Scruples of Conscience – Food & (Holi)Days
"We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself." (Romans 15:1–3)
"One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not … to the Lord he does not observe it … why do you judge … Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." (Romans 14:5–6, 10)
Beginning in Romans 14, the apostleApostle (Greek) means "sent one." Today, we are "messengers" for Christ when we pass on the gospel (2 Cor. 5:20). But the highest-ranking messenger is Jesus Christ himself (Heb 3:1;... More Paul takes up difficulties arising from the cultural and spiritual backgrounds of the believers at Rome. They had different convictions in terms of food and (holi)days. What does this passage teach us?
Food
Beginning in Romans 14, the apostleApostle (Greek) means "sent one." Today, we are "messengers" for Christ when we pass on the gospel (2 Cor. 5:20). But the highest-ranking messenger is Jesus Christ himself (Heb 3:1;... More Paul takes up difficulties arising from the cultural and spiritual backgrounds of the believers at Rome. Many new believers there were Jewish. The Law God had given His earthly people had told them which foods were clean and could be eaten and which were unclean and thus were not to be eaten. Gentile believers had never been under the Law, and so enjoyed eating many things a JewB would regard as repulsive. The Jewish believers were no longer under the Law, but many no doubt still would feel defiled if they ate things God had called unclean.
Such believers probably regarded themselves as more spiritual than Gentile believers who felt free to eat any kind of meat and so would thank God for it and then eat it with pleasure. “How can they thank God for that unclean meat and enjoy eating it?” they might think. They would feel they were strong Christians.
But God refers to them as weak. The strong believer enjoys the liberty we have in ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More. He knows that “every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:4–5). But he is told to bear with the scruples of the weak brother for his good, for “to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean” (Rom. 14:14). The weak brother is never told to force his convictions on others—by calling their will “my conscience” and wanting to make others respect it.
(Holi)Days
God had told His earthly people, Israel, to observe special feast days, telling them how, when, and with what sacrifices they were to be celebrated. While some Jewish Christians continued celebrating these feasts, and still do to this day, God no longer commands them to do so. The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More also made very clear at the meetings at Jerusalem in Acts 15 that circumcisionThe rite of circumcision is the sign of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17: 1-14). The act represented the keeping of the covenant and separation from God.... More and the Law were absolutely not to be imposed on Gentile believers.
Gentiles of many nations, each with its own god or gods, also had held feasts to their many idols. God’s Word tells us, “The things which the Gentiles sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More they sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons” (1 Cor. 10:20). Idolatrous Gentile feasts clearly were not equivalent to the feasts that God had commanded His earthly people Israel to celebrate to Him. The only feast the Lord has requested His own to celebrate to Him is the breaking of bread.
The early Christians observed the Lord’s death and resurrection, not His birth, the date of which was unknown. Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire in 313 ad. Celebrating Christ’s birth on December 25 was made official by Pope Julius I around 350 ad. It replaced the heathen festival of Saturnalia formerly kept around that time. However, we must not judge our brethren who act according to their convictions before the Lord, even when our convictions are different. Let us pursue things that make for peace and edify!
Conclusion
If we are strong in the graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More which was in our Lord Jesus, let us bear with the scruples we know our brethren have, and not insist on our liberty in a way hurtful to them.
