Jul 31 – 1 Chronicles 9, 1 Chronicles 10:1-14 Romans 14:1-18 Proverbs 18:17-24, Proverbs 19:1-2

Romans 14:1-3

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.

What’s Paul taking about in this chapter? First – we need to ensure we don’t despise each other. There are some very important things that are non negotiable, such as the divinity of Christ, the need for repentance – the fallen nature of Man and so on..

But some things… such as what food we should eat – aren’t such  big deal. Certainly not something we should be splitting up over.

Paul is keen that we defend truth – but not quarrel over opinion.

If one person believes they shouldn’t eat certain things – well, they may be wrong or it may be out of a weakness of faith, but let’s be sensitive to each other. If someone is offended by what you eat or drink, don’t eat or drink it around them and don’t force their opinion on them – because what does it really matter?

Paul knew nothing was unclean, but he wasn’t about to hurt someone Jesus died for just to win an argument. Instead he looked for peace and mutual growth.

Some esteem one day above another – is he talking about the sabbath? Looking at the context of the church in Rome this seems likely. Each party are fully convinced in their own mind, but really what does it matter? It’s not worth disharmony.

Peace is more important that winning an argument.

However – look at the way Paul went after the Galatians over the issue of the Law and circumcision. We don’t fight over the things that are unimportant. but we simple must defend the things that are. Peace is not an excuse for allowing heresy or sin. And we must learn to tell the difference between the two.