Lesson 441

(Lesson 441)(10-30-12) Romans 14:1-9, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living."

In this lesson, Paul explained that early Christians, were to accept those who appeared weak in faith and those who might believe nonessential things slightly differently than they. "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him."(both).

That acceptance, I believe, does NOT apply to a great number of "isms" today. Although I do believe, as Paul said, "God hath received him.", when obviously referring to those with only cosmetic differences in their beliefs, we are still to be tolerant and accepting.

We should NOT accept clearly distorted versions of the Gospel of Christ as some today attempt to do, most clearly exampled by Catholicism and Mormonism, etc.

We must remember that there was no completed New Testament text in Paul's time, to which those who were teaching the gospel, could refer. Paul was obviously, through this letter, creating it. We today, have a distinct advantage in that regard because we DO have the complete gospel, all together, in total, and in easily accessed book form by which we are able to properly discern the wolves from the sheep.
Over the early centuries there were many Christian congregations that were split apart because one group demanded adherence to one particular tenet, while others refused to adhere to the same. Many times the two opposing groups split apart, causing one group, or the other, to begin a "new" ism, while in doing so further warping the truth of the original gospel and making it that much harder to find. I believe Jesus foresaw this when he said in Matthew 7:14, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

These actions have, over time, caused the true gospel of Christ, in many instances, to be so watered down by the additions and subtractions of truth, so as to have, in the majority of examples, totally robbed the gospel of it's true and original intent.
Paul appears to allow this to happen by what he wrote here. That, however, is NOT the case. We are indeed to be tolerant of those who honestly don't know the truth and to make sure they are properly educated. At the same time, we should be vigilant to keep out those angels of Satan who would deliberately distort the gospel of Christ so as to destroy its divine influence.
In essence, the lesson is to be tolerant of those who are ignorant of God's word, while condemning those who would wrongfully use it. All the while giving thanks and praise to God, through Jesus Christ, for all things.~