Memorize: Strong and weak brethren
Key Verses: 1, 4, 5, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22
Not everyone will understand the completeness of grace. They will still feel the need to “do” some things in order for God to accept them. They have weak faith. Someone whose faith is strong realizes that God accepts us completely, and out of that acceptance they obey. We should not try to convince the other person of the “error of their ways.” If they are in Christ, let them live with limited freedom. If they want to live under a cloud of obligation, let them. If they want to not live with full knowledge of God’s grace, there is nothing you can do to convince them of the extent of His grace.
It is interesting that we see these two issues, food and worship day, as hallmarks of some denominations. They are fully convinced of their central importance to God’s acceptance of them. We must not look down on them, and they must not look down on us. Both of us are accepted and are under grace.
I recognize that there are now no “unclean” foods, that is foods that God says we should not eat. (Although, I am not sure He wants us to eat pork rinds! Or liver for that matter.) Lobster is now off the “do not eat list.” Yes! We must each have a clear conscience before God about our activity. If we do things against our conscience, then we are sinning. When our conscience is informed and enlivened by the Holy Spirit, then our behavior will become more and more an expression of God’s holiness and character. We will experience righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
We do want to work toward building each other up, even if the one weak in faith lives a limited life, being bound by artificial rules. Sometimes we will give up some of our freedom in order not to offend a weaker believer. I might choose not to eat lobster, if someone’s faith was at risk because lobster is not kosher, not religiously clean for them. I might eat it when they are not around, and I would not boast about the great lobster meal I had eaten out of respect for them. This would not diminish my enjoyment of the lobster one bit. It would taste just as delicious. But, perhaps, it would keep a believer from getting hung up over such a small matter.
The Arnold Journey 