Who are they and are you one of them? A person who does not eat meat, and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious, or health reasons. This is right straight out of meanings according to good ole Google. Would you consider a vegetarian as weak in faith? If you read only versus 1 and 2 of Romans 14, then, yes. How many times should you forgive someone? 7 or 77 times? Verse 21 and 22 of Matthew 18 indicates 77 times. Are both of these examples in the scripture a bit misleading? Yes, if you stop and interpret just these short versus. What is the real answers?
First, is that we should not judge and the second is that we should forgive from our hearts. In this day, not really unlike the past, except for instant feedback from the media, we tend to put ourselves into groups of thought. One group will not accept another group. Meat eaters will not accept those who abstain and visa versa. Who is right? Depends on your group and the way they think. Is it any wander we cannot get along in society today as we are so influenced by our social environment? Has our polarization gotten out of control? I believe our modern zest to believe what we see as the truth on TV has misguided us to fall into belief groups where our side is the only side. We tend to judge the other side and we will not forgive them of their perceived iniquities. We are in a sad state when we cannot accept and refuse to forgive.
I have spent several days now working in the mission fields in the midst of destruction due to a natural disaster called Hurricane “Laura”. If there is one thing that will unite you to your neighbor, it is getting yourself in this midst. The light of Christ is revealed more clearly than ever before. Tribal camps fall away and we merge into one group of humans trying to recover. Judging ceases and forgiveness is a natural occurrence. Who are we to judge? We will all stand in front of the judgement seat of God. (Romans 14:4,10) We will be forgiven the same way we forgave others. I hope the forgiveness is from the heart. (Mat: 18:35)
Now, as I write, there is another storm approaching called “Sally”. May God’s grace and mercy protect us all. T