Day 44 of the Fruit Feast. i am so glad its finally March. Spring is in the air. That means more sunshine, warmth, singing birds, blooming flowers and........delicious sweet fruits! Glory!
i was studying Romans 14 today. It is a chapter that is often used by those claiming that all foods are good to eat and also that there is no Sabbath to keep. i thought it good to share my findings as some of the readers of this blog may run into such a situation (either as a raw vegan and/or a Sabbath keeper). The two texts thrown about most often are these:
Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
People take the former to imply that all the days are equal with no special importance to one above another (i.e. the 7th Day Sabbath). They take the latter to mean that we should not make any difference about what we eat because there are more important things. We will deal with the Sabbath issue tomorrow, today we will examine the food issue.
One of the major problems many Christians have is failing to study scripture in its context. The majority of the works of the New Testament (and all of the writings of the Apostle Paul) are called Epistles. An epistle is another word for a letter. If a person has written a letter to another person (or in this case a group of persons) and one sentence is read out of the context of the letter, it can distort the whole meaning of the letter. One of the ways in which we can identify an incorrect view of a particular passage of scripture is by reading the whole body in its context. Many times we will find that, in the same body there is a text that would seem to contradict something said earlier. Now first off, i want to express very plainly, that i believe the Bible was dictated by the Holy Spirit and men were used as conduits in its writing.
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
i believe it does not contradict itself and where it appears to do so, it is because of error in interpretation. Such is the case here. Here is a passage from the same chapter in Romans just a few verses later:
Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
From this verse it appears that the apostle is advocating a vegetarian diet. It appears to contradict verse 17 in the way verse 17 was interpreted by some. What is going on? Again we really need to take more time and study the bible with prayer for guidance and these "mysteries" will be made more plain. For the same Holy Spirit that inspired it, will guide the honest seeker of Truth thru it. Verse 21 of Romans is almost an exact duplicate of a statement the apostle made in 1 Corinthians 8:13:
1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
The issue can be found in 1 Corinthians 8: 1-8. It was concerning foods being offered to idols. Many of the Converts to Jesus Christ of Nazareth were gentiles that were once pagans. The apostles were all jewish and had issues eating things that were to be offered to an idol even if the food itself was considered clean by the Word of God. Some of the disciples who were converted from among the jews instructed gentile converts to avoid such foods altogether. These foods were usually flesh foods (a bullock or goat being the usual victim). This presented a problem as gentiles were seeking to witness to their family and friends who were pagan. When invited to a dinner at a pagans home should they eat the food if it was being offered for an idol? This was the issue:
1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
1 Corinthians 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Corinthians 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
1 Corinthians 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
So the idol itself would mean nothing to the believer in Christ, but for the sake of conscience it was decided to not partake in such foods :
1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
and this also,
Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Of course today, many who profess Christianity abstain from nothing. The results of this being seen in their own bodies and lives that are both sickly and without peace. Having a form of godliness by denying its power. But the Holy Spirit thru the Apostle Paul brings the point home in the proper context:
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
In its proper context we see that we should not idolize our food so much as not to be able to dispense with it for the sake of a soul. Herein lies the context of Romans 14:17
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
But we should not jump all over new believers who may have eaten such things. Let the Holy Spirit and our example be the teacher.
Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Romans 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Romans 14:3 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.
That is the real point, our example is more powerful than our words:
Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
AMEN.
Tomorrow the whole "day" thing.
Breakfast:
Large bowl of Longans. 6 bananas.
Lunch: Non-sweet Fruity salad with celery-lemon juice for sauce. 1 Durian.
The thing about the salad is that it was not satisfying. But it was different in its unsatisfaction than before. Before i would have wanted something more seasoned. But today i just wanted something more sweet. i am glad i had the Durian after. So sweet, creamy and delicious! But i wanted more sweet so that led me to eat a dinner later.
Dinner:
2 mangos, 24oz of OJ, 2 links of Sugar Cane. Very good.
Spiritual Bread: Romans 14
Exercise: Faith.
Grace and Peace be multiplied.
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