Strength and weakness

In chapter 14, Paul described that strength in faith is being manifested by not judging others (Rom 14:1). Weak people, on the other hand, are constantly judging what they should or should not do. Some eat only vegetables (Rom 14:2), others respect certain days more than others (Rom 14:5). Still others can eat anything and consider all days equal. Paul doesn’t judge, but simply summarizes that we should not judge or condemn one another. “For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself” (Rom 14:7). It is not about religious orders or ordinances. Neither the doing nor the not doing is relevant. Paul shows that a religious piety, shaped by external things, does not help.

We should not judge one another, for each of us will give an account for himself to God (Rom 14:12). We should have the faith we have for ourselves before God (Rom 14:22). Everyone is responsible for themselves. That is the starting position.

However, Paul didn’t stop with those remarks. There is indeed a responsibility towards each other. Understanding that we should not judge others and we should take responsibility for ourselves is true, but it is not the whole story. There is more.

“But we, the powerful, are obliged to bear the weaknesses of the powerless and not to please ourselves.”
Rom 15:1

Complacency is not a goal. We should beware of that. Rather, we should work to support the others. Mighty ones in faith are characterized by two features:

• They do not condemn
• They carry the weak including their weaknesses.

Weak in faith, on the other hand, are recognized by the following things:

• They condemn
• They are opinionated, condemn and demonize others
• They require others to do the same as they do themselves
• They boast of special insights, special teachings and behaviors
• Community is built on uniformity.

The differences could not be greater. It stands to reason that the self-righteous call themselves “strong” and the others “weak.” How to recognize this?

Searching the good for others

An indication of the dynamics of faith lies in this: how do we deal with dissenters in the congregation?

“Each of us seek to please our neighbor, for his good.”
Rom 15:2

That is the yardstick. What are we trying to achieve? It is the attitude that Paul is addressing here. It is about the direction in which we move our thoughts and actions. Do we seek to achieve the good for the other person? Are we trying to encourage him, to lead him closer to Christ (see also Eph. 4:15-16)? It is the attitude of faith that is crucial, not whether something is “right” or “wrong.” Paul sees community as a process, a development, and the strong in faith promote positive development while the weak get caught up in religious behavior, bossiness, and human assumptions.

Those who have a generous spiritual horizon will lead others out into freedom. They will bind to Christ instead of clinging to religious ideas. Living faith is different from religion and religious claims.

Commitment of the strong

The powerful are obliged to bear the weaknesses of the powerless and not to please themselves. Conversely, we do not read this – nowhere are the weak asked to endure the strengths of the strong. The powerful will not share the conclusions of the weak, but they will bear them. The powerful do not put themselves first, but can step back from their own needs and realizations. They do not have an obsessive need to please themselves, nor are they trapped in their own religious worldview, image of God, and image of man. They rest in themselves and can challenge others in their humanity and Christianity.

When believers think God judges them at every turn, and therefore frantically adhere to rules, to supposed ladders, they merely confirm themselves as insecure and plagued by feelings of inferiority. But those who are grounded in God’s grace know that everything depends on God and therefore there is no stress. The first speaks of uncertainty, the last speaks of trust in God.

Also, the strong have realized that everyone lives for himself and dies for himself. We all share the same vocation, but each one shapes his own life before God. The powerful are obliged to bear the weaknesses of the powerless because they are free and have not only received grace but can live it out. They have learned to discern what matters (cf. Phil 1:9-11).

Each of us should give an account to God for ourselves. Therefore, we should not judge anyone, but rather serve to promote one another’s faith (Rom 14:12-13). We should have the faith we have for ourselves before God (Rom 14:22). The powerful will make room for the powerless and will actively help all grow toward Christ (Eph. 4:15-16).

Challenge in the community

There is a challenge to this noble attitude: weak in faith will try to impose their view of things. This makes them feel more secure. Compulsive religious behavior, believing that it will make one live more pleasing to God, manifests itself in various ways. Paul mentioned some of these in chapter 14: The weak eats only vegetables (Rom 14:2), or respects one day more than another (Rom 14:5). This is not important for Paul. The nations have never received such directives from God. However, some feel that this is important. Paul explains in Colossians that all these things distract from the fullness in Christ and are rather for the satisfaction of the flesh (to satisfy one’s religious needs, Col 2:23).

So the powerful bear the weaknesses of the powerless, and will not drