By Dr. Jena Dunn, Stark College & Seminary Provost
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. —Romans 14:1-10
At a glance, one could humorously interpret these verses to mean we shouldn’t judge someone for their unique food preferences. However, the deeper context of Romans 14 addresses the importance of unity over uniformity in our faith journey.
Central to this passage is a discussion about food, but it extends beyond mere dietary choices. It delves into the practice of doctrine, particularly concerning vegetarianism and the observance of specific holy days. These practices, with both Pagan and Jewish origins, created division among the Roman congregations. Paul identifies two groups: those he deems “weak” in their stringent adherence to certain practices and those “strong” who believed these practices were non-essential. This division led to judgment, disdain, and conflict.
Does this resonate with today’s Christian landscape? Differences in Scriptural interpretations on topics such as Inerrancy, Providence, Divine Foreknowledge, Creation, Sanctification, Baptism, Women in Leadership, Charismatic Gifts, the Millennium, and more often lead to division. But Paul’s message to both the “weak” and the “strong” is clear: in matters that are not central to our faith, we are not to judge or despise each other, for God alone is our judge.
How does this relate to our mission at Stark College? Recently, I had the privilege to outline our Tenets of Faith, which represent Stark’s dedication to historic Christian orthodoxy. While we stand firm in our beliefs, we also champion intellectual exploration and diverse thought, always grounded in Christian love. Our aspiration is for students to deepen their faith while honing their analytical skills.
As we navigate our roles as educators and mentors, let’s heed Paul’s advice. Let’s prioritize doctrine over dogma, approach discussions with Christian kindness, and refrain from close-mindedness or arrogance. After all, God is our ultimate judge.