"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.............let not then your good be evil spoken of: for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."
Romans 14v14-18
In verse 14 Paul is making a judgement call. He is not suggesting that this is by special revelation, simply that taking into account all the teachings of Christ this is how we should be thinking. He says there is nothing intrinsically unclean about anything. The word he uses is "koinos" which means common as opposed to holy. He is not thinking of anything morally unclean here, but simply that which is ceremonially unclean. The things of earth including all plants and animals are given for our use. However there are many cases when these are put to misuse and this is what Paul is driving at here. He is referring to the sacrificial system which was part of all religions, not only the Jewish one. The use of animal sacrifices to gods was a common practice and in 1st Corinthians chapter 8 Paul explains that when a sacrifice was offered to a god, that which was left over was sold cheaply in the marketplace. Because of the religious associations of these sacrifices, some believers had a conscience about eating this cheap meat because of its idolatrous connection. This is what is behind the assertion here. Says Paul, some esteem these meats to be ungodly, others see it just as meat for eating. What he wishes to establish is that there is nothing in the meat that should trouble our conscience, but he acknowledges that there are some who will take it seriously. He says in verse 16 let not your good be evil spoken of. It is a good thing to understand that there is nothing intrinsically unclean, but I must recognize that others do not see it the same.
He now introduces divine light into a confused situation, and he talks of "the kingdom of God." The kingdom of God is the sphere of the authority of God over all His people. In this sphere He allows for all levels of conscience, because we are all different, and we see things differently. We must understand the nature of the kingdom says Paul. "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14v17 Jesus condemned the externalism of the Pharisee in his day (Matthew 15v10-11) but for those reared in a religion which was based largely on externalism, old habits die hard, and we must give latitude and time for new perspectives to develop. Says Paul this is what the kingdom of God is all about:
- Righteousness - this is Godward; a right relationship and fellowship with God above.
- Peace - this is manward; a right relationship with our fellow brethren.
- Joy in the Holy Spirit - this is inward; God means us to enjoy our new found Christian life.
Although we are not to be concerned with external matters (and we could do with applying this principle to many other things in our present day), we are to apply the principles of the kingdom in all aspects of life, which can be summarized as follows: a right way of living before God, a peaceful attitude towards all believers, and an inward joy that is untarnished with the things of this world. The primary issues in the lives of Christian believers should not be externals, but real inward spiritual qualities. We are to have a respect for what is right and wrong. We are to seek harmony as far as is possible, and we are to experience unbroken enjoyment of the things of God. Disturbances caused by trivial matters are contrary to the principles of the kingdom of God. However, since the main issue in the practice of the kingdom is love for one another we must allow a leeway to those who see things differently. He crowns it all by saying that we are serving Christ and by living in this way we shall be accepted by God and approved by men. There is a difficult tension in scripture between what is called "mercy and truth." How do I stand firmly for what is right and at the same time love those who practice differently? There is also a link in scripture between "favour with God and with man." The two things often collide, but can be brought together by the Lord. In the book of Proverbs chapter 16 v 6-7 the writer deals with both these issues and gives the answer. "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Favour with God and men this is what we should seek; it was true of the prophet Samuel, it was true of king David, it was true of the Lord Jesus. In all of these cases, they had their enemies but the essence of their lives was righteousness with God and peace with all men, and inward joy in all that they did. So should it be with us.
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