Romans 14-0 Christian Conduct (6) Issues Regarding Diet 1#
Romans 14-0 Christian Conduct (6)
Issues Regarding Diet
(JP Text Group - Organized by the Life of the Eagle)
Let us begin with a prayer:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise you for your grace. We gather once again to share your word, which is the principle and standard of our lives. May we apply your word in our lives, becoming examples to the world and a help to ourselves at all times. Bless this time, and may the Holy Spirit personally guide each person's heart, helping us to clearly understand your will and goodness in our lives. Thank you, Lord. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!
Brothers and sisters, peace in the Lord! Continuing the series on the Book of Romans, this is the sixth lecture on Christian conduct, focusing on issues regarding diet.
Romans 14:1-11
1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.
6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God."
Romans 14 mainly discusses issues regarding diet—what can be eaten and what cannot. After believing in Jesus, many people have different views, and some even argue about dietary issues. Paul provides us with answers to these questions.
The Bible gives us some daily behavioral guidelines, which are not demands. God wants us to do this because it is beneficial for us. When we act according to God's word, good behavior naturally follows, and we will overcome in all things, thus becoming examples to the world.
Everyone receives different levels of understanding from the Lord, and each person has slightly different focuses. When there are differing viewpoints, how should we respond? Should we be confrontational or accept one another?
In verse 1, "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters."
In daily life, when opinions differ, what should we do? We need a unified standard of behavior and basis.
Sometimes, some believers ask if it is okay to drink alcohol after believing in the Lord. Can we watch movies? Watch TV? Can we buy lottery tickets? Some even ask if dancing is permissible, if secular music can be listened to, if yoga can be practiced, or if we can visit graves during the Qingming Festival. Many questions arise about what is permissible and what is not. Some answers are the same, while others differ. How should we judge these matters?
First, we must understand God's intentions. Why does God not want us to do these things? It is because these things are not beneficial for us. We can see many laws and regulations in the Old Testament, which are principles for living. Some things are permissible to eat, while others are not. Recent studies have also found that not all animals are suitable for consumption; some are full of bacteria and not fit for eating. However, what God allows us to eat is beneficial for our bodies.
1 Corinthians 10:23-26
23 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."
Under the New Covenant, we do not please God through our actions. Rather, because of the blood of Jesus, we have already been accepted by the Father. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. This means that under the New Covenant, we can act according to our intentions, but we should consider whether our actions are beneficial for ourselves and others. If they are not beneficial, we should refrain from doing them. If they do not build others up, we should not engage in them.
However, because everyone has different levels of understanding, some may believe that something is not permissible, while others may understand that it is fine based on their faith. At this time, "Accept the one whose faith is weak." Each person receives different levels of faith from God; some have great faith, while others have little. But those with strong faith should not mock those with weak faith; those with weak faith should not judge those with strong faith. We simply view issues from different perspectives, and it is not always a matter of right or wrong.
Jesus Christ accepted us. We should also accept those with weak faith and not cause them to stumble. Sometimes it is better to yield than to engage in arguments. Of course, there are exceptions, such as when it comes to issues of salvation; we must hold to the truth. However, in other areas, such as dietary choices, those with strong faith should accept those with weak faith.
For example, regarding the issue of eating blood, both the Old and New Testaments tell us not to eat blood. If you encounter a new believer who thinks there is nothing wrong with eating chicken blood or duck blood, something they have enjoyed since childhood without any issues, then in this case, those who abstain should not argue with them. Although both sides may have their reasons, we should not debate who is right or wrong on this issue. If someone insists on eating, let them eat. Perhaps one day they will understand the related truths and the greater grace of Christ and choose to abstain themselves! If you argue with them when they are newly saved, and they become weak because of this, then how will their life grow?
"Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters." When people debate, they often seek to determine a winner or loser, but we aim for harmony and the benefit of others. Therefore, we should break free from the cycle of winning and losing. Sometimes, if yielding allows others to grow in their faith, what is wrong with that?
2 Some people’s faith allows them to eat anything, but those who are weak eat only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.
In today's passage, we can see differing views on dietary issues; some believe that everything is permissible to eat, while others eat only vegetables. Paul's solution is to receive according to each person's faith. The one who eats must not look down on the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not judge the one who does. We should not judge or criticize our brothers over this matter.
In dealing with others, we should be cautious not to fall into arguments. Eating or not eating is not a major issue; both eating meat and being vegetarian are acceptable. We should not argue endlessly over this. God accepts us not because of what we eat or do not eat, but because of Jesus.
In Romans 15:1-2,
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 our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
In life, we should bear with the weaknesses of the weak. In front of those who are vegetarian, we should refrain from eating meat, as they do not eat those things, to avoid arguments over food.
