A major divisive issue in the first century Christian community was the relationship between Jewish Christians and gentile Christians. Neither Jewish Christians nor Jewish people were opposed to the conversion of people who were not Jews [gentiles]. Jews had been converting gentiles for a long time (Matthew 23:15).
There were two types of gentiles who were attracted to Judaism [the Jewish religion]. One type was known as 'god fearers.' Cornelius was that kind of gentile (Acts 10:1,2). These gentiles believed in the God the Jews followed, often attended synagogues, and adopted some Jewish practices [Cornelius was benevolent to Jews in need and offered daily prayers]. However, these people did not submit to circumcision and other acts involved in full conversion.
The second type was proselytes. These gentiles fully converted to Judaism. Though they were born to gentile parents in a gentile environment, they adopted Jewish culture and Jewish traditions in the conversion process. Basically, they abandoned their old culture and immersed themselves in the Jewish culture.
The critical step in gentile conversion to Judaism was circumcision. All devout Jews were circumcised eight days after birth (Genesis 17:12). Please remember this was a religious rite, not a hygiene practice. Circumcision was the Jewish family's affirmation of Israel's covenant with God and their commitment to continue allegiance to that covenant into the next generation. Among devout Israelites, it was unthinkable that anyone could be a part of 'God's chosen people' without submitting to the rite of circumcision (see Genesis l7:13 and Exodus 12:48). If gentiles were to enter a covenant relationship with God, they (a) must become a part of the nation of Israel and (b) they must be circumcised [the two acts were mutually inclusive].
One can note the seriousness of this matter among Jewish Christians by reading Acts 11:1-3 (the Jewish Christians' response to Peter's association with Cornelius, his relatives, and close friends--Acts 10:24) and reading Acts 15:5 (the reaction of some Jewish Christians to the baptism of uncircumcised gentiles--Acts 15:1).
This intensely emotional debate WAS NOT about the right of gentiles to be saved by entering covenant with God. It WAS about HOW gentiles could be saved by entering a covenant relationship with God. Paul in preaching the gospel to gentiles did not require them to be circumcised or to follow Jewish traditions. Paul did not oppose Jews doing such things, but he did not bind Jewish practices on gentiles (see Galatians 2:7-9).
The majority of the Jewish Christians, especially many in the first congregation, declared Paul's approach to saving gentiles was wrong and would not work. God's grace and mercy, alone, would not erase the gentiles' pagan past. Jews knew how to get paganism out of these former idol worshippers. They had experience in that matter! They were qualified to declare to Paul, "Your way will not work! Your way is wrong!"
Paul wrote letters to two different groups who were distressed by the opposition of Jewish Christians--Galatians and Romans. To verify to yourself that this was the critical issue as Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, read Romans 11 [the entire chapter] and Romans 16:4 [noting the reference to the churches of the gentiles].
In the collective church at Rome, there were two distinct and identifiable groups. One group was strictly vegetarian [in a desire to eat nothing sacrificed to an idol], observed special religious days, and refused to drink wine. The other group purchased meat anywhere and ate any meat, considered every day to be alike [there are no religious days], and drank wine. The first group was Jewish Christians. The second group was gentile Christians.
Paul's basic instruction to both groups was to leave each other alone. (1) Accept each other, do not hold each other in contempt or judge each other. (2) All of you are God's servants, not each other's servants. God will make both groups stand! (3) Never forget the actions of each group arise from a desire to honor God.
Special attention is called to Romans 14:11,12: For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God." So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God (quoting from Isaiah 45:23).
The central point: each person will explain his convictions and deeds to God. In the context of Romans 14, the issue is not focused on what's in these two Christian groups, but on how their convictions (a) honored God and (b) showed respect to Christians who disagreed with them. It is sobering to realize (a) we were not charged to force Christians who disagree with us to conform to our convictions and views, but (b) we were charged to remember that we will explain our convictions and views to God Himself.
The point of Romans 14 was not centered in personal frustrations or an adamant determination to control. The point of Romans 14 centered on destroying Christians who disagree with 'me.' Paul spoke of those who were in Christ leaving Christ. Paul spoke of Christians abandoning salvation in Christ, not the 21st century practice of 'changing congregations' in order to be among those who 'see things like I do.' Paul said to Jewish and gentile Christians that it was a serious matter to cause one in Christ to abandon the Savior who died for him/her. For that action, one will answer to God. To declare to God that the Christian who left did not agree with 'my' views will be an unacceptable answer.
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 12