Romans 14:2-4 - Eating vegetables

14:2

Some will say all days are the same, all foods are fine, and there is Biblical support for this (Mark 7:19). So one could then argue that the good Christian will realise this and live by it, jettisoning all food rules, but this is not the approach Paul advocates. The supposedly “weak” Christian is to be accepted, not condemned. The mention of eating vegetables seems to imply that the issue was not, unlike Corinth, about eating food offered to idols. Also, it does not mean that Christians who are vegetarians are “weak”.

14:3

There were two key dangers. The one who would eat any food could easily consider himself to be cleverer than the “weaker” brother, and so treat him with contempt. Conversely, the one who observed various rules about eating may consider himself more religious than the “wiser” brother and so judge the other brother. This would be equally wrong. The fundamental reason behind this is that God has accepted them both, so if God has accepted them who are we to judge? We will say more on this when we look at the next verse.

14:4

Who are you to judge? Now “not judging” is a common play made by people who are in  the wrong, and by people who advocate abandoning God’s ways. Examples of this include those who advocate accepting gay marriage, and those who say sex before marriage is OK. Now in these cases it is absolutely right for the church to “judge”, in the sense of saying what is right and what is wrong. What is the difference here? The kernel of the reason will come in v17, for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking. We need discernment in knowing what is central to the gospel and what is not. Ultimately everyone is answerable to God, and if someone is “weak” (and in truth we are all actually “weak”) then the Lord is able to make them stand.