Hi Mike,

When this is said in The Law of Moses versus the Law of the Spirit…

“Eat meat with those who eat meat, herbs with those who eat herbs. Become “all things to all men that you might by all means save some” (1Co 9:22).”

“… Take heed lest this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (in faith) (1Co 8:9).”

Does this mean that because in the community I live in, it is not common to do work on Sunday, or wash your car or clean the windows of your house, things like that; and because Sunday is like every day to me now, if I start not doing these things that people might be offended by it… that is what it means, right?… outside physical things, and certainly not inside spiritual things… do I understand this correctly?

Your brother in Christ,

R____

 

Hi R____,

You ask about not offending a weak brother.  In this, as always and in all things, what we need to do is to “follow Christ’s steps, [because] Christ is our example.”

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

What should settle this question for us all should be the example Christ has left us to follow. So all we need to ask and answer is did Christ ‘keep holy days?’ The Truth is that he did not keep them after He began His ministry. Christ and His family kept the weekly sabbath and all the seasonal holy days as faithful Jews all of Christ’s life until the beginning of His ministry. We are told specifically that Christ “was made under the law” and that he “submitted Himself” to His parents as long as He lived with them.

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Luk 2:51  And he went down with them [ His parents], and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

So Christ was “subject unto” his devout Jewish parents, and went up to all the “feasts of the Jews” with the rest of His family, apparently up until His own ministry began at the age of 30.

Luk 3:21  Now when all the people were baptized [ by John], it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
Luk 3:22  And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Luk 3:23  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Mat 11:13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

This is the example Christ has left for us that we should follow in His steps. While we are living with our parents, we live by their rules, and since “the law was until John” was a true statement of scripture right up to the beginning of Christ’s ministry, therefore Christ observed the sabbath as His parents observed it, and He went up to the feasts and holy days as His parents instructed Him.

How do we know that Christ kept the law until His ministry began? Here is how we know that.

Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Luk 16:16  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Joh 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

When did the kingdom of God begin to be preached? What does “until John” mean? Does it mean John’s birth or does it mean John’s ministry? Here is when the kingdom of God began to be preached.

Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

John was born a mere six months prior to Christ. It is obvious that “the kingdom of God was not preached until both men began their respective ministries “about thirty years of age.”

Luk 3:23  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli,

It may be hard for many to understand, but the scriptures actually teach us that Christ was “subject to His parents” and was “made under the law” and did not begin preaching the kingdom of God until after His baptism by John at the age of thirty. Christ and John were virtually the same age, John being only six months older than Christ.

Luk 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Luk 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luk 1:36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Christ was not even revealed to be the Son of God to any but his parents until John baptized Him, and it was revealed to John by “the holy spirit descending in bodily shape like a dove upon Christ and a voice coming from heaven which said, You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Of course His mother and father knew what the angel had told them about Christ’s supernatural conception, but that had certainly not been revealed to the world. The whole world “supposed Christ to be the son of Joseph” (Luk 3:23).

Luk 3:23  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

So what is the “example Christ left for us to follow” after he left his parent’s home and began His ministry? At that point, did He continue to keep the holy days and the weekly sabbaths to avoid bringing a reproach upon Himself, His disciples or His family? Is that what He did? Did Christ continue to “keep days, moons (months), times and years” just to accommodate His friends and family and to avoid being persecuted by the society of His day? No, that is not what He did. That is not the example He has left us to follow, and that is not what is meant by these verses:

Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6  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.
Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

If “no man lives to himself and no man dies to himself,” then what is Paul’s point? Which did Christ do? Did he esteem one day above another, or did He esteem every day alike? We should all be able to agree that whatever Christ did is what we ought to do because “none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself.”

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Did Christ keep the weekly sabbath to show His love toward his brothers and sisters? Did He keep the monthly new moons, the seasonal festivals and the seven year land rests to demonstrate that He understood that all these things were merely spiritual types? In other words, what example did Christ leave us to follow concerning this situation? Did Christ continue to observe the days, months, times and years of His day to demonstrate that He was capable of partaking of spiritual meat? Or was His definition of spiritual meat to refrain from the outward observation of days, months, times and years, because He knew that “no man lives to himself, and no man dies to Himself?” Was not Christ’s definition of spiritually “eating all things” the fact that He was willing to face and accept being persecuted and being cast out of the synagogue and being disowned by His own family, which He knew such actions would bring upon Himself? What do the scriptures reveal about what is really meant by the words of these verses of scripture?

Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6  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.
Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Christ’s mother and His brothers all kept the days, months, times and years of the church of their day. Christ’s mother and His brothers continued to do so even after Christ began His ministry. Christ, as our example, was at liberty to go into the synagogues each weekly sabbath. Just as we are, He was at liberty to go up to the seasonal “feasts of the Jews” and to appear in the temple at Jerusalem on the sabbath day. But what did Christ do to “take care that this liberty of His did not become a stumbling block to His weaker brothers?”

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Rom 14, as we have just seen, ties a person who observe days and cannot “eat all things” to “Him that is weak in the faith.”

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Rom 14:6  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.

The “liberty” being spoken of is not the liberty to return to the weak and beggarly elements of following the traditions of men, contained in the law of Moses and the traditions of our day. The “liberty” Paul refers to is the liberty which a stronger brother has to accommodate the fact that weaker brothers cannot yet accept the fact that Christ’s example was that of not “observing days, months, times and years.” It always requires more strength and maturity and more commitment to be separated from Babylon by the Truth; to be known and recognized as one who will always stand with the Words and example of Christ and be recognized as being different from our brothers and sisters in Babylon, than is required to compromise with the traditions of men and blend in with those traditions which surround us in this world. Christ always put principle above traditions and worrying about offending His weaker brothers by not keeping their traditions. He considered His brothers, and He never expected baby brothers to be mature brothers, but He never allowed that consideration of His weaker brothers to come between Him and pleasing and obeying His Father. Here are His words concerning traditions.

Mar 7:9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

The subject at hand was the command to honor one’s parents being countermanded by the tradition called Corban, which allowed a person to put the wealth of the physical temple above the welfare of one’s parents. But Deu 12 is also a commandment of God and those who keep days, months, times and years are treating their heavenly Father with the same disregard as those who practiced Corban in Christ’s day. They are seeking acceptance in this world above the acceptance and welfare of their relationship with their own heavenly Father, both now and in the world to come.

Deu 12:29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30  Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

We are not to “do so unto the Lord our God.” But that is for those who can receive it. That is not for those who cannot yet see the need for such a radical separation from “enquiring after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.”

Mar 7:11  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free [of his responsibility to his parents’ welfare]..

Like any Old Testament commandment, if there were no New Testament ‘second witness” we might have reason to say it was a spiritual type which was never intended to be kept in any physical sense, like ‘destroy all that breatheth.’

Deu 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

But such is not the case. Deu 12:29-32 is backed up in the New Testament by Christ’s own example and by these much despised, much hated and much ignored verses, and I repeat:

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

So let’s ask again, What did Christ do? What example has He left us in this regard that we should “follow His steps?” Here is what Christ did, and this is what those who “can eat all things… [and] esteem every day alike…” and are now able to receive “strong meat” will also be found doing. Here is how Christ dealt with His own physical brothers and sisters who were still in spiritual Sodom and spiritual Babylon and were still observing days, months, times and years. He didn’t try to force them to receive His “strong meat”, but He certainly did not forsake His meat for the herbs of His weak brothers. Here is what Christ did and this is what we ought to do when it comes to observing days, months, times, and years.”

Joh 7:2  Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
Joh 7:3  His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
Joh 7:4  For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
Joh 7:5  For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Joh 7:6  Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
Joh 7:7  The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
Joh 7:8  Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
Joh 7:9  When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.

It was by not going up at the beginning of the feast and by breaking the weekly sabbath, that Christ was bringing the hatred of the religious world down upon Himself. Why didn’t Christ just go up to Jerusalem as He had always done? Why does the spirit inspire the apostle John to write “the Jews’ feast of tabernacles?” Could there possibly be a message there for us? Christ did go up eventually, but He waited till the middle of the feast to do so, and he went to teach, not carry out the traditional observance of it.

Joh 7:14  Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

What would Christ do under the same circumstances in which we find ourselves today regarding this same situation of loving our friends and families and yet being careful to set a Christ-like example of loving our brothers by obeying God? How do we Biblically go about demonstrating that we truly love our brothers and sisters in Christ? Here is the only way to do that.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Many today are teaching that Romans 14 proves that Christ kept the days, months, times and years of His day as a way of showing His love toward His mother and His brothers and His extended family and friends. This is what we all want to believe and do simply because it is the easy thing to do.

