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 Scripture Reading : Romans 14:13

             There let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

As in our age, the early church had certain questions that caused a great deal of discussion, and some of the disputants developed into quarreling and condemning one another. In Romans 14 we have two of these matters mentioned—the eating of certain meats and observing certain days. The eating of meats was perhaps the most controversial subject in the early church. We find it referred to in such as swine, the camel, the coney, which the Old Testament classifies as unclean (Lev. 11, etc.), and these they were not to eat. It was difficult for the converted Jew to suddenly feel that it was no longer wrong to eat these things. Besides this, in the Gentile countries, before it was sold in the shambles, much meat was offered to idols. This caused many to wonder whether they should buy this meat and eat it.

Paul’s stand

Paul definitely takes the stand that nothing in and of itself is unclean. He says in Romans 14:14, "I know and am convicted by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean." Now some who were eating all meats were evidently belittling those who would not, and some who would not eat were condemning those who did. Paul pleads for tolerance in this matter. In Romans 14:3 he says, "Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him."

The observing of days

Paul also pleads for tolerance in connection with the observing of certain days. He says in Romans 14:5, 6:

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convicted in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.

Let us manifest the same spirit of tolerance toward others in matters one allows and others do not.

Controversial things today

Eating of meats is rarely a subject of controversy among Christians in our age, especially in America . Of course, most are aware that one religion abstains from meat on Fridays and also during "Lent." There is nothing in the Scripture to say that we should do this. It is simply an order from the particular religious organization. Yet that group judges others for it. The story is told of a Christian who went into a butcher shop in Europe , and brought the wrath of several in the shop down on his head by saying that he knew of no Scriptural reason why one should not eat meat on Fridays. Those in the butcher shop thought him to be a rank heretic because of daring to say such a thing. When he asked why they felt that way, all anyone could say was that Christ died on that day. They never were able to explain what Christ dying on Friday had to do with not eating meat, and the only reason they could give was that they had always done it that way. Though the Bible says nothing about it, the Christian later wrote that his attitude and example that day caused those in the shop to completely turn away from him and everything he had to say.

Should a Christian smoke?

Whether a Christian should or should not smoke or chew tobacco causes some controversy today. Some smoke or chew without any feeling of guilt, and they say it does not bother them at all. On this subject, an old and wise preacher of the Gospel who had been with the same small country congregation for over thirty years said,

Personally, I believe smoking and chewing tobacco to be an unclean habit that hinders a Christian's testimony for Christ, but I would certainly not condemn anyone for it. While I no longer do it myself, each Christian must answer to his Lord for himself. In my early days I often preached with a cigar in my mouth. This was between me and my Lord, but I often wonder whether some did not think less of my message because of it. During my youth, I was provoked because at a certain College Lectureship program they did not allow smoking on campus grounds. I thought it narrow and injurious to the cause of Christ to have such rules, and said such to those around me. One of the leaders quickly explain to me why they thought a Christian should not indulge in smoking. In my youthful zeal, I heartily disagreed, but nevertheless I did not smoke my cigar while on campus.

We should not judge whether a Christian who smokes until death can be saved or not, but probably we can agree that it is a needless, rather expensive, harmful and unclean habit that Christians could profitably do without.

The Sabbath or the First Day

The holding of days is a somewhat controversial subject among some today. Most are aware of the teachings of the religious groups who consider that observing Sunday instead of Saturday is wrong. Some argue that His Sabbath Day¹ of rest is greater than the resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week. Every indication both in the Word of God² and in history is that the early church immediately began meeting on and honoring the first day of the week. "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them" (Acts 20:7). This tells us that they remembered the Lord³ and had preaching on the first day of the week. "On the first day of the week let every one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper" (1 Cor. 16:2). This can only refer to the collections taken at their Lord's day meetings.

The Lord’s Day

Christians concede that it is proper to worship the Lord on the first day of the week. There has been a change in the day from the Sabbath to the first day of the week and there has also been a change in the mode of observance. It is a day on which we are to cease from our ordinary pursuits, not to primarily rest from them, but to serve the Lord. Six days of the week are given to man, but first of all the Lord wants one day for Himself. Let us see that we give the Lord's Day to the Lord. Let us not make it a holiday for ourselves.

How to observe the Lord’s Day

Some can do many things on the Lord's Day without a bad conscience that others would not dare do. Just where to draw the line is difficult to say. It seems proper that Christians should, as much as possible, avoid Sunday work; yet, if some must at times do this, we should be slow to condemn. One brother accused another of belonging to the devil because he was cutting his lawn on Sunday. No doubt it would have been better for the brother to do his cutting of the grass on Saturday if at all possible, but no one should condemn him for this if he does it with a clear conscience. It is better to devote the Lord's Day to serving the Lord and so avoid bringing offense to others. Let us be careful not to despise some for strict observance of the day, nor condemn others for a lack of strictness. Remember, before his own Master he stands or falls ( Rom. 14:4).

Observing other days

The observing of other days has also caused some controversy among Christians. Some have on occasion asserted that it is wrong to observe Christmas Day, saying there is no certainty regarding what time of the year Christ was born and there is nothing in the Word of God that tells us to especially remember His birth. Besides, the day has been greatly commercialized and many honor Santa Claus more than Christ. While some grant the truth of these assertions, they argue that Christians can use the day to honor Christ. It is true that at Christmas time many hear of and think of Christ who have never been born again and who do not attend worship services. Carols are sounded out over loud speakers in some places and many hear of the Savior, whether they want to or not. While commercialization is characteristic of that time of year, sacrificial giving is also prevalent. This they claim pictures the sacrificial giving of Christ for our sins, and also the blessed gifts the Lord bestows on His creatures. That there are many good sides to the Christmas season cannot be denied. Many Christian parents have decried the abuses of Christmas, but have discovered that for the good of their children they were compelled to some extent to follow along the customs of this season. Again, "Let each be fully convicted in his own mind" ( Rom. 14:5). So in this, too, let us neither despise nor judge. Let each one feel responsible to his own Lord.

Christ is the judge

In Romans 14, Paul pictures each Christian as a servant of Christ. As a slave is only answerable to his master, so each Christian is answerable first of all to Christ. He is certainly not answerable to the religious organizations of men and they have no right to sit in judgment on him. "Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls" ( Rom. 14:4). "But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ" (Rom. 14:10). "There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?" (James 4:12). Yes, who are you that you are trying to take Christ's office away from Him. Let us leave the matter of judgment to the Judge and to the day when He will judge His own. If a brother or sister definitely errs in something not controversial, in dealing with such let us seek to show the tenderness that our Lord used with erring Peter and the sinful woman of whom we read in John 8.

Put a stumbling block

Our verse (Rom. 14:13) not only says that we are not to judge one another, but also that we are not to put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in our brother's way. We should not allow a thing in our lives simply because we believe it not wrong, but we should also consider others. The eating of meats is not now likely to bring offense to Christians living in America , but Paul says, "Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble" (1 Cor. 8:13). "If your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died" (Rom. 14:15). Certainly we should not want to do anything that might hinder one of Christ's own in his life for Him.

We must not hinder others

There are some who have strict ideas as to how to observe the Lord's Day. One brother was heard to say, "I would not dare go to the store to buy a loaf of bread on Sunday. To do so would cause those people to talk about me, and they would not darken the doors of our meeting place." Another insisted that it was wrong to buy a coke once in a while and certainly wrong to drink one on the Lord’s Day. Sometimes one wonders if such brethren have forgotten the effect that such comments and actions might have on children, as well as other young people. Then again, have you ever heard a young person say, "Brother so-and-so smokes and drinks, so why can't I?" Let us be determined not to do anything which will in any way hinder others, whether young or old, weak or strong. "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves" ( Rom. 15:1).

Footnotes:

¹ For more information on the Sabbath, see The Ten Commandments in Additional Resources section of StudyJesus.com.

² For more information on the Bible, see God’s Word in A Religion Library section of StudyJesus.com.

³ For more information on the Lord’s Day, see Remembering Jesus in Additional Resources section of StudyJesus.com.