Judging The Weak

Unity in Diversity groups use Romans 14 to bring all kinds of doctrines and styles into our assemblies. It speaks of believers who have different opinions about eating foods or keeping holidays. This is used to bring many Jewish practices into worship in the Church.

The problem is that these are personal beliefs and practices we could see outside of our congregational practices. There is nothing that allows us to bring personal practices of the weak and force the strong to keep them. Nor does it allow the majority to rise over the minority, as if the church is a democracy. The church has never been a democracy.

What it does do is keep the church from driving out weak members who have disagreements in non-doctrinal areas. The Kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking as stated in v17.

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

Those imposing Jewish like food laws are the weak mentioned in verse one. That does not mean eating meats can never be wrong or even rude to others. Eating meats when you know it will be offensive may be wrong. Not eating meats can also be rude to others, so Paul said to eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions.

1Co_10:27  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

This is in regard to when non-believers ask you to a feast. It isn't necessarily true of believers asking you. Nevertheless, it depends upon the context whether you should eat or not. In cases where personal judgment about a situation is required, we should not judge people or harass them over their decisions.

Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 

The word judge means to bring to court. Christians could bring members to judge those within the body of Christ who committed certain sins. Members could be removed from the body in some cases. Judging is more than having a bad opinion of another, it was to bring them before the body of Christ for judgment.

In this case a difference of opinion over personal decisions that do not change doctrine is not worthy of the church's judgment. Many sins are worthy of bringing before the church, but such matters of opinion over whether to eat or not, or keep a holiday or not, are not worthy of judgment. The Catholic church expelling those who did not keep Christmas or Easter would be an example. Nor should we look down on those who make different choices than us, if done to glorify Christ.

Many teach it only belongs in the realm of one person judging another, but the pronoun "one" can also be translated "some". It is a matter of context and a matter of opinion whether it involves group judgment over another. In my opinion it keeps the offense from being brought before the church. It doesn't keep us from voicing personally before another that their choice was wrong.

example

Paul rebuked Peter for separating from the gentiles for meals.

He couldn't remove Peter from the apostleship or from the Church, there was no platform or form of judgment for such offenses, but he could voice disapproval. He also couldn't say Peter was a traitor, for despite Peter's judgment being incorrect, he still had loyalty to Christ. Paul loved Peter and never despised him.

We are not to despise or judge our brother in such cases where Christ has given directions that are contextual in application. In some cases we should eat, in other cases we shouldn't, in all cases we should try to do what we believe Christ wants us to do.

Congregations can bring members for judgment, but not every area of life falls within this realm. Since it was written to Rome we know Rome was never meant to control all decisions we make. Rome wasn't meant to be a center for judgment. They couldn't judge every congregation, nor every area of life.