Romans 14

[ShiroiHikari]

Romans 14: Weak and Strong

One morning while I was reading the Word, this particular chapter really stood out to me, and I thought I'd share it with you all. (my apologies for any typos...)

1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we belong to the Lord.

...13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block in your brother's way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else ot stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Chapter 15: 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

...7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (NIV)

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How do you guys think this applies to this particular community? Please reply, I'd like to discuss-- but please be mature and civil.

Thanks for your time...

[Mithrandir]

and everything that does not come from faith is sin

plus

... There are few things that make me lose respect for a person faster than when they break their personal standards.

make for some real interesting areas of study.
I would try to wrap everything into a few more broad categories first off, but then, I think looking at these two statements closely, I see a good deal of smart faith here.

Everything seems to be progressing nicely...

I am content.

(That was not meant to sound sinister, despite what some people evidently think...)

[EireWolf]

Yeah, what Gypsy said! ^.^

Actually, I have quoted these very verses right here on CAA, I think in some discussion about what anime is appropriate for a Christian to watch. It really depends on how the Holy Spirit convicts you (if you're listening...). For example, I have no problem watching Ranma 1/2, but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone on the forums because of some possibly objectionable content. On the other hand, I'm not about to watch hentai. It's all between me and God, but I also have to be careful what I am saying to my brothers and sisters in Christ, if something I say may be a stumbling block to them.