For Situations Not Specifically Mentioned In Scripture – A Study in Romans 14
In the early church, a great disagreement arose whether one could consume meat that had been offered to pagan idols. Believers of all faiths offered sacrifices through their priests. Often the best cuts of beef and lamb were brought to the temples for this purpose. Once the offering had been prayed over, the priests immediately took the fresh product to the market to be sold. The priests earned money through this practice. However, some early Christians severely objected to the purchase of meat that had been offered to pagan gods. This became a contentious debate among believers – is it permissible or not? Is eating meat offered to idols an offense toward God? Paul addresses the topic in Romans 14, allowing each believer to follow his own conscience in this matter. He encourages us to enjoy our liberty in Christ while avoiding any actions that cause a brother to stumble. Furthermore, he declares we are not to judge the habits of other believers who may be weaker, or stronger, in their faith.
In modern times, we, too, are faced with plenty of decisions in church, family or business life. Perhaps the Bible is not specific on these issues. We have been set free from the Law, but how do we properly use our spiritual freedom on such occasions? The Bible says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 Yet we should never exercise our liberty in a manner that damages the conscience of another person. Here are several principles to consider when settling such matters in your heart:
Share
Explore Other Topics
My friend, you’ve got the sequence and the logic a little off. The Creator God has a plan; He is intentional and strategic. Here’s the backstory. God created this universe as a 3-dimensional colony of heaven, His Kingdom’s headquarters. He formed man’s body from the newly created place, Earth, but
While not claiming to speak for all non-believers (although I used to be one), I believe that many such people are actually searching for deep truths. They are continuously and severely disappointed by “religious” people who repetitively quote banal phrases while claiming to have profound beliefs. In other words, there
Judicial standing is the legal right of one party to accuse another of potential (or actual) harm. To have “standing” in a court of law, one party must demonstrate a personal stake in the issue at hand. Before Jesus’ death, Satan had legal access to stand before the Lord in
In the early church, a great disagreement arose whether one could consume meat that had been offered to pagan idols. Believers of all faiths offered sacrifices through their priests. Often the best cuts of beef and lamb were brought to the temples for this purpose. Once the offering had been
Friends of mine have proposed and defended the theory that capitalism is the economic system which best manifests God’s Kingdom on Earth. Although it’s certainly an excellent wealth-producing mechanism when the playing field remains level, I believe that capitalism is NOT the best we can do. It is certainly an
Mankind has an insatiable hunger for discovery. We delight in scientific and technological advances. The microchip has democratized access to information in the last few decades, ushering in a revolution unseen since Gutenberg in the 1430s. Concepts may now be conceived, tested, revised, discarded and implemented in hours and days.