Regarding how Christians should live, what is permissible and what is not, Christians have differing opinions. Some say eating meat is good, while others say being vegetarian is better. However, we must remember that whether one is a carnivore or a vegetarian, if it is for the Lord's sake, it is good. What matters is where your faith lies.
The issue of what food to eat was debated in the early church, and many of the problems we face today were already encountered in the early church or during the Middle Ages. We should not fall into such arguments again.
Many issues have already appeared in the Book of Acts, when the church was just established and many practical issues were directly before them. For example, when someone just accepted Jesus, should they observe Jewish laws? Should they only eat clean foods like the Jews? Opinions on these matters were not unified, so the Bible also provides us with some guidelines regarding food.
Paul's conclusion is to receive according to faith but not to argue. If you believe eating meat is permissible, then eat meat. But do not look down on those who do not eat meat! However, those who do not eat should not judge those who do eat; we should not attack each other or judge one another. Why? The answer is given in verse 3: because God has accepted them.
Regardless of what they are currently eating, whether vegetarian or meat, God has accepted them. It does not mean that if you are saved and dare to eat meat, God will reject you; or that if you insist on being vegetarian, God will be more pleased with you. That has nothing to do with it.
Peter once struggled with this issue. During a prayer at noon, God showed him a vision.
A sheet came down from heaven containing four kinds of unclean animals, and a voice said to Peter: "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat!" Peter immediately used his own reasoning to rebut: "Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth." But what did God say? "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
God was not forcing Peter to eat those unclean things; it was a symbol indicating that the Gentiles would be saved. When facing these Gentiles, do not think of them as unclean; they are all people whom I have cleansed. You should now share the gospel with them. Therefore, salvation is not related to what one eats. Peter may have thought that the Gentiles, who eat unclean food, are unclean people. What does God mean? What one eats does not affect their faith; as long as they believe in Jesus Christ, they are saved.
In verse 4, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand."
This "someone else" actually refers to our Lord. People have no right to judge God's servants. Whether they stand or fall is up to their master; they will stand because the Lord can make them stand.
Always remember, do not misinterpret this verse, as it still pertains to the issue of what to eat or not eat. Therefore, do not apply it to other areas; do not judge others regarding what they eat or drink.
God delights in us not because of what we eat or do not eat. In the beginning of Genesis, it mentions Abel and Cain, both of whom offered sacrifices to God. Abel offered the fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock, while Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil. Why did God look with favor on Abel's offering but not on Cain's? Some say it is because God prefers meat.
In fact, it has nothing to do with food. Do not understand this with human reasoning. These are all symbols, foreshadowing that Jesus Christ would shed His blood and die for us, so that God could accept us.
In the early church, the Jews imposed many regulations on the Gentiles, saying you must be circumcised, you must do this, you must do that, you must observe the Sabbath and festivals, or else you cannot be saved. Are there not people today who fall into such regulations?
Galatians 4:9-11,
9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
We have come to know Jesus Christ; why return to those weak and miserable forces, referring to the law? You are already under the New Covenant; why go back to the Old Covenant? That is a weak and miserable force; why would you want to be enslaved by it? Observing days, months, seasons, and years.
Some people, especially in fellowships that often prophesy, often lead others back under the Old Testament law. We are under grace, under the New Covenant, and are already blessed. But a group of people tells you that according to the Jewish calendar, this year is a special year, a year of jubilee, a year of significance. They say we have waited 49 years, and finally, this year is a jubilee year, a special year. Because this is God's year of forgiveness, a year of grace!
Regardless of how detailed their messages are or how accurate their calculations are, remember, you are not in such a weak day, year, or festival. Because when Jesus Christ came, He paid the price for our sins on the cross, and from that day forward, every day, every month, every year is a blessed day. From the time Jesus died and rose again until today, every year is a year of grace. So do not let some people pull you back under the law; do not go back.
Some people ask if Christians can burn paper during the Qingming Festival. Brothers and sisters, we do not follow the world. Some say, "There is a lot of grass on our family grave; can we clean it during Qingming?" Actually, you can do this any day of the year. Why must it be done on this particular day with the world? Do you think this day is special?
Many people have heard that some Christians had no issues, but after going to sweep the grave during Qingming, they encountered problems. This does not mean that sweeping caused the issues; it is because when you join in with the world, you inadvertently open a door to the devil.
Some ask why we always gather on Sundays. For us, any day we gather, God is with us. The reason we choose Sunday is that it is the day of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, a day of victory over the devil. On that day, we celebrate Jesus' victory and His resurrection, so we set our gathering on Sunday. Of course, gathering on any day of the week, whether it be Saturday, Friday, or Thursday, is also blessed by God.
Today, under the New Covenant, it is not about what can or cannot be done, but about willingness. If you believe something is beneficial for others, then it is permissible. If it is not beneficial, then do not do it.
