JC Blog

It is easy to read a passage such as this and think it does not apply to us today. In general we do not see the dietary struggles that the early church experienced because we are not trained with the Old Testament laws and regulations they were trained in. However the underlining principal that Paul is addressing in this passage still applies today.

First we are to judge ourselves to make sure we are not causing others to stumble by our actions.  This should be a mindset not to use our freedom to destroy the faith of our brethrens. Paul was fully convinced that no food was unclean but it was how that food was received that made it unclean for that individual. If they weren't receiving from faith then to them it was unclean. Sometimes these truths take a while to take hold in our lives. Paul told Timothy, "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer" ( I Timothy 1:4-5 ). Everything that God made is good and nothing has to be refused if we receive it with thanksgiving and from faith.

This struggle between the old covenant law and the new and better covenant that we enjoy today extends far past dietary laws of eating and drinking. Early Christians struggled over these things because they did not understand that they were a shadow of the things to come. Colossians 2 speaks directly to this very thing, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ" ( Colossians 2:16-17 ). Likewise today, some Christians still hold to Old Testament ritual without any idea that the ritual has become reality in Christ. But now that Christ has come, the rituals are meaningless and can become oppressive. This is why it is important to fully understand the differences in the covenants so we can walk in the freedom and liberty that Christ purchased for us, ratifying it with His precious blood.

The bottom line is that we are all in different stages of maturity in Christ. We should encourage one another and we should decide to walk in the freedom that Christ has revealed to us while making up our minds not to cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble in their faith by our actions. How we do this is by loving our neighbor as ourselves. In the previous chapter Paul summarized that our duty was to love and act in love toward one another ( Romans 13:10 ). If we ignore the influence our actions have on others, we are not walking in love. So we must continue toward the freedom into which we have been called while loving and extending grace and patience with our fellow believers.

As believers we have incredible freedom in Christ Jesus. The longer we walk with Him the more liberty we will experience because He patiently shows and encourages us how to tear down barriers that stand in the way. This is why we should not get hung up on minor things. Many Christians like to argue and discuss the small stuff instead of walking in the truth they already know. Instead we should be fully convinced in our own minds what is right and decided that whatever we do we are doing it for the Lord. The difference is the condition of the heart.

Paul said in Colossians, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" ( Colossians 3:17 ). What a difference this perspective can make. It doesn't matter what you do if your motive is wrong. You can serve as a missionary on foreign soil and give all your money to feed the poor, but if your heart is not true then what good is it? The Lord looks on the heart and sees the intention behind the actions. In the same way, insignificant things in the eyes of the world with pure motives please the Lord because it shows a changed heart, warm and responsive to His kingdom.

What a marvelous concept! We do not have to worry about what we eat and drink or which day is holy or special. We simply decide that whatever we do we do as worship before the Lord and let others do the same. We do not belong to ourselves, we belong to God. "So whether we live or die we belong to the Lord". Understanding this will free us to continue walking in truth. Paul said, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" ( Romans 14:17 ). These are the things we should pursue and obtain. The more we do not get hung up on trivial matters the more we will understand those things and see them in operation.

I am so thankful that God looks on the heart instead of outward appearances. He reassures us of this in his word, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." ( I Samuel 16:7 ). It has been this way since the beginning. Today, I pray that you decide in your heart not to get wrapped up in outward appearances or in what you do or don't do, but condition your heart to be soft and pliable before the Lord. Proverbs says, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man" ( Proverbs 27:19 ). Jesus put it this way, "For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks" ( Luke 6:45 ). If we work on our heart and get it pure and our motives right then our actions will reflect the condition of our hearts.  May this truth bless and free you, knowing that everything you do you can do for the Lord and His glory, amen!

Every believer has their own convictions in life. Some have found complete freedom in Christ while others continue to wrestle with certain things. Paul gives instruction to both types of believers to accept and encourage each other without passing judgment.

The example he used was the difference between Jewish believers and Gentile believers. The Gentiles had no convictions about eating certain meats but the Jewish Christian would only eat vegetables for fear of breaking an Old Testament dietary law. Paul said that the Gentile Christians should not look down on the Jewish Christians because their faith had limited their diet.  In the same way the Jews should not condemn the Gentiles for eating those meats and exercising their freedom in Christ. 

Paul is revealing the danger for those who have a revelation of God's grace; it is easy to become insensitive to and impatient with brethren who haven't yet come to that knowledge. We must learn to balance our freedom in Christ around those brothers and sisters so we can encourage and love them without destroying them in the process. In the same way, believers that haven't yet renewed their mind to this freedom can become judgmental and condemning of other brothers. They also need to consider that God has accepted their brethren and shown them the freedom to which they were called. Each person should consider one another and how to mutually edify and encourage in the Lord instead of condemning and destroying.

As such we were called to be servants, not judges. We have a responsibility to judge ourselves alone and let the Lord judge others. We should make sure that we put no stumbling blocks in anyone's way. We should be fully convinced in our own minds what is right and good to do and act upon that. If we do this, then we are proceeding in faith and the Lord responses to faith. Paul said later on in this chapter, "everything that does not come from faith is sin" ( Romans 14:23 ). Therefore we should let the Lord reveal these truths to us and act on them alone without condemning our brothers and sisters who haven't yet come into this revelation. For the Lord is mighty to support and uphold us, He is patient as we walk further and further into the knowledge of His word.

May God bless you with a revelation of the freedom that was purchased for you in Christ Jesus and may you walk in this, fully convinced in your heart, amen!