Day 18 Accept the One You COosider a Weaker Christian
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat anything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted them Romans 14:1-3
Both preceding chapters in Romans have emphasised the centrality of love, whether loving our enemies (12:9,14,17ff) or loving our neighbours (13:8ff). Paul now moves from the general to the particular and gives a lengthy example of what it means to ‘walk according to love’ (14:15 literal translation). Beginning in 14:1 he tackles one particular issue, rebuking Christians in Rome for standing in judgement over one another (14:2,13). The community is divided into two groups: those who are ‘weak’ (in faith [14:1]) and those who are ‘strong’ (in faith [15:1]). They criticise each other and Paul insists their judgmental attitude must give way to tolerance and mutual recognition. As he notes in a concluding comment ‘Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you’ (15:7).
The whole passage covers 14:1 – 15:13 and divides into three sections. In 14:1-13a he rebukes the two groups for looking down on one another and reminds them that it is to God, and not to one another, that every believer must ultimately answer. In 14:13b-23 he urges those who are strong in faith to act out of love rather than out of selfish insistence on doing what they feel ‘free’ to do. He continues to focus mainly on the ‘strong’ in 15:1-6, identifying with them and calling on them to follow Christ’s example of loving service for the good of the body. After his summarising command that believers ‘accept one another’ (15:7) Paul reinforces his exhortation by showing how God Himself has intended Jews and Gentiles to form one body for the praise of His name (15:8-13).
While differences might have arisen between Christians in Rome over different issues, the core issue here seems to have to do with observance of the Jewish law. The weak were mainly Jewish believers who could not bring themselves to abandon the requirements of the law they had observed all their lives. They could not, as Christians, simply ignore the food laws and Sabbath observance. The strong, in contrast, felt no need to observe these laws. Most of them would have been Gentile Christians, although their ranks would have included some Jewish Christians too. The weak condemned the strong for dismissing God’s laws, while strong condemned the weak for holding on to old ways. Paul sides with the strong on the basic issues but his overriding concern is to get each group to stop criticising the other and to accept each other in a spirit of love and unity.
While Paul wants both groups in the church to accept one another, he is clearly most concerned about the attitude of the strong. This probably reflects the fact that the strong, mainly Gentile Christians, are the dominant group in the church. It isn’t surprising then that Paul opens this section appealing to them. ‘Accept the one whose faith is weak’ (14:1). Weak in faith here means weak in their conviction, immature, untaught, and as Paul’s unfolding argument makes clear, actually mistaken. They did not feel their faith allowed them to do certain things that the strong felt ‘free’ to do. Paul is not criticising these ones for having an inadequate faith in Christ as their Saviour. Rather, he is addressing their lack of insight into some of the implications of that faith. They are Christians who are unable to accept for themselves the truth that their faith in Christ implies liberation from certain Old Testament ritual requirements. Their ‘weak’ faith related to their convictions about what their faith allowed and prohibited. The clear implication is that Paul would hope that their growth in Christ would help those who are ‘weak’ become ‘strong.’
But they are not to be ignored, rejected, or at this stage, even corrected, but instead, warmly welcomed into the fellowship. The word translated ‘accept’ means to receive or accept into one’s society, home or circle of acquaintance. It was used by Jesus in His promise to welcome His people into His presence in heaven in John 14:3 so it’s a strong word.
Paul’s instruction here takes maturity to not only follow but even to hear. Immaturity keeps us dealing with outer issues and not getting to the heart of either the problem or the solution. If you consider yourself a mature believer, allow Paul’s directives to test your stand.