NOTES for Rom 14:17

Is invincible the dream in humanity of an ideal society, where everything will be good, just and bounteous. Only for some reason this doesn’t work out. Maybe, the fact is that each of us considers the society of bad, and that only we are good. The Christ, talking about the Kingdom of God, always underlines the spiritual character of this Kingdom, its fulfillment inside man, and not in the "society". And Apostle Paul writes about the same thing here: our affiliation to Christ is not defined by the outside and carnal categories, but by the action of the Holy Spirit in us.

Continuing the discussion of religion in its relation to the Kingdom, Paul proposes criteria that can guide one in matters of religious obligations. First of all, he draws attention to the fact that in the Kingdom there is, in principle, and can be nothing that is sinful or unclean in itself, since sin and uncleanness cannot be part of the Kingdom by definition. The problem arises when someone living in the Kingdom begins to see sin or uncleanness where there is none; in this case, for the person who sees the situation this way, they can become a reality, making life in the Kingdom problematic for him (v. 14). Of course, if the Kingdom were already now revealed to the world in all its fullness, problems of this kind would only be the problems of separate, specific people. But the Kingdom has not yet fully unfolded; it is only conquering the world, and the former order of things, not yet fully transformed, can influence the minds not only of those seeking the Kingdom, but also of those who have already come into contact with it. Not everyone who has gained the Kingdom is yet so rooted in it that everything connected with the former order of things, including religion, has become spiritually indifferent to him, and this has to be taken into account so that someone does not lose the Kingdom simply because those living near him did not consider it necessary to take his weakness into account (vv. 15-16).

The problem of religion here, as we can see, is no longer connected with the spiritual content of religiosity as such, but with its effect on the souls of those seeking the Kingdom and those who have only just gained it (v. 13). But there is also another criterion that allows one to be convinced of one's own sincerity before God. This concerns doubts that can appear quite naturally in someone who does not follow generally accepted religious norms. And here the apostle is quite categorical: if there is even the slightest doubt about one's rightness, then this is precisely a violation of the norm, not the freedom proper to those living in the Kingdom (vv. 21-22).

Indeed, generally accepted norms can simply be violated without regard for them, or one can be above them. But the experience of the Kingdom excludes doubt, and if doubts still appear, then one can say with confidence that what is at issue is precisely a violation of the norm. But since the person living in the Kingdom does not ignore generally accepted religious norms and rules, but simply feels completely free where religion is concerned, it is not difficult for him to follow them for the spiritual benefit of his neighbor. The main task in relations with one's neighbor for those living in the Kingdom is the preservation of that peace and joy without which there is no Kingdom, not the struggle against religiosity as such. That is why it is not difficult for them to follow religious norms and rules if doing so makes life easier for their neighbor (vv. 17-21).

Chapter 14 of the Epistle to the Romans often prompts rather sad reflections. However much we evade the issue, the Apostle Paul's words in today's passage from this chapter sound rather unexpected when set beside the lives of contemporary Christians. More precisely, beside those principles of Christian life that we usually call spirituality or a spiritual way of life. The Kingdom of God, you see, is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit! Why, then, are we so buried under rules about fasting that we sometimes mistake them for the essence of our faith? It would also be worth remembering peace when we rally against someone... And as for ‘joy’, the word seems completely alien to us.

The history of the Christian Church explains, to some extent, how the ‘spirituality’ we encounter today took shape, but talking about that is neither interesting nor useful. In today's passage the Apostle Paul himself essentially explains why we accept all this: so as not to give others an occasion to stumble. But there is one important thing in his words that deserves attention. The sheer abundance of our rules about what to do and how to do it would have seemed very strange to the Apostle and his contemporaries, because they knew what we have forgotten: ‘we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ’ and ‘each of us will give an account of himself to God’.

Forgetting this fact leads you to start lecturing others without end. It is probably worth listening carefully to Christ's words: ‘Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever practises and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven’ (Mt. 5:19). Perhaps the Lord meant not school-style instructions, but example and inspiration? This matters, because if you do not think about it, you risk living in the New Covenant as though it were the Old.

“Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself for what he approves.” To condemn oneself is to fail to carry out what we undertake before God. Not to condemn ourselves in our choice means not looking back or indulging in fantasies, not wondering, “What would have happened if...?” It is the habit of walking directly before God in the secret of the heart. It is the ability to live patiently and not envy those who live differently. Sometimes we look at people who do not keep the fast and think that their lives are easier, more cheerful, and simpler. We retreat from our choice of Christ. Through doubt and fantasy, we let deceit and distrust of God into our lives.