“For the kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) Food should not be permitted to destroy the work of God. “All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eats with offence.” If the faith of a fellow believer is strong he should exercise it while alone with God — not in the face of a brother whose weak faith does not permit him to partake.
Paul’s closing statement is remarkable. “Happy is he who does not condemn himself in that thing which he allows.” Happy is the Christian who is strong in faith! As for the Christian who eats in spite of his doubts, he is condemned because he does not eat in faith. “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin” – this is the crux of the matter.
Conscience and consciousness are in the same ‘word family’ in NT Greek. A lack of consciousness as to the acceptability of some foods, or as to whether some days are holier than other days, enables a Christian to enjoy a less restricted life of greater freedom.
It goes without saying that this does not mean that Christians can act sinfully and use Paul’s words to justify their actions. The apostle is not addressing moral rights and wrongs but matters of conscience in regard to certain foods and the observance of religious days. Paul’s abhorrence of the demonic influence behind the sacrificing of food to idols is clear from 1 Corinthians 10:20. But the stronger a believer’s faith, the less concerned he or she is with pagan associations and practices. This world is not a level playing field in which demons contest the authority of Jesus Christ. The authority of Jesus overrules every authority on earth.
Food that for all I know was dedicated to another deity does not deter me from eating what God created for my health, provision and enjoyment. I shun foods made with blood, such as Black Pudding, because of the Jerusalem council’s decision, which also prohibited the eating of things strangled (since the blood is not drained from them) and food offered to idols (Acts 15:29). The decision was a practical one, in that non-Jewish converts to the Christian faith could not be expected to adhere to kosher Jewish food laws.
To sum up, the old adage holds true: “One man’s meat is another man’s poison” — and especially so when the food includes the really horrible things eaten on reality TV survival programs!
Let’s look again at the great statements made by Paul on these matters — and thank God for the apostle’s spiritual understanding:
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This has been the definitive statement of the present, spiritual kingdom of God over the past 2,000 years – and will be until the King returns to establish his kingdom over all the earth!
“Happy is he who does not condemn himself in that thing which he allows.” Is it possible to become so strong in faith that self-condemnation ceases to exist? Yes, absolutely! Just as the spacecraft breaks through the gravitational power of earth and heads in the direction of limitless Outer Space! Again, this refers to food laws and religious calendar observances, and does not mean that we can sin with impunity against God by breaking His moral laws.
“For whatever is not of faith is sin.” And conversely, whatever is of faith is not sin, in the matter of religious regulations!
If you can get your head and more importantly your heart, around having a consciousness that comes from having a good conscience, you will find yourself able to love people more easily and focus on core issues of the Christian faith. My prayer is that conscience will be your guide, and that a strong faith will guide your conscience!