As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
In Paul’s context, to pass judgement on the servant of another was inadmissible.* The reality was that a servant (domestic slave, translated more directly) only needed the approval of their master.* The approval of another servant was unnecessary.* So it is for us.
Paul’s effort here is not to define who is weak and who is strong in the faith by certain behaviors, but he seeks to provide rules of engagement for those who see others as weak in their faith.* In one case, those who abstain judge others who enjoy.* In the other case, those who enjoy look down upon those who do not.* Paul attempts to create a culture that embraces unity and purity alike.*
When we see other believers engaging in things that are clearly morally and biblically wrong (i.e. committing adultery), our call to purity demands that we interject.* When we see other believers engaging in things not specifically addressed by Scripture (i.e. music style, version of the Bible, etc), we must not allow them to divide us.* These fall under the category of adiaphora, or, “things indifferent.”*
Sometimes we too quickly look down on other believers or congregations because they have not “received the revelation that we have,” or we look down on others because they have forsaken treasured and meaningful traditions. Paul would say that our Master has accepted all who put their faith in Jesus Christ, so if they are not breaking the law of purity and morality as outlined in Scripture, we must not judge one another.* This is inadmissible.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to repent for looking down on another denomination or believer that you have known. Perhaps today God wants to speak to you about the things that you are or are not doing as a believer. Maybe God wants you to abstain from something or engage in something as a spiritual practice.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 510–514). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 355–360). InterVarsity Press.
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 476–480). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 446–449, 452–453). Zondervan Publishing House.