Convinced by the Lord Jesus

"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

This revelation God gave Paul cut deep against the grain of his upbringing, traditions and perspective.  As a man raised in Judaism who was devout, student of Gamaliel who became a Pharisee, there were many things deemed unclean in the law of Moses.  Paul could prove what was clean and unclean in black and white.  Yet after being born again by faith in Jesus, over many years Paul knew and was convinced by the Lord Jesus there is nothing unclean of itself.  I imagine this teaching directly confronted Paul's long held beliefs, judgments and outlook--and perhaps ours as well.

I have observed in myself and in others a tendency to assume many things are unclean in itself.  For instance, I have spoken to people who rail against materialism as a great evil to the point they feel guilty for having things.  They view having to pay a mortgage for their house or attending a purpose-built church as an indictment against their own good character.  This reminds me of the Gnostics who believed the material world was inherently evil while all that is spiritual is good and divine.  This is contrary to the revelation of Scripture, for God is the source of all goodness; only He is righteous, holy and eternally so.

In the forgoing passage in Romans 14, Paul wrote of people who only ate vegetables and others who ate anything.  He spoke of those who observed a holy day whilst to others it was just another day.  Paul explained to believers they could follow their own convictions with thanksgiving to God on what foods to eat or holy days to observe without condemning those who did otherwise--as if it was evil in itself to eat meat or to celebrate the New Year.  One can enjoy food without gluttony and can drink without becoming intoxicated.  Celebrations and gatherings need not be marked with hedonistic pursuits, sexual promiscuity or violence.  I grew up in an era where people frowned upon "playing cards," dancing and drinking alcohol as activities that were likely sinful in themselves or toed the line of sin--perhaps because of their history with those activities and desire not to embolden others to be drawn into what they were convinced was sin for them.

Paul knew and was convinced by Jesus nothing is unclean of itself, but he also was convinced that if someone views anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  This is also something believers ought to take to heart, especially when we have been given to legalism.  We assume a legalistic posture when we force or compel other to adopt our personal convictions under the guise of spiritual maturity and to truly please God.  As followers of Christ, our choices are to be governed by the love of God and love for one another.  Rather than judging and condemning others over their exercise of liberty that differs from ours, we are to be united in Christ's kingdom that is marked by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Romans 14:19 is not a description of a Christian walking on eggshells but one who lives by faith and obedience to Jesus:  "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another."