Gleanings – Freedom Among the Bound
Romans 14:1-12
“Let not him who eats despise him who abstains and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats.”
There is freedom among the bound. We are bound together by our redemption in the Lord Jesus. But we are not bound to practice the same piety. Indeed we enjoy great freedom within the bound together community to do as we please.
Unfortunately piety so easily leads to pride. “I bow to the cross during the procession.” “Well I genuflect (drop to one knee) to the cross during the procession.” Where does that leave the poor bloke who thinks the whole procession thing is a bit over the top? Let us not look down our long nose at him (me).
Some fast. Others don’t. The former doesn’t indicate spiritual maturity and the latter doesn’t indicate any less commitment. I have a friend whose blood sugar levels react so strongly to the absence of food that fasting is all but impossible. Paul says, “So!”
Let’s keep the main thing the main thing. If we are to argue let it be over matters of substance. Let us commit to one act of piety. Let us abstain from debating opinions and personal preferences. They are as numerous as grains of sand upon the shore. Consequently that debate would be endless and according to Paul pointless as well.