Romans 14:1-4
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to
quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while
the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one
who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass
judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before
his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is
able to make him stand.”
One of my colleagues often said he had
great recall for the unimportant, and I believe that holds true with this generation
both Christian and non-Christians alike.
But it is the important I often forget as a follower of Jesus Christ, do
you recall Jesus saying, "Do
not judge so that you will not be judged. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your
standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew
7:1-2) When I stop and reflect on my
day, I often wonder do I really believe Jesus tells the truth? In that I find myself putting on the attitude
of a judge, but no one has given me that office, it happens when I’m driving,
at Wal-Mart, and even at home, and aren’t you glad your not like me.
Because Jesus tells the truth, am I
nuts, do not answer that, I may not be wacky, but I’m sure foolish, not wise or
discerning when I bring judgment on myself.
The Scripture above is about not passing judgment on one another, and it
would be helpful to understand these early followers of Christ in Rome to grasp
fully what is taking place. The problem
is that we have no clear understanding or historical interpretation of what was
happening, but it is believed that this new movement was attracting people who
had different opinions on matters that had little to do with what they believe
about Jesus, and much to do with customs and practices.
I’ve been a member of that church with
many rules, most of them were not taken from Scripture, but if you did not keep
them you were not in good standing with the deacons or their wives. Can you imagine a Jewish person with all the
traditions being in a new setting with these gentiles, and how easy it would be
to put pressure on others to believe what you have grown-up with. Paul and the apostles are saying, you were set free from all that stuff; fix your eyes on Jesus.
Jan and I attend Oakwood Church in New
Braunfels, Texas and we have people from all backgrounds and denominations that
have joined our body of believers. I’m
not sure how the early church did membership but I like how Oakwood goes about
it, no one walks an isle to join, instead they attend four hour long classes to
understand what we believe on key issues of the faith. Then if they are in agreement with the
doctrinal beliefs and I pray they feel the Spirit leading them to join, they
enter into a Covenant relationship agreeing to be part of a small group, attend
worship, and support the church with their tithe and offerings. These early followers may not have had a full
understanding of all the doctrinal beliefs, however they knew they once were
lost and that Jesus died on the Cross and was buried, and in three days He
arose the victor over death and the grave. That He was God’s Son and His blood covers all
sin, sin was paid for and by faith in Jesus they were members of His body.
Our judgeship robes should be left at
the feet of Jesus, for who are we “to pass judgment on the servant of another?
It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for
the Lord is able to make him stand.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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