Romans 14:1-15:7 Grey Areas

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. ...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.  One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. ...But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ...Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ...The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. ...Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. ...Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.Romans 14:1-15:7 NASB

In the first century, it was common for animals to be sacrificed in temples to idols. The meat was then sold at the meat market. So any meat you would buy in the market may have been sacrificed to an idol.

As a result, many Christians of the day proclaimed that eating meat was the same as idolatry, and therefore, a sin.  They were at odds with other Christians who believed that, as long as they didn't worship the idol, it didn't matter if they ate the meat.

Romans 14 makes it clear that the eating of meat is not sinful, nor is the abstaining from meat holy. Rather, "whatever is not from faith is sin." If you have faith to eat meat, then for you it is not sinful, if you do not have faith to eat meat, then for you it is sinful.

Fast forward a couple thousand years, and we have our own issues.

In the 1970's, many churches taught that Rock and Roll music was sinful. It had no place in the church because the words were irrelevant. The beat, they said, was derived from African pagan rituals, and the driving beat was demonic. Today, most of those same churches play that beat at every Sunday morning worship service. For those who believed it was sin, it was indeed sinful. But a new generation arose that believed that the music was a gift from God, and could be used to glorify Him. Because of their faith, it became a part of our 21st century Christian culture.

Just recently, I read that many church leaders believe that yoga is sinful because it derives from eastern religion. They say that it doesn't matter if you practice the religion. The positions themselves have a meaning, and invite demons into your life. Christian practitioners of yoga say that, stripped of the eastern religious practices, yoga is just good exercise. For those who believe that yoga is a sin, to them it is sinful. To those who have faith believe that yoga is not a sin, to them it is not a sin.

There are things that the Bible clearly says are sinful: idolatry, sexual immorality, drunkenness, stealing, and such. They are black and white. But there are also many "grey areas".

Many of the rules and regulations we have in churches are merely man's attempt to enforce a form of righteousness, while denying the power of the Holy Spirit to work righteousness in each one of us.

We are under the New Covenant. Hebrew 10:16 says, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the  Lord: I will put  my laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them,"

Righteousness cannot be enforced by church rules. It comes from God by grace through faith. If we allow him, He will teach each one of us right from wrong.

Rituals cannot replace the freedom of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” [John 4:24]. Don't try to replace spirit and truth with rituals and regulations.

At the same time, those who are strong in the faith need to account for those who are weak in the faith. If my sitting with my legs crossed reminds a weak believer of a yoga lotus position, and they are tempted to violate their conscience by emulating me, then I will sit upright in a chair.

1 Corinthians 10:23 says, "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." [1 Corinthians 10:23]

Some believers like to have a little wine or a beer in the evening. If you like a drink of wine, but are aware of a fellow believer who believes all alcohol is sinful, it will be better to avoid drinking wine in public if that believer may see you and be tempted to drink.

Adopt the attitude of the apostle Paul, who says, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved." [1 Corinthians 10:31-33]

You have great freedom in Christ, but do not use that freedom to the harm of another Christian. It is better to deny yourself, so that you can build your brother up and help him to grow in the faith. It is simply an act of love.