This morning's subject is difficult to consider objectively. It is not difficult because it is hard. It is difficult because (a) it is often an emotional reaction rather than an honest examination of the text; (b) it is challenging to locate spiritual balance in our religious world of today; and (c) it demands we consider scripture that often is counter to our religious heritage. This morning, accept the challenge to consider Paul's statement in the context of their situation.
It should be of some encouragement to us to realize that our text involved a difficult problem area for the Christians in Rome. Paul was challenging them to consider an all-too-real situation they constantly confronted. Typically Jews developed their own community wherever they went. To a large extent, the typical Jewish community was a "closed" community-they associated socially primarily with other Jews. For example, the devout Jew would not commonly invite people who were not Jews into his home for a meal. Commonly, Jews did not socialize in a home or community context with people who were not Jews.
They commonly had association in business activities with people who were not Jews. However, devout Jews often observed strict regulations in regard to business transactions [such as Sabbath regulations] with people who were not Jews. People who were not Jews were welcome in their synagogue assemblies to (a) learn about the living God; (b) study the scriptures; or (c) advance on the road to conversion to Judaism by becoming proselytes.
Among the Jews in countries outside of Palestine [the Diaspora Jews], it was not unusual to have people who were not Jews in synagogue attendance. [Note in Acts 10:2, 22 that Cornelius was not a Jew, but was a man who "feared God". Also note when Paul spoke to a synagogue gathering at Pisidian Antioch on a Sabbath (Acts 13:14-16, 26), he addressed the men of Israel {Jews} those who feared God {people who were not Jews}. It was the response of people who were not Jews (Acts 13:44-52) that created a negative Jewish response and a community crisis.]
Please understand we are simplifying a complex situation. The actions of Jews who lived in Palestine and the actions of Jews who lived in countries elsewhere sometimes were distinctly different. There were even discernible differences in the practices of the Diaspora Jews.
Basically, this was a common practice of Jewish Christians: "You people who are not Jews or proselytes are welcome to be a part of 'our' Christian community if (a) you do things according to Jewish traditions, (b) come to us, and (c) follow our procedures. The Jewish Christians who understood that gentile converts to Christ were 100% acceptable to God without becoming Jewish proselytes were a distinct minority. There were not many Jewish converts like Paul, Barnabas, John Mark, Silas, Timothy, and Aquila and Priscilla. While today's Christian is quite familiar with those people, they did not represent the majority of Jewish believers. (See Acts 15:1, 5; 21:20; Romans 11:11-36.)
With that as context [a major Christian adjustment in accepting both Jewish believers and gentile believers as a rightful part of the Christian community], note some things in today's text.
First, the differences were real. Some Jewish Christians in the fear that some of the meat at the meat market may have been part of an idolatrous sacrifice chose to be vegetarians. Some gentile Christians ate meat regardless of its source. Some Jewish Christians observed holy days that, for centuries, were significant in worshipping God. Some gentile Christians recognized no day as a holy day that existed to honor the living God. Romans 14:21 indicates the arguments also included using wine.
Second, the context is about continuing in relationship with God, not in hurting someone's feelings. The conflict in today's text did not involve Christians saying other Christians were distressing them in "the way I feel about this." The conflict involved some Christians declaring to other Christians, "You do not belong to God!"
Judaism did have a dietary code that factored powerfully in the holiness of the Jewish person. See Leviticus 11. Christianity had [has] no dietary code. See 1 Timothy 4:3-5. While many of us regard eating food a "secular" rather than a "religious" concern, food and the place food was consumed was a major matter of religious division/contention between Jewish Christians and gentile Christians. Eating was a part of Jewish sacrificial worship (1 Samuel 1:4-9a), as it was in sacrifices offered to idols (Acts 15:20, 28, 29). Remember Daniel's actions in Daniel 1:8-16? Remember the instructions from Jewish Christians in Jerusalem to gentile Christians in Acts 15:28, 29? This controversy appeared in Paul's instructions to Christians in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10:23-33.
Jewish converts had one opinion of what was acceptable to God. Gentiles had an entirely different opinion. In belonging to God through Jesus Christ, it was not necessary for Jews to become gentiles, or for gentiles to become Jews.
Third, each group must understand that God did not appoint either group of Christians to judge the Christians who were different. Matters of opinion were to be understood to be matters of opinion. Matters of opinion were not to be elevated to the status of doctrine and thereby an evaluation of one's relationship with God.
Fourth, every Christian was to understand, "I am God's servant, not God's appointed judge of other Christians." God is the only judge. Christians belong to God! The Sovereign God can sustain relationship with both the vegetarian and the meat eater, with both the observer of holy days and the Christian who says every day is alike.
Fifth, God knows the motives of each person. He knows when He is being honored by the vegetarian and by the meat eater. He knows when one's behavior proceeds from his/her faith. The objective is to honor God by being a faith motivated person who puts God in charge of every aspect of life.
Do not limit God by others' behavior! Serve God as one who will be judged by God!
Note God's objective was not a homogenous Christian community, but a respectful Christian community. Note God is sovereign, and in His sovereignty He is bigger than anyone's "rules of righteous behavior."
For Thought and Discussion:
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 9