Galatians tells us the difference between law and grace; do not be bound by the rules, days, festivals, and years set by others. That belongs to the weak and miserable forces. You are already saved; do not be bound by these things, for they cannot affect your life. It is not that if you do these things, God will love you more; even if you do not do them, God still loves you. Amen!
Colossians 2:16-17 says,
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
In the Old Testament, many dietary laws ultimately point to Jesus Christ. For example, the grain offering points to our Jesus Christ; the Passover points to Jesus Christ; the Feast of Tabernacles points to Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, whether it is the New Moon or the Sabbath, all of these ultimately point to Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." What does He mean? He is not just the Lord of Saturday but also the Lord of Sunday, Monday, and every day of the week. He is Lord every day. We do not worship a specific day; we worship our God. This point must be understood. Because those were shadows in the Old Testament; in the New Testament, they refer to our Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is our center and our standard; the Old Testament laws are merely shadows. The intense debates between Jewish believers and Gentile believers were not only about observing the Sabbath but also about what to eat and drink, and whether to keep the commandments of the Old Testament. All these issues have been intensely debated.
Some say these things must be observed because they are beneficial to us. The Jews say they have kept them for decades, centuries, and even thousands of years. But Paul believes that these days are not important; what matters is understanding that our hearts are turned toward God during these days.
Some people have replaced Jesus with those holy days, services, and regulations. When people exalt a specific festival or day, if they neglect Jesus, what significance does that day have? Do not argue over the Sabbath; the Lord of the Sabbath is the center. Do not argue over which day to worship God; who we worship is the most important! Do not argue over what to eat or drink; glorifying the Lord is the most meaningful thing.
Whatever believers do, when you are unsure of right or wrong, use the Bible as your standard. Does what you are doing align with the Bible? Of course, if the Bible does not mention something but it does not affect our salvation, then doing it is fine. For example, does the Bible say we must brush our teeth morning and night? It does not mention this. If you do not brush your teeth in the morning, does that make you unclean? If you brush your teeth in the morning, does that make you cleaner? This does not affect our lives; we should not argue endlessly over such matters. If you believe today is a day given by God, rejoice and be glad in it.
Regarding dietary issues, the same attitude applies. Vegetarians should thank God for their vegetables, and meat-eaters should thank God for their meat. They should receive their food with gratitude, worshiping God through their meals and offering thanks to Him! The key is to live centered on God, offering gratitude to Him in this way.
So, vegetarians, when you eat at home and the table is full of vegetables, thank God for the meal. If you enjoy meat and have big meals, thank God for the meat. This is acceptable! Because your hearts are directed toward God! It does not matter whether you eat the same or not; both are accepted by God. Thank the Lord! Both are correct before God.
In verse 5, "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."
In this matter, many may struggle with this concept. Some say, "Gathering on Sunday is very important! It cannot be replaced by other days!" If viewed this way, this day seems a bit special! Others say, "To me, every day is the same because every day is a day of worshiping God, living under God's grace, and living in God's provision. I think every day is the same." But you cannot argue with someone who says, "You are wrong; today is a special day, a holy day, and so on..." If you bring up Old Testament concepts to debate with others, problems will arise. It says here that each person should be fully convinced in their own mind.
In verse 6, "Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God."
The one who observes the day does so for the Lord. If you think Sunday is important, you do it for the Lord. You say, "Lord, today is the first day of the week; I want to dedicate this first day to you, to worship you, to receive your word, and to dedicate this first day to you. I believe that in the following six days, I will live under your protection." This is acceptable and correct.
But some say, "I do not just dedicate the first day to God; I dedicate every day to God. All seven days are very important because I need God's word every day and to hear God's word. Although there is no sermon on Monday, I will listen to the sermon recording." This is also correct.
Brothers and sisters, just understand that those who observe the day do so for the Lord, and those who eat do so for the Lord, all giving thanks to God. Those who abstain also do so for the Lord and give thanks to God. Therefore, do not argue over certain days, festivals, what to eat, or what to drink; such arguments are not in line with God's will.
Verses 7-8,
For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Paul's statement carries profound meaning. Paul believes that his entire life belongs to the Lord Jesus; he does not live for himself. When he died and rose with Jesus Christ, his life no longer belonged to himself. Therefore, he does not follow his own will to do his own things; everything is for Christ. While he is alive, he belongs to the Lord, and even after he dies, he still belongs to the Lord. This is Paul's resolve.
If we understand the meaning of Paul's writing in this passage, we see that while he is alive, he knows he completely belongs to Christ. Regardless of his actions, he is already a person of Christ, and no one can change that status. Even if someone wishes for him to die, he still belongs to Christ after death.
