Jews generally isolate themselves from Gentile Christians, therefore these issues probably do not come up.

[Willa]

Actually that chapter is not talking about "weakness"  in the sense it is being taken.   Romans 14 has to do with extra biblical fast days that were already being observed.   Some were seeing themselves as more holy or more committed to God for observing them and looking down on the "weaker"  brothers who did not feel compelled to observe such things.

 

Paul is calling on both not to judge the other.   Those who do so, do so to honor the Lord and it is their right.    Those who do not should not be critical of those who choose to participate.

I saw the opposite from your view. Those who felt freed from the Mosaic Law were not to impose their freedom on the weaker brothers who felt bound to it. 1 Cor 8:9. "But beware lest somwhow this liberty of your become a stumbling block to those who are weak." This seems to indicate that the weaker brothers are those who feel they must keep the Jewish feasts or abstain from meats that were not kosher or which had been sacrificed to idols.. Romans 14:2 " For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables." Some believed what they didn't know didn't hurt them so just don't ask where the meat came from or how it was butchered. We who have this freedom should not cause our weaker brothers to stumble by our freedom, but should accommodate them and serve them kosher food or else they will only be able to eat the vegetables served them.

The key is our love for one another. If we truly love them we don't want them to compromise their beliefs on our account because they will believe they have sinned and stumbled. Instead we will want to show them respect and honor their beliefs. Doing what they do will not cause us to think we have sinned. but we will be blessed by demonstrating Christ's love.

[Willa]

There are still people who think they should worship on Saturday, or who are vegetarians. Some Christians from India still have a hard time eating meat. Some people feel free to drink alcohol, but should be mindful of those who are alcoholics. Some people are addicted to smoking and are tempted by those who might smoke once a month or less and who are not addicted. We are admonished as Christians to accomadate the weaker brothers and not cause them to fall.

We took a visiting Christian from India to a large buffet thinking that all would find something there. But he chose not to eat at all, even the bean salad or macaroni salads, cooked carrots and carrot salad, rice, corn and vegatarian baked beens. We explained that there was no meat in them but he said they were too rich for him. Possibly he did not care for western food.

Some people are addicted to gambling and might be tempted by a game of gin rummy or even Yatzee or Monopoly. I have no problem watching TV sports but someone else might feel compelled to gamble on them. Perhaps it is greed that is spurred by testosterone competitiveness. I really don't understand it but must be sensitive to a brother's weaknesses and not judge them.

But how often do we eat sweets and rich food in front of the obiously overweight person who is trying to stick to a diet? Or in front of diabetics? Some Christians even urge them saying it's OK just this once!

[The_Patriot21]

One perhaps could apply that passage to dress codes in church...

[other one]

There are still people who think they should worship on Saturday, or who are vegetarians. Some Christians from India still have a hard time eating meat. Some people feel free to drink alcohol, but should be mindful of those who are alcoholics. Some people are addicted to smoking and are tempted by those who might smoke once a month or less and who are not addicted. We are admonished as Christians to accomadate the weaker brothers and not cause them to fall.

We took a visiting Christian from India to a large buffet thinking that all would find something there. But he chose not to eat at all, even the bean salad or macaroni salads, cooked carrots and carrot salad, rice, corn and vegatarian baked beens. We explained that there was no meat in them but he said they were too rich for him. Possibly he did not care for western food.

Some people are addicted to gambling and might be tempted by a game of gin rummy or even Yatzee or Monopoly. I have no problem watching TV sports but someone else might feel compelled to gamble on them. Perhaps it is greed that is spurred by testosterone competitiveness. I really don't understand it but must be sensitive to a brother's weaknesses and not judge them.

But how often do we eat sweets and rich food in front of the obiously overweight person who is trying to stick to a diet? Or in front of diabetics? Some Christians even urge them saying it's OK just this once!

We have donuts every Sunday morning before Sunday School starts....   and yes it is very hard not to have them.

[Matthew T.]

Kind of wanted to post this in here instead of the doctrine forums because I think more people come in here, and it really isn't to understand the scripture, but to come up with ideas.

This chapter really talks about only food and wine, but I was wondering what else could make a 'weak' brother stumble, especially in this present time. Or does anybody have any hangups that you are not sure about? Lol.

Blessings......

 

Paul had a very difficult job. Many of the born again believers in Christ within his congregations were Jews. You will not ever find anyone on earth any more dedicated to God than Jews. They expressed this dedication through their observance and incorporations of God's Law AND Jewish laws into their daily lives. Jesus literally changed their entire way of life, in that now after the work of Christ, Jew and Gentile alike (by the way, Gentiles never were even given the law as the Jews were. We just kind of "took" it, lol) have been freed from the law. Born again Jews had a very hard time understanding the ramifications of all that. Still do. Gentiles even struggle with the meaning of it all.

 

So when these "weaknesses" are referenced by Paul here, it is referencing someone that still struggles to live by the law... ANY struggle where a person is confused in how they are to conduct themselves in life, but most importantly, why. It can be one of a thousand different things. All the while Paul will be teaching everyone about the new "freedom" they have from the law, but Paul is telling us to be patient with those young in the faith and still struggling to live by the law in various ways, or mix their understanding with both law and Grace (Galatianism).

 

You can look around right here and see the same struggles today. People tend to focus on do's and don't's and forget all about the whys'. It is within all this around us and in us, that Paul tells us all to be patient with while we all live and learn. Hopefully everyone gets to real meat sooner or later. But until then, patience.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Matthew T.

[Pamelasv]

I won't do yoga, tho I always wanted to.