Despising and Judging

"Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. ² For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him."

Romans 14:1-3

The Bible contains wisdom and insight concerning God and men.  After Adam's rebellion against God, sin and death passed to all men.  Adam passed to his progeny his genetic code and also spiritually a constant, consuming, malicious sinfulness.  The Bible aids us in fleshing out what sin looks like, and these verses provide a perfect example.  We can dispute over even the most doubtful things.

Do you find it interesting how bothered and offended we can be over things other people do, say, or believe?  It is most remarkable how the beliefs of a person can enrage someone else.  This is a natural tendency of all people.  If a person does or believes something and we disagree, it can create a wedge which can destroy friendships, families, and marriages.  There is nothing easier than finding fault in others, and we can become preoccupied and obsessed with how wrong other people are.  And we can't seem to let it go.  This is a product of our natural self which is corrupted with sin.  As these verse tell us, hatred and condemnation are common reactions in all men.  The fact this passage was written reveals this tendency is the natural bent of the flesh of even those who are born again.

Say a man named Bill eats meat, but Ted does not because he is a vegan.  Ted cites reasons for choosing a vegetarian lifestyle, and Bill also has his reasons for eating all varieties of meat.  Despite diet being a small factor in the scope of our lives, verse 3 suggests Bill's tendency would be to despise (hate, think less of) Ted for his choice not to eat meat, and Ted's tendency would be to judge (condemn, call into question) Bill for eating meat.  They might be quite civil with one another when interacting, but each of their hearts can be set against the other over what they do or don't do.  In the scope of this universe and eternity the food a person eats is a small thing indeed.  If you do not agree, that is alright too!  The point is, the hearts of human beings can seize on the smallest of things and hate and judge others for what they do, don't do, say, or believe.

Once we are born again followers of Jesus Christ, no longer are we a slave to our sinful heart's natural inclinations to hate, despise, judge, and condemn others.  We are free from this burden, this necessity to critically size people up and look down on them for what they do or don't do.  We have been freely received by Christ despite our sins:  shouldn't we choose to love and accept others God has received?  You can accept people without agreeing with their choices.  God will receive all sinners who come to Him in faith and humble repentance.  If God has received a person in spite of their flaws or convictions, is it right for me to condemn them?  Those who exercise a liberty are commanded not to hate those who abstain, and those who abstain aren't to judge those who do that things they have strong convictions about.  Then we will walk in unity and experience the fellowship of the Holy Spirit who indwells all believers.

Hatred and being judgmental towards others does not protect us or the church from evil but actually injects the sin of self-righteousness into our souls which will eventually poison many.  Even if what a person is doing is wrong, we should not hate or judge them.  God is the righteous Judge and His Word has already spoken on the matter.  Our call is to meekly come alongside of believers overtaken with faults and to aid them in being restored to righteous living (Galatians 6:1).  We are commanded by Christ to love our enemies:  should we love less those God has received in the Body of Christ as His own beloved possession?