Just like what is said on some television shows, "In life, I belong to so-and-so; in death, I belong to so-and-so." While we are alive, we are the Lord's, and after we die, we are still the Lord's. No one can take you from the Lord's hand. Therefore, what you eat or drink is all for the Lord. With such a firm heart, you will not debate with others.
In verse 9, "For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living."
Some may not understand this verse. When preaching the gospel, some may misinterpret it, leading others to misunderstand that believing in Jesus gives eternal life, which is about what happens after death. While I am alive, I must rely on myself, and after I die, I will give my soul to the Lord. Therefore, some believe that while alive, they must rely on themselves, and after death, they will hand over their body and soul to the Lord Jesus.
Our Lord is not only the Lord of the dead; He is also the Lord of the living. He is not only responsible for you after you die; while you are alive, our Lord can also supply all your needs and help you overcome in life.
Verse 9 says, "For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life." This refers to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He died and rose again, so He can be the Lord of both the dead and the living. When Christ was hung on the cross, it symbolized that we were crucified with Christ. We believe by faith that we have died with Jesus; He has paid the price for our sins. The resurrection is the same; today we have come to life, our spirits have come to life, so we should also see ourselves as new lives, living lives in Christ. Thank the Lord! Therefore, our Lord governs our past, our present, and our future. Amen!
Romans 6:10-11,
The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Thank the Lord. When we see ourselves this way, whether we live or die, we are Christ's. This way, Christians do not fear death. In the past, our spirits have already died, and Jesus Christ has made us alive again. We will also experience death and resurrection again, which is our bodies. After this body dies, we will be resurrected again, and that resurrection will be different from now; it will be a spiritual body, an eternal, glorious, and imperishable body.
In verse 10, "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."
God is our ultimate judge. You should not judge this person; you cannot see how they are now, but do not judge them. They may choose to eat only vegetables for the rest of their lives for the sake of the Lord; that is their faith, and you should not comment on how others live. Some may prefer to eat meat for their entire lives; that is fine too, so do not judge others over this matter.
Why do you judge your brother or sister? Why do you treat them with contempt? Generally speaking, judging means thinking others are wrong; treating with contempt means thinking oneself is better than others. But one forgets that only our Lord can judge. Jesus Christ has never given us the authority to condemn others.
While on earth, God's great commission is to save souls, not to judge them. Jesus does not judge others. If God looked down on us, we would have no way to stand before Him, let alone stand upright. Therefore, we should learn from Jesus, not to condemn or judge.
Remember, do not judge your brother or sister, lest you be judged by others (here it emphasizes the relationship between people). When we judge others, we receive judgment from others. Otherwise, you can try it; early in the morning, see your brothers and sisters in church and "scold" them, belittling them. That brother may turn around and belittle you in return. This shows that when you judge others, they may also judge you, and you receive the same kind of hurt.
When you look down on your brother, you are actually looking down on yourself. Especially when you see a brother's shortcomings, do not speak of them publicly; pray for him and encourage him privately to correct himself. This is how we should treat our brothers. If you treat your brother this way, God will remember you.
If you constantly criticize your brothers and sisters, looking down on this one and that one, you are actually humiliating yourself, because everyone is part of the body. It is like when you have acne or a bump on your face; you do not take a magnifying glass and show everyone, saying, "Look how ugly my face is! I really hate this face!" You would use various methods to cover up that imperfection. This is how we should interact with our brothers and sisters, fostering harmony. Why?
Because we will all stand before God's judgment seat. The person you criticize is also a beloved child of God. If the brother you maliciously attack is a beloved child of God, accepted by God, then what qualifications do you have to do such a thing and judge others?
When we share the gospel with love, we may encounter attacks and slander from those under the law. My response to them is: this shows you clearly where their so-called love was before. If they truly had love as they claim, then when you stumble and are weak, they should accept you and help you like Jesus, not attack or strike you. In fact, this reveals what their lives are truly like.
One day in the future, everyone will stand before God's judgment seat. If you look down on your brother or sister, you are actually looking down on yourself.
Of course, if there are doctrinal issues, that is another matter, because here we mainly discuss issues regarding eating, drinking, and observing days. In these matters, do not debate with others; do not look down on your brothers and sisters over these issues. We are one family in Christ and should love one another. Whatever we eat or drink should not cause others to stumble. Instead, we should encourage others to know the Lord more and stand strong.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you. You accept us not because of what we eat or drink, but because of Jesus. You are completely pleased with me; I am a beloved child of God. Therefore, I also wish to live in this world like Christ. Please help me and give me strength, so that I can be a help and strength to others in my life.
Jesus is our benchmark. In all things, everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. I wish to be like Jesus, always bringing benefit to others. May the Holy Spirit renew me, guiding my path ahead, so that I can manifest the glory of Christ. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!