Of Meats and Herbs

Dear class,

Today's readings are taken from Genesis 41-42 and Romans 14.

Romans 14 on stumbling is often a stumbling block to the misinformed and deliberate detractors!
Bearing in mind firstly, the epistle had been homing in on the contrast of the Old and New Law. Secondly, Paul is talking about our Christian attitude in general and not specifics per se. Even the specifics had to be kept within the context. At this juncture I would like to emphasise that we need to adopt the same approach and attitude in our study in general. When we start taking things out of context without looking at the overall structure, at least within the book itself, we will often find ourselves hopelessly lost. Is this a "modern" man-made technique? No! Notice the numerous quotations of Jesus and the apostles and writers from the Old Testament. What were they trying to do? They were trying to show God's overall plan presented in His Word.

Anyway...I'm drifting. The point here is, Romans 14 is talking about a concept. The concept lies in vs. 17-19
Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

A concept that as a new spiritual family our primary focus is on things above not on worldly differences. A focus on things that will strengthen the spiritual bond and not break it down.
Once again, we need to bear in mind the illustrations here have specific reference to Old Testament practices. Of clean and unclean beasts. Of the observance of Sabbath. It's not a case to justify anything as long as it's "of faith". It would be a gross misuse of this passage (esp 14-17) to use it to justify drinking or celebrating Christmas (vs 6)!
Paul is referring to specifically the practice of early Jewish converts who had insisted on Gentiles obey the Old Law (circumcision, abstinence from unclean meats, observing Sabbath, etc. c.f.Act 15:1-29).

So what then is this thing about "of faith" (v.23). As we've mentioned on various occasions, faith (biblical faith), whether it be belief of the system of belief can only originate from the Word of God (Rom 10:17). Now what about v.22? Isn't it stretching it a little?
Suppose we extend the argument to a non-believer. When does one believe he sins? When his conscience is pricked. But how is the conscience of a Christian to be shaped? By God's Law. Thus when we do something not "of faith" it means it has violated our conscience in God. What about v.22b? "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." Again we need to refer back to the context which is explained in v.23 of meats. This is in NO WAY an endorsement that as long as our conscience allows it, it is acceptable. This is not conscience in a worldly, general sense but a God informed one. Whether it be a conscience of the weak or strong brother, it must have godly basis! The Jewish Christians were raised in, and believed in unclean meats and that is perfectly fine because it was endorsed by God for them. But God had no such provision to the Gentile Christian. So either view was fine in the conscience of God but to the individual it was a different matter. The thing here was that neither was to bind his personal conscience upon another.
To be reiterated here is that only matters that are authorised are in discussion. We can't apply this concept to say alcoholic beverages (btw the "wine" in v.21 surely must refer to grape juice and makes sense because of the reference to the Nazarite vow - another OT practice) because it's consumption is not authorised in the first place. We do not consume alcoholic beverages not because it may violate a "weaker" brother's conscience but because it violates our conscience in Christ - i.e. it's not a God authorised act.

So to flesh out what Paul is talking about, let us put ourselves in a possible scenario at that time. We have a group of Christians, some of Jewish descent, some of Gentile descent but were of converted Jewish faith and some of Gentile descent and previously practiced pagan religion. They come together for a meal prepared by a Gentile brother. Not knowing the customs, he prepared pork dishes and some vegs as well. The Jewish Christians are very uncomfortable with the meat dishes, thus they ate only the vegs. Some of the ex-Gentile Jews, followed suite, others held back. The Gentiles had no qualms. The Jews could likely look upon the more "liberal" Gentile Jews with disdain in eating pork but they couldn't care less about the Gentiles. So it would be wise for the Gentile Jews, for the sake of the Jews to not eat pork in this situation, even though they didn't think it wrong. On the other hand, it would also be wise for the Jews or the Gentile Jews not to eat (even though they may realise there's nothing wrong) for the sake of conscience in the old law. It would have been perfectly fine if they refrained rather than eat for the sake of "giving face" to the host and violate their conscience. Would that conscience in the old law fade? Perhaps. Perhaps by the next potluck, everyone would be perfectly fine with whatever food! But the crux of the matter was that everyone belong to the body of Christ and were enjoying fellowship with God and one another. There's no dissension about food or any other previous practice but just edifying words one to another in the new life.

Again we want to reiterate Paul's exhortation in v.19 - Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
God help us all to put focus and priority where God has placed.

In Him
Paul


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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. ~ Romans 1:16,17