Paul always treated with respect people who observed the norms and rules of their religion. On the other hand, in the church communities of those days there were many who "did not distinguish days," Gentiles, and in practice simply...
Paul always treated with respect people who observed the norms and rules of their religion. On the other hand, in the church communities of those days there were many who "did not distinguish days," Gentiles, and in practice simply, to use modern language, secular people, for whom no religion was interesting in itself. What was to be done in such a situation? For religious people, that attitude toward religion caused, at the very least, bewilderment.
But Paul, as we can see, is in no hurry to support them. That will hardly surprise us if we understand the motives that guided the apostle.
Paul himself was, of course, a religious man; he speaks of himself as "a Pharisee of Pharisees." But he by no means makes his own religiousness absolute. There are reasons for that. If religion could be salvation in itself, if it could open for its adherents the way into the Kingdom, the apostle would no doubt have treated it differently. But he understands perfectly well that, if that were so, Christ would not have needed to come to us in order to save us. And if religion does not save, if it is a human affair, then it must be treated accordingly, as a human affair. If there are people in the church for whom religion is important, that is a matter of their conscience, and of course the apostle was far from wanting to fight anyone's religious devotion. But he also understood very well all the dangers that religion carries for spiritual life.
One of the chief dangers was precisely that religious people could make their religiousness absolute, as the only possible and only acceptable form of Christian life. Such absolutizing not only repelled nonreligious people; it distorted the very essence of Christianity, which under this approach turned into a kind of new religion, thereby being emptied out and losing its spiritual essence. And Paul speaks sharply against this, not against religion as such, but against making any religiousness absolute, including the form of it that he himself bore. There was only one way to avoid such absolutizing: leave the choice of religion to the discretion of each member of the church. In that way, each person could choose for himself the form of life in the Church, and therefore in the Kingdom, that suited him best.
14
14:1 Him that is weak - Through needless scruples.Receive - With all love and courtesy into Christian fellowship.But not to doubtful disputations - About questionable points.
14:2 All things - All sorts of food, though forbidden by the law.
14:3 Despise him that eateth not - As over - scrupulous or superstitious. Judge him that eateth - As profane, or taking undue liberties. For God hath received him - Into the number of his children, notwithstanding this.
14:5 One day above another - As new moons, and other Jewish festivals. Let every man be fully persuaded - That a thing is lawful, before he does it.
14:6 Regardeth it to the Lord - That is, out of a principle of conscience toward God. To the Lord he doth not regard it - He also acts from a principle of conscience. He that eateth not - Flesh.Giveth God thanks - For his herbs.
14:7 None of us - Christians, in the things we do. Liveth to himself - Is at his own disposal; doeth his own will.
14:10 Or why dost thou despise thy brother - Hitherto the apostle as addressed the weak brother: now he speaks to the stronger.
14:11 As I live - An oath proper to him, because he only possesseth life infinite and independent. It is Christ who is here termed both Lord and God; as it is he to whom we live, and to whom we die. Every tongue shall confess to God - Shall own him as their rightful Lord; which shall then only be accomplished in its full extent. The Lord grant we may find mercy in that day; and may it also be imparted to those who have differed from us! yea, to those who have censured and condemned us for things which we have done from a desire to please him, or refused to do from a fear of offending him. Isa 45:23