This lesson is taken directly from The Message, which is a modern rendering of the Bible.
Romans 14:2-12 — “For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn’t eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.
Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.
So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:
‘every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
that I and only I am God.’
So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.”
Is there any need to add to this Bible portion? I think not.
The Message certainly helps make Scriptures relevant (remembering that its a paraphrase), and today this is a good thought for me. Helps keep things in perspective as to what is important.
So true, and so relative. Thank you and GBY
Oh boy, this is such a good lesson for all of us. To remember that no matter what our differences, we’re all Christ’s children.
Thanks Chuck!
Justine 😮 )