[1] As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. [2] One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. [3] Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. (Romans 14:1–3)
As Christians our primary focus on God’s law is to know when we’ve sinned against God. Closely related is knowing God’s law so that we can avoid sin. There is another use of God’s law that isn’t nearly as well-known but just as important.
Romans 14 illustrates this lesser-known use of God’s law. In the context of dealing with weak or immature Christians, the Apostle Paul points out that believers can have differing opinions over matters of faith. These include actions and activities that are neither prohibited nor commanded by God. The point is this: The better we know God’s law, the better we can understand where we have freedom in Christ.
For example, there are Christians who maintain that consuming alcohol is sinful. Certainly, the Apostle Paul lists drunkenness as “works of the flesh” in Romans chapter 5. The Fifth Commandant, “You shall not murder,” applies to hurting our bodies by abusing alcohol.
However, there is no law in the Bible that prohibits consuming alcohol. If you want to consume an alcoholic drink, do so with a clear conscience. If you choose not to drink alcohol, do so with a clear conscience.
In our passage, the Apostle Paul urges us to honor freedom in Christ. This means to both beware of creating our own laws and respecting the freedom we have in Christ. What a privilege it is to have such freedom in living out the faith.
(A Second Look devotions are written for the congregations of the Ohio District LCMS.)
Kevin Wilson 360 