What's For Dinner - Part 2 of 7

CONTRASTING FIRST CENTURY BELIEVE

"Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him." (Rom 14:1-3)

 

From the previous discussion, we can understand that the person who "eats vegetables only" is the person who maintains the dietary laws. Although Paul refers to this individual as "weak in faith," his words are best understood as contrasting the different understandings of believers, not elevating or condemning one position relative to the other. Paul repeatedly cautions all believers against "passing judgment" and "regarding with contempt." "Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind," (Rom 14:4).

The entire 14^th chapter of Romans is devoted to contrasting the believer who is compelled to maintain the dietary laws in the commandments (Jew/Proselyte) and the believer who is not compelled to the same degree (Gentile). Devoting a significant portion of his letter to the subject of eating indicates that the discussion must have been a common point of contention in the early church.  Modern Messianic believers are blessed to have a unique perspective and appreciation of Paul's words.  Let us attemp to divide the chapter into the respective target audiences.

To the Gentile/Messianic..	To the Jew/Proselyte/Messianic…
2 One person has faith that he may eat all things,	2 but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat,	3 and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 another regards every day alike.	5 One person regards one day above another,
APPLIES TO BOTH 5 Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God;	6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord,… and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.
APPLIES TO BOTH 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt?	10 But you, why do you judge your brother?
APPLIES TO BOTH 10 For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD,EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this — not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.
	14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;
APPLIES TO BOTH 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.	23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Paul writes that God has accepted both the believer compelled to follow the dietary laws as well as the believer who is not equally inclined, (Rom 14:3). Since salvation and position before God are not in doubt, the overriding principles of interaction for each type of believer are summarized by Paul in this manner:

To the Gentile who does not maintain the dietary laws Paul writes, "The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat."

 

To the Jew and Gentile who maintain the dietary laws Paul writes, "The one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats." 

Believers who desire to maintain a greater level of compliance to the commandments are not to judge their brother for his lack of compliance. For judging could impact the conscience of the person would eats all things.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul will reverse the terms and warn the brother who does not maintain the dietary laws to not "act as your judge in regard to food or drink or is respect to a festival or new moon or a Sabbath day," (Col 2:16).

At the same time, believers who are not compelled to greater adherence should not regard with contempt those who do adhere. Contempt disheartens the believer compelled to greater compliance, discourages others from a similar calling, and builds a wall of contention between believers. As Paul writes,

"But you, why do you (Jew/Gentile) judge your brother? Or you again, why do you (Gentile) regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God." (Rom 14:10).

Believers who consider themselves Messianic and those who worship with them have been given a unique 21^st century perspective to understand the words of Paul. Just as in the days of Paul, some Messianic believers are compelled to a greater compliance to the dietary commandments, while others Messianic believers have not become equally compelled. For this reason, the meals at Beit HaDerek often consist of breads and salads so that fellowship can be practiced, while protecting the conscience of all participants. This is acceptable and proper demonstrating the principle expressed by Paul,

"Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food…It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God," (Rom 14:21-22).

(to be continued - Scott)