Romans: You Are Not What You Eat

Pastor Eric Burton - February 2, 2025

 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭23‬‬

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

 

Defining Terms: 

*Strong believers were those with a strong conscience that felt okay to exercise liberties.

*Weak believers were those with a weak conscience that had a conservative theology and did not exercise liberties.  

 

Weak is simply anyone that's isn't quite where you are. Weak are those who don't feel comfortable doing what you feel free to do. 

 

We are admonished by Paul to accept other believers that don't see things the way you do.

 

Interestingly enough the weaker believers tended to be the Jews; those with a longer history with God.  

 

Let's see why this verse of scripture was important to them and may be important to us today. 

 

Exodus 34:15 “You must not make a treaty of any kind with the people living in the land. They lust after their gods, offering sacrifices to them. They will invite you to join them in their sacrificial meals, and you will go with them. Then you will accept their daughters, who sacrifice to other gods, as wives for your sons. And they will seduce your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods. 

 

What they ate connected them to God.

 

God gives this warning:  

What you eat is connected to your worship.

What you desire is what you give to.  

What you give to is what you accept.  

What you accept becomes your normal. 

 

Remember eating the forbidden fruit in the garden breached the relationship between God and man.

This practice was so entrenched in the people that it determined who was allowed to worship with you.  

Kosher= fit. Fit for consumption

Just ask yourself that question, "Is what I'm eating fit for consumption?"

What the Jewish people ate related to their relationship with God. They had a co