Home>
Ministries>
The Pastor Nathaniel's Blog>
The Pastor's Blog Archives>
Pastor's Blog Archives 2021>
Pastor's Blog September 9, 2021
"View of God in Romans XXVII"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
Throughout church history, Christians have often been concerned with right and wrong. We have all developed complex ways of "knowing" who is following God and who isn't. But did you know we can discern God's acceptance of people based on the way in which he perpetually relates to us? Romans 14:3-4 says, "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. 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" (NASB).
The "eating" issue Romans 14 is alluding to concerns eating meat that had been offered to idols. In the ancient world, animals that had been sacrificed in pagan religious ceremonies were offered to various gods and goddesses, and then the meat was sold in the marketplace after the animal had been slaughtered in or near pagan temples. Many Jews (including those who followed Jesus the Messiah) refused to eat such meat, believing the consumption of this meat was a participation in idolatry. Paul is saying in verse 3 that those with "strong faith" feel comfortable eating such meat, while those with "weak faith" feel uncomfortable doing so - yet both groups of believers tended to judge each other's faith as deficient!
This may seem like a strange issue to get upset about, since we no longer offer animals to gods and goddesses; we simply butcher them, and then sell the meat at the grocery store. But notice what Paul highlights as God's approach to the two groups: he loves and accepts adherents of both positions. Paul stresses how inappropriate it is for us to judge each other, because we are all servants - and only our Lord and Master, God himself, has the right and authority to judge us. The apostle arrived at this conclusion by looking at the way God continually relates to us: "and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand" (which also includes women). God is always causing us to stand in him. So don't spend time condemning each other, friends. Instead, entrust yourselves and each other to the God who judges rightly and accepts you.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
