Question
We have been studying Romans at church.We have had some mixed discussion on the interpretation of Romans 14. What is Paul talking about concerning disputable matters in reference to dealing with the weaker brother in Christ and the stronger?
Answer
This is one of the most challenging and important passages we can study. I do not claim to understand this passage perfectly6, but I will do my best to state what I believe the Bible teaches here. First, we will determine the situation Paul has in mind. Then, we will distinguish these situations from others that he does not have in mind. Afterward, we will note who is the weaker and stronger and how they should behave toward one another. Finally, we will seek to give some examples that we can identify with in our day.
1. The Situation under discussion in Romans 14:1-6.
ROM 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. ROM 14:2 One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. ROM 14:3 Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. ROM 14:4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. ROM 14:5 One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. ROM 14:6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. The situation Paul is addressing seems to be when Christians disagree about various matters of opinion. Therefore, He is not speaking of matters of faith where we must believe in certain things according to what God requires us to do, but he is speaking of situations where, because of our weakness (uninformed conscience), we restrict ourselves more closely than God does.
The examples that he gives make it clear that is speaking about these types of opinions, which become matter of faith (although uninformed) as they are practiced privately by weaker individuals. Some, who are weak, believe they should not eat meats and only eat vegetables. But the one who is strong (informed) knows that God has not so restricted the individual in this way. the same would go for observing days. Some see more importance to one day over another.
CAUTION: Before proceeding, I must emphasize again, Paul is not dealing with matters that have to do with God’s requirements of us. For example, God requires that we worship on the first day of the week, not the Sabbath (seventh) day. therefore, there is no room for differences in opinion about this. It is a matter of faith that we must agree on if we are going to work and worship together in a local congregation. Acts 20:7.
In the cases Paul is speaking of, whether we do the thing or not, is fine as long as we treat each other properly and do not bind our opinions on others.
2. The strong and the weak.
In this chapter, the strong are those who know that God does not limit them in these matters of judgment. They know they can eat all things with thanksgiving to Him. The weak are those who believe that God has restricted them in these areas. They should not eat certain things or not observe days in a special way.
3. How should they treat one another? Rom. 14:12-23.
Earlier, Paul mentions that the strong should not look with contempt at the weak. Further, the weak should not judge the strong as being wrong when they do not agree with the weak. Rom. 14:Fa3.
After reminding all that we shall all give account before God for our behavior (Rom. 14:120, Paul goes a step further in directing the strong how they should behave toward the weak. In Rom. 14:13-21, Paul states that the strong should not act in such a way as to place a stumbling block before a weaker brother. That is, even if I know that eating meat is fine, I should not persuade or intimidate a brother to eat it if he, for the time being, believes it is wrong for him to do so. Matters of opinion become sinful when the strong brother exercises his freedom without regard to the weaker. When the weaker participates in those things (thinking they are wrong), this is sin to him. to avoid these things, we should follow our own convictions privately and not do something if we believe it to be wrong. Rom. 14:22-23.
4. An example for today.
For us, a good example might be, there is nothing wrong with putting a tree in your home and giving gifts to one another on a certain day. However, if there are those who believe it is wrong to do anything on what some call Christmas day, then we should not offend them by trying to persuade them to participate in such things.
However, even though we have the freedom to do this, we must also realize that nowhere in the Word of God does God ever command us to observe the birth of Christ in some sense of special worship or celebration. So, whatever we do on that day, we should not practice any religious actions that God has not told us to do.
By Gary Hunt
