Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:1-4
There is much to say about Christian liberty. It’s a paradox of sorts. We give up our complete liberty to become a bond slave to Christ. But, it that devotion and subjection to Him, we find greater freedom than we have ever known… it comes because of a newfound power over sin and a clarification of our unique Divine purpose. When it comes to the lesser things that are merely a matter of conscience, the key is not judge someone in the area of his liberty… the things like smoking cigarettes, drinking wine, eating meat versus veggies, which day to celebrate and which to not. While some are a matter of wisdom- I think its unwise and unhealthy to smoke cigarettes and use nicotine (a very powerful substance), some are purely subjective. Eating specific foods was a god-given distinction for God’s people under the Levitical law, but Peter’s vision removed any prohibition as long as food was received with thanks and separated from idol worship.
How much liberty do I enjoy as a follower of Jesus Christ? Do I ever use my liberty as a cloak for vice?
God how wonderful it is to discover the life You have for me is filled with more joy, excitement, profound purpose and love than I could ever manufacture on my own. I thank you for Christian liberty. I claim the promise “he who the son has set free, is free indeed”!
