Convinced by Christ

"I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

Romans 14:14

God had taught Paul many things by the time he wrote the letter to the Romans as led by the Holy Spirit.  As a Pharisee, Paul would have likely fought tooth and nail against the suggestion some things or people were not unclean in themselves.  The Law of Moses was full of clear statements that described kinds of birds or beasts as unclean for eating, and how a person could be made ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body or due to illness.  There were detailed washings and sacrifices required to cleanse the unclean, and a complete paradigm shift coupled with humble faith in Jesus was needed for Paul to write what he did.  The LORD Jesus Christ needed to convince Paul of the truth nothing was unclean of itself, and so he held forth this truth boldly to the brethren--even those who had not yet been convinced.

Paul confronted Christians in Colossians 2:20-23 whose actions suggested things were unclean in themselves and their spiritual purity was maintained or lost by objects they touched or food they ate:  "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--²¹ "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," ²² which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³ These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."  The problem wasn't that believers in Colossae established wise boundaries for themselves, but the issue was they subjected themselves to self-imposed religion, not realising what Christ accomplished on Calvary.  The Law of Moses that condemned them was nailed to the cross, they had died to sin, and now were risen with Christ who lived through them.  The teaching of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount shows freedom from the Law does not bring lawlessness, for the Holy Spirit guides God's people to a standard far higher than law.

I have observed in Christian circles an appetite for legalism when it aligns with their convictions, for it is easily justified as wise boundaries.  There is an attraction for us towards black and white, to strike a stark contrast and clear line between what is deemed acceptable and sinful.  We can feel a degree of confidence or safety by avoiding what is seen as bad in itself, and we can view ourselves as morally or spiritually superior when we do what is considered good.  Both of these are a snare, for it puts self at the centre and relegates righteousness by our own arbitrary standard.  It is good for us to acknowledge God created all things to be good, and if something is unclean for us we ought to observe it as unclean without fanfare.  We do not condemn a person for avoiding food when they have a severe allergy, and we also should not condemn a person who does not drink alcohol because it could lead them or others to sin.

I remember years ago a person who believed music, when set in a minor key or played with certain drum rhythms, was an "evil beat."  This clearly stands at odds with Paul's statement that nothing is unclean in itself.  God is the God of the hills as well as the valleys; He is the God of the major and minor chords, God of the acoustic and electric guitar.  He is sovereign over the light and darkness, the day as well as the night.  He is LORD over every atom, the entire spectrum of visible and invisible light, of things seen and not seen.  Every vibration, frequency, element, chemical, creature and spirit has been created by God for His use.  Even the world, governments and wicked forces of darkness are all under God's rule, and God's people are sanctified by Him for Him in the midst of everything that is.  Rather than fearing things God has made or what man has made can defile us--we ought to fear the LORD and be led by the Holy Spirit in what we do and choose not to do because He is our righteousness.

By faith in Jesus Christ, we can have a clear conscience before God whether we eat meat or only vegetables--or a mix of both!  A Christian can listen to classic music and heavy metal without feeling condemned by God because both can glorify Him.  Paul concluded in Romans 14:21-23, "It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. ²² Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. ²³ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."  For Paul, being convinced by Jesus meant he had the freedom to eat whatever foods he wanted, but he took pains to avoid stumbling those who expressed concerns.  It is the love of God and others as led by the Holy Spirit who guides us rather than legalism, fleshly desire or the fear of man.  May we all be convinced by Christ nothing is unclean in itself and to live to please and obey Him!