RECEIVE THE WEAK IN FAITH

Romans 14:1-3 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him, which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

The apparent conflict between that Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians, that made up the church of Christ is Rome, is made clear in the lesson text, and the teaching of Paul that follows. Each group seemed to be bringing into the church, beliefs, rites, and rituals that pertained to the old Law of Moses, or from the practice of pagan customs. For instance, the religious observance of certain days is a topic Paul discusses beginning with verse five of this chapter. However, here in the lesson text, Paul discusses, and makes clear, God's will, regarding the eating of certain foods as a religious practice in Christian living.

There is no doubt that, if Jewish Christians thought it to be necessary, in living a Christian life, to eat and/or avoid certain foods, they could be considered weak in the faith. Although the Old Covenant was fulfilled by Jesus and nailed to the cross, the "old habits" of the Jewish faith were apparently hard to break. This, evidently, was the case inferred by this lesson from the apostle Paul. As we study early Christians, according to God's word, we find that most, if not all, were babes in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1), just the same as newly born Christians are today. Infant Christians were not then, and are not now, fully rooted and grounded (Eph. 3:17) in sufficient faith and knowledge, to sustain them throughout their spiritual lives within the body of Christ. Spiritual babes, those that are weak, need to be received into Christian fellowship with understanding and compassionate hearts - with open arms of love. There must never be derisive debate over personal preferences in the body of Christ. Things that are meaningless to some are often significant to others. As long as the truth of God's word is not compromised, there should always be peace and harmony among Christian men and women, of all nations and ethnic backgrounds.

The debate, that is inferred in the lesson text, was probably one similar to that which existed within the church at Corinth (See 1 Cor. 8). It is well known that certain meats were offered to idols in pagan religious rites, and after being offered, they were sold in the open market. Jewish law forbad the eating of such meats. However, it was not possible, for Jewish Christians who continued this practice, to distinguish between such meats in the marketplace. Therefore, for the sake of this Jewish custom, all meats were abstained from, to avoid the possibility of eating that which was offered to idols. Regarding this, Paul wrote to the Corinthian brethren, But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse (1 Cor. 8:8). In other words, regarding the eating of such meats, there was no such law in the New Covenant under which Christians are to live and obey.

However, there were some weak, babes in Christ, that held to this Old Covenant law, and carried it over, for conscience sake, as a rule to their conduct of life. For those having complete knowledge of God's will regarding these things, to eat such meats in front of them was a stumbling block to them that are weak (Vs. 9). To intentionally defile the conscience of an unlearned Christian over meaningless personal practices such as this, in itself, is a violation of God's will. Paul gives us a good example of how Christians are to respond to this, as well as what our response is to be to any other personal preference of fellow Christians. He closed out his teaching to the church a Corinth with this exhortation: Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend (Vs. 13).Those that prefer to abstain from the eating of meats are not to pass their personal judgment on those that eat such meats. Neither are those that eat such meats to pass their personal judgment on those that abstain.

God hath received each of them, both Jew and Gentile, by adding them to the church of Christ. Likewise, fellow Christians are commanded to also receive them regardless of their personal preferences. Within the body of Christ there is no distinctions made concerning meats; in New Testament law there are no "clean" or "unclean" meats. This should never be an issue that divides a congregation of God's people. Within His church there is to be unity, peace, and harmony. Never should there be dissention over meaningless, personal preferences. The unity and harmony that God requires in His church, can only be achieved through mutual tolerance and endurance. Forbearance is required of all Christians, therefore all Christians are to disregard all preferences and actions of others, that are not morally wrong, and thereby receive the weak in faith.