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Question:

“What is Romans 14 really all about?”

Answer:

I understand why you ask the question because Romans 14 is often used out of context to make an unrelated point, which is, “Go ahead and eat whatever you want as long as you ask God's blessing on it. Romans 14 as well as Peter’s rooftop vision proves that God no longer cares what we eat.”

I couldn’t disagree more with that use of Romans 14 or of Peter’s vision. I think God cares a great deal what we eat because physical life and spiritual life are inextricably and profoundly linked. Healthy people always bring more glory to God than unhealthy people. I would care greatly if my kids decided to eat cake, ice cream, Fruit Loops, and candy every morning for breakfast, even if they informed me that they would ask God to bless it. When God gave health laws to his children he gave them for the same reason we give health laws to our children. Even in the Old Testament the health laws were given not for ceremonial reasons but for practical reasons. Naturally God wants us to be healthy and what we eat is without question the biggest factor in influencing our health.

What Romans 14 is really about is unity and every Christian’s responsibility to create unity. It just so happened that the example Paul used to make this point on unity was food. But he could have used anything else just as easily.

Basically Paul is saying that before anything else unity is a necessity among Christians. The mature Christian may understand that he can eat certain things offered to idols because he understands that the entire concept of food being contaminated by a block of wood or stone is pretty lame. Idols have no power to affect food. But such a Christian should not let his freedom in this matter affect unity. If someone is offended by this, for goodness sake, it’s not worth it. For the sake of unity don’t eat any food in the presence of a weaker Christian if it causes him a crisis.

In the interest of unity the mature Christian has a responsibility to protect the immature Christian as a mature parent would protect an immature child. However, Paul goes on to point out that the immature Christian has a responsibility also, and that is not to judge the mature Christian based on his own perception of right or wrong. We must all give other Christians the freedom to live according to their own conscience.

In the end, says Romans 14, just get along. Don’t knowingly hurt each other. Mind your own business when it comes to other people’s morality, and treat gently those who can’t seem to mind their own business concerning your morality. Love each other and maintain unity. That is what Romans 14 is about.

* Send your Bible questions to Pastor Jeff at pastorjeff@scoggins.biz