Why then should we make it clear that we do not “observe days, months, times and years” especially considering what Paul has given us in Rom 14? Also does not Paul say this?

1Co 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

The only thing wrong with using 1Co 8 in this way is 1) that that is not the example Christ left us to follow, and 2) that is not the message of 1Co 8. Using 1Co 8:13 for an excuse to spiritually swap strong meat for the herbs of a weak brother is simply the way of least resistance. The message of 1Co 8 is the message of obeying God and following Christ’s example as the means of demonstrating one’s love of his brothers and sisters in Christ. Look at verse three of that 8th chapter.

1Co 8:3  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Remember 1Jn 5:2-3:

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

The “flesh” of 1Co 8 is, in context, literal meat that was offered to an idol. Paul knew that the “idol was nothing” just as you and I know that Christmas trees and Easter bunnies are nothing. But rather than offending a brother by leading him to think that it is all right to offer meat to an idol, Paul said he would not eat meat if it caused a weak brother to believe that there was nothing wrong with offering meat to an idol. In like manner, we can cause a brother or sister to partake of the ways these nations worshiped their gods if we act as if there is nothing wrong with doing so. If you don’t let your friends and family know you do not keep pagan holidays,  you are leading them to believe you approve of those holidays, too. Here is Paul’s conclusion to this situation.

1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

Like murder, adultery and theft, these things are both physical and spiritual. Christ did not, and we should not, despise weak, unbelieving brothers for the herbs which they perceived to be the strong meat of God’s Word. Christ’s brothers, like our weak brothers, were observing days, months, times and years. He actually “became as a [physical] Jew… under the law,” and went on up to Jerusalem, but He didn’t “become a physical Jew… under the law” to the extent of denying His own words. Instead He “became as a Jew” in a way that made it very clear, that He would not compromise His principles. As a new priest with a “new priesthood,” He went on up to Jerusalem to be with His own people in a way which demonstrated that He did not approve of the keeping of the law of Moses. Christ “esteemed every day alike” and wanted that to be known to all, even if it cost Him His life. Christ wanted it to be known that His ministry was the beginning of the reformation which had been prophesied to be the commencement of His ministry with its new law.

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them [only] until the time of reformation.

The “carnal ordinances” mentioned in Heb 9:10 included the “days, months, times, and years,” against such observance Paul admonished the Galatians of in Gal 4:10.

Christ never once did anything He did to avoid being persecuted. He did everything simply to obey and glorify His Father. Oh, that it was granted each of us to do the same! It was in obeying His Father that Christ demonstrated His love for His yet unbelieving brothers.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

So what does “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” mean? Does it mean that the man who follows Christ’s example and “esteems every day alike” is therefore expected to give up the ability to “eat all things” and instead begin “eating only herbs?” Does “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” mean that a man who does not observe days, months, times and years is weak in the faith and is not capable of receiving “strong meat?” That is what most Christians want to believe, because it makes life at home much easier.

But let’s be honest with ourselves. Can anyone actually honestly suggest that being faithful to Christ’s example and taking sober heed to Paul’s admonitions is easier than observing days, months, times and years and fitting in with the traditions of men? No, of course not. The “strong meat” of God’s Word is not and will never be that which makes our walk in Christ a smooth thing. We certainly do not want to be different for the sake of being different. But neither should we ever be found guilty of seeking to avoid “tribulations or persecutions…because of the Word”.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Obviously ‘Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” means nothing of the sort. What it does mean and what Paul was emphasizing and what we need to emphasize, is that the mature must be patient with the less mature brother who is “weak in the faith.” Likewise the less mature, weak brother is admonished that he must not judge and condemn the mature brother who can “eat all things” and is standing uncompromisingly with the strong meat of the Word.

If Christ is our example and has “left us an example that we should follow in His steps,” then we, too, will, as we can bear it, “esteem ever day alike” and will at the same time never be found guilty of forcing our “strong meat” upon our weaker brothers who cannot yet follow in Christ’s steps to the point of giving up the observing of days, months, times and years.

In other words, Gal 4:10 adds to the proper understanding of Rom 14, and Rom 14 is properly understood only in the light of the later revelation of Gal 4:10.

Gal 4:8  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. [Trying to fit in with the traditions of men]
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Is the spirit afraid for those who “esteem every day alike?” Is that what we read here? What was the “service” being rendered to “them which by nature are no gods?” What were these Galatians doing that demonstrated that they “knew not God?” Paul says they were “returning to the weak and beggarly elements” they had just come out of.

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

What are these weak and beggarly elements? They are the traditions of men and the desire to be accepted by those around us who are serving God in a way that God clearly shows us by Christ’s example is an abomination to God, and in a way which demonstrates that they as yet simply cannot receive the commandments of Christ and the example He left us to follow. The “weak and beggarly elements” are the fear of losing our friends and family because we insist on following Christ’s example instead of doing the easy smooth things dictated to us by society. The weak and beggarly elements are those traditions of men which they claim are designed to glorify God while completely ignoring Christ’s example which He left for us to follow. What were the Galatians doing that made this obvious to the apostle Paul and to all who want nothing more than to “follow His steps.” Here it is again:

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

I do not wish to belabor this subject, and I certainly do not want to appear to be forcing meat down the throats of those who can only now receive herbs. But this is an annual struggle with which we are confronted, and there is always the desire of the flesh of us all to swap our strong meat for that which is much easier to digest and which is not nearly as “bitter in the belly.”

Rev 10:9  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take [ it], and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10  And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11  And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

There is nothing about following the traditions of men which ‘make our bellies bitter or serve as a witness to many people’. But standing with Christ and Paul does both. We do not avoid spiritual adultery and fornication, murder, theft or covetousness by indulging in those physical sins. We avoid those spiritual sins by “loving God and keeping His commandments” as revealed in the “change also of the law.” Christ’s life was “our example that we should follow in His steps.”

Our spiritual “land” is the life we live while in these clay vessels which we call bodies of flesh and blood. Here is what God has to say about what we are to do in that “land.”

Deu 12:29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30  Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

When we as those to whom God has given the dominion of “the land which” was once ruled by our enemies, ignore our Lord’s example concerning the observing of days, months, times and years, we are teaching our children that Christ’s breaking of the sabbath days and Christ’s refusal to go up to the feast on the first day of the feast as commanded by Moses and as was the tradition of His family, was a mistake that He should not have made. We are teaching our children that it is a sin to appear, so blatantly, to stand out from the rest of society, and do as our Lord did. In other words, we are putting our friends and families ahead of God and the example of His Son. We are more concerned about offending men than we are with offending God.

We are also teaching our children not to ask, ‘What is commendable to the spirit?’ We are actually teaching them to ask, ‘What is permissible’ or ‘What can I just get by doing?’ ‘Can’t I get by with eating herbs instead of strong meat?’ We are teaching them never to ask, ‘What example do we have in scripture?’ or ‘Am I acknowledging God in all of my ways?’

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Instead of asking, ‘What scriptural example can I find which demonstrates that I want nothing but to glorify God’, we ask, ‘Where do the scriptures specifically state that I cannot observe days, months, times and years?’ Instead of asking our heavenly Father to prepare our hearts to be able to receive the strong meat of the word, we actually want to stay on herbs and esteem one day above another.

When we ourselves observe days, months, times and years, like the Galatians we are returning to “the weak and beggarly elements” which bind a worldly society together, but which are really nothing less than utter bondage, which causes our own “sons and daughters to be burnt in the fire to their gods” while at the same time claiming that we are doing so to glorify God. We tell ourselves that we are eating strong meat only so we can avoid the trials that come with eating the true strong meat; which strong meat is the example that was left us by our own Lord. That is the true meaning behind these words:

Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6  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.
Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

There are, and have always been, many who come into the body of Christ who cannot accept the strong meat which is the example left us by our Lord. We are never to despise such “weaker brothers.” But neither is “another who is weak” supposed to “judge him who can eat all things… and esteem every day alike.” The trials and rejection by this world do not come down upon those who ask “how do these nations serve their gods, even so will I do likewise.” Christ could have taken that path, but He did not. Christ didn’t have to tell the cripple He had healed to “take up thy bed”, but He did. He didn’t have to “pluck the ears of corn on the sabbath day”, but He did. He and His disciples could have “prepared twice as much on the sixth day”, but He and they did not prepare twice as much on the sixth day, and they plucked the ears of corn for a reason. That reason was to set you and me an example that we should follow His steps.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3  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.
Rom 14:4  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.

There is not one word about the brother who can eat all things and who does not esteem one day above another becoming like his weak brother. But neither is there one word about the brother who is weak being forced to become capable of “eating all things and esteeming every day alike.”A mature young man does not despise a child who has not yet learned to walk or run. Neither does he despise an ‘all-knowing and all wise’ adolescent. The toddler or the all-knowing adolescent, on the other hand, is admonished against judging his elder, stronger brother in Christ. While this is good admonition from which both parties can benefit, it is significant to note that the spirit has seen fit to use the phrase “not judge” in relation to “another who is weak, [and] eats [only] herbs,” and still “esteems one day above another.” It is always those who have been prepared to receive strong meat to whom that strong meat is given. Which is harder to do? Is it harder to observe holy days and holidays, or is it harder to refrain from doing so? Here again is Paul’s own answer to that question, which was written after writing the epistle to the Romans:

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

The observing of holidays within families, while conceived of in the minds of the natural man as a time of celebration and joy, is for many nothing less than a time of complete bondage to the traditions of buying and giving of gifts which really are not expedient and which often cannot be afforded.

The celebration of birthdays, for which not one birthday celebration of one single godly man in scripture is given, teaches a child to be self-centered from birth. Should a Christian keep birthdays? The principle is the same for birthdays as it is for any other day, month, time or year.

That is but one reason why suicides have, for many years, spiked in the month of December, in and around all the preparations and expectations and expenses that come with the Christmas traditions.

Easter, Halloween, St. Valentine’s Day, and to a lesser degree, birthdays and anniversaries, are one and all celebrations which glorify and extol the “one event to all.”

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

What is this “one event which comes alike to the righteous and the wicked?” Is it something to be celebrated and extolled from our youth? No, it absolutely is not meant to be extolled and celebrated. Here is what is this life, and this is what we all come to see when we “follow in His steps.”

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

We will all live every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Christ Himself made that clear:

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Ecc 1:13 has “proceeded out of the mouth of God,” and we will all, for certain, be humbled by the “experience of evil” that is our life in this marred vessel of clay, which is better known as a body of “sinful flesh and blood.” Knowing this and accepting the scriptural fact that God is working all things after the counsel of His own will, it should be clear that “he that eats all things ought never to despise a weaker brother, and he that is weak and eats herbs, ought never to judge him that eats, for God has received him.”

The humanly irresistible tendency is for those who have been given the strong meat of God’s Word, to give up the way which “because of the Word [produces] tribulations and persecution.”

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Which part of “the word” offends those who “have not root in themselves?” It certainly is not the milk that offends so much as the strong meat which belongs to those who are full of age and can handle the word of God.

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [ be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Who has the “strong meat” of God’s Word? God knows who those are who can receive strong meat and who cannot. This question comes up every year about this time, and it is always brought up by those who seek to judge their brothers who can “eat all things.” It is never brought up by the brothers who don’t observe days, months, times or years”, but by those who seek to justify their unwillingness to be “hated of all men.” It is always used by those who do “esteem one day above another” to judge the stronger brother who does not do so.

It is not judging others to simply be willing to stand apart from this world. So let’s recognize Rom 14, 1Co 8, and 1Co 10 in their proper perspective. Let us acknowledge that none of these chapters of God’s Word are instructing us to ignore our Lord’s example of “esteeming every day alike” while still “breaking the sabbath, and going up… in the midst of the feast” and being all things to all men without compromising His own Words.

1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

I want to make it clear that this is not intended to force meat down the throat of a weak brother who can eat only spiritual herbs. But it most definitely is intended to keep those milk and herb doctrines from replacing the strong meat that we are encouraged to progress and grow into.

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

If that is our reason for desiring milk, then we will “grow thereby” and not be content to stay on mere milk and herbs. This is the attitude that we must all develop if we hope to be striving for the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ.

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

Christ’s example should be our goal. But until we are given to see that, let us never be guilty of either attempting to force feed a weak brother or to force a brother who can “eat all things” to give up His meat for milk and herbs.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith [ you stronger brothers] receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day [Gal 4:10], regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day [Mat 12:1], 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.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike