Before you read this article, take the time to get your Bible and open to Book of Romans in the New Testament, and take the time necessary to read Chapter 14… it is of utmost importance to be knowledgeable of the passage to understand the principles and context to be able to apply it to your life properly today. I trust you will find it enlightening as well as convicting, encouraging as well as correcting, engaging as well as connecting… NOW, that you have read it, ask the Lord to help you understand what His intentions are in having the Spirit inspire Paul to write the Roman Christians, and proceed

Romans 14:1-3  Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of arguing over differences of opinion. One person believes that he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. The person who eats any kind of food must not ridicule the person who does not eat them, and the person who does not eat certain foods must not criticize the person who eats them, for God has accepted him.

Okay – so maybe if you wrestle with heartburn from eating chocolate or coffee keeps you up at night – if you consume either of these too late in the day… you might have some doubts from eating something…. BUT, you and I both know that is NOT what Apostle Paul is referring to.

Paul is actually dealing with a problem, within the Church, of differences of conviction and opinion, about what people participate and partake in. An attitude of judgment and superiority had arose from those fickle folks that presume – that those who take part in things they deem bad are spiritually inferior Christians and are sinning; likewise those individuals – free ones – that recognize that those things are neither bad nor good, but things that can be enjoyed in the freedom of Christ, they also got an attitude toward the persnickety and particular people.

In fact – the free ones were “ridiculing” the fickle ones, and the fickle ones were “criticizing” the free ones… it was a battle of the religious opinions and personal preferences. Now – to clear up exactly what was going on, let’s look at the terms a little closer:

ridicule =          contemptible, despise, least esteemed, set at nought.

criticizing =      distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: – avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think

It is interesting, that the Holy Spirit has Paul specify “criticizing” – even using the same word, taking to task the fickle ones, stating they have “weak in faith” … and that are considering the free ones, judging them literally as “damnable” (see the definition of criticizing again)… That does not let the free ones of the hook for looking down on the fickle one’s weak faith… NO – rather, it means to not cause them to stumble – to be sure not cause them to act outside their faith level… Paul is saying that God considers both His servants – and the grace the free ones exhibit should lead them to give grace to the weak, and the fickle weak should let the Lord determine the judgment of the free ones – even HE will make them to stand, despite the fickle’ s criticizing of the free.

Romans 14:4  Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? He stands or falls before his own Lord—and stand he will, because the Lord makes him stand. 

Today, though between some Christian groups, certain foods are an issue that causes some conflict…. There are other issues of far greater importance that are causing the same attitudes today. Everyone is tired of hearing about them, but they certainly are causing quite a conundrum and are continuing to present the same fickle weak in faith verses the free in faith fight. You probably guessed it – masking, social distancing and vaccinations – all because of the dreaded COVID-19. Well, at least the virus is getting the blame, but it is revealing the real blame should be placed on our own hearts and minds as the sinful problem.

I guess – one would not have to talk about it if the truth was embraced, and the political agenda were not attached to the COVID-19…. but, that is not the case is it. The truth is fickle fear instead of free faith seems to be winning this whole thing. Practically speaking, eating and consuming and injecting are all things put into the body and partaken in… and all of it end up in the blood stream – the sugars, proteins, nutrients digested and put within the blood for energy, as well as the masking is to keep people from breathing in or swallowing – consuming – the “unclean” virus and thus getting into he body, and even the injecting goes directly into the body and blood… so you see the practical application of Romans 14 is of the same necessity today, as then! Simply, the truth is – In faith we are free! Un-condemned! While some despise those who prefer to partake of these COVID-19 rituals to feel and remain clean; even more judge those who prefer not to partake in them – knowing they are free and clean without them… and this is not just those outside the church; it is within.

WHY THEN DO SO MANY CAVE UNDER PRESSURE AGAINST THEIR OWN MINDS AND CONSCIENCES, BEFORE GOD AND PARTAKE IN WHAT OTHERS IMPOSE? WHY DO SO MANY NOT PARTAKE WHEN AGAINST THEIR OWN MINDS AND CONSCIENCES KNOW THE IMPOSITIONS ARE MEANINGLESS?

Romans 14:5  One person decides in favor of one day over another, while another person decides that all days are the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 14:7-8  For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. If we live, we live to honor the Lord; and if we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 

It is simply fickle fear over free faith – the fearfulness overcomes the faithfulness… and sadly, the condition of the duplicit and double-minded is sinful state of existence while attempting to maintain the mirage of conviction… Paul addressed that in the first century; and the answers need for the twenty-first century are on the Holy Spirit inspired line that follows:

Romans 14:23  But the person who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not act in faith; and anything that is not done in faith is sin. 

Praying All of Us Do Everything in Faith, Fully Convinced in the Freedom Found Alone in Christ’s Grace,