Page 79 - Christ and Culture Textbook

regulations. Others embraced the new freedom in Christ unencumbered by an overly sensitive regard
for the past. Paul referred to the first group as “weak” (Rom 14:1) and the latter as “strong” (Rom 15:1)

Where culture divides, Christ unities.
Disunity has always been a major problem with God’s people. Even the Old Testament records the civil
wars and family fights among the people of Israel, and almost every local church mentioned in the New
Testament had divisions to contend with. The Corinthians were divided over human leaders, and some
of the members were even suing each other (1 Cor. 1:10–13; 6:1–8). The Galatian saints were “biting
and devouring” one another (Gal. 5:15), and the saints in Ephesus and Colossae had to be reminded of
the importance of Christian unity (Eph. 4:1–3; Col. 2:1–2).
No wonder the psalmist wrote, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity” (Ps. 133:1).

Some of these problems stemmed from the backgrounds of the believers in the churches. The Jews, for
example, were saved out of a strict legalistic background that would be difficult to forget. The Gentiles
never had to worry about diets and days. The first church council in history debated the issue of the
relationship of the Christian to the Law (Acts 15).

The believers in Rome were divided over special diets and special days. Some of the members thought it
was a sin to eat meat, so they ate only vegetables. Other members thought it a sin not to observe the
Jewish holy days. If each Christian had kept his convictions to himself, there would have been no
problem, but they began to criticize and judge one another. The one group was sure the other group
was not at all spiritual.

Unfortunately, we have similar problems today with many “gray areas” of life that are not clearly right
or wrong to every believer. Some activities we know are wrong, because the Bible clearly condemns
them. Other activities we know are right, because the Bible clearly commands them. But when it comes
to areas that are not clearly defined in Scripture, we find ourselves needing some other kind of
guidance. Paul gave principles of this guidance. He explained how believers could disagree on
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nonessentials and still maintain unity in the church.

Romans 14:1–13 NASB
1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one
who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not
to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To
his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person
regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in
his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord,
for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.7
For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if
we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ
died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 But you, why do you
judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand
before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL

34 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 558.

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