Romans 14:2-3 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.

The discussion in Romans 14 is over what to eat or not to eat. One believer feels eating would be okay, and another says it is not. How are we to react to these "gray areas" and our treatment of each other? We are family! These questionable things do not determine our salvation. Here, we are not talking about salvation, the blood of Christ, the Word of God, etc. We are talking about eating herbs. Do we eat them or not?

So how are we to treat each other? We often divide over these things, but the Holy Spirit says one is not to despise or look down on the other, and the second brother is not to judge the first. There is no Biblical talk about dividing over these areas!

There is a significant problem in our churches and among brothers in Christ. The one who takes the liberty to do a certain thing begins to think that he is more mature and flaunts his liberty before others. He acts superior. He acts like the one who chooses not to eat the herbs is dumb. He mocks him.

That is not what God tells us to do in this passage. He tells us not to despise or look down on his brother.

The other brother goes to the opposite extreme. He thinks the other person doesn't love God, isn't pleasing God, and cannot have the power of God in his life. He seems to indicate that the other brother hasn't read his Bible, hasn't prayed about it, is living in open rebellion, and is not a good Christian.

That, again, is not what God tells us to do in this passage. He tells us not to judge or be critical.



There are non-essential areas in our lives. We should agree on the great foundational truths and give our brothers their liberty in Christ.