February 14 | Romans 14:5-9

by Beth Voltmann

If Paul could travel through time to speak to the church today, he might wring his hands in frustration. Have we given any heed to the message he gave to the churches or are we still wrestling with the same issues? How should we worship? What are we permitted to eat and drink? We say we follow the Lord Jesus, and yet, we remain mired in our man-made religious practices. 

The Bible says, “Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15)

As believers, we take that and run with it, just as the early church did. Let me share ways my family and friends have practiced their deep devotion to the Lord over the years:

Within my family:

· Lutheran parents  - Weekly Sunday morning worship and Sunday School—wine served at Communion once a month

· Baptist grandmother — grape juice served at Communion every Sunday–worship held Sunday a.m., Sunday p.m., and Wednesday p.m.

· Catholic in-laws - Sunday mass not to be missed–wine served by common cup at weekly Communion

And for my friends:

· No pork - God said it was forbidden

· Vegetarian diet - God created man to eat only plants

· No consumption of alcohol—God frowns on that

· Saturday evening worship preferred

· House-church with a few friends on Sundays

· No football or movies to be viewed on the Lord’s day

· Worship online from home because of spread of illness

· Devotional time each morning

· Devotional time each night

· No specific devotional time

Who is right? Who is wrong? I would encourage you to read all of Romans 14 to fully understand the spirit of Paul’s exhortation to the church to stop judging one another. I can almost hear the refrain of Jesus from this past Sunday’s reading, “Do you still not see or understand?” (Mark 8:17)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free! (Galatians 5:1) May we begin this season of Lent, with the sober consideration that we are “but dust and to dust we will return." Our finite, worthless attempts to honor God are only acceptable through Jesus Christ. In him alone, we have this great promise as believers:

“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8)

Lord Jesus, we turn our eyes to you and ask that you cleanse us from all unworthy attempts to worship you. You alone are worthy. We are only able to stand before the throne of God because of the sprinkled blood of Jesus.

“To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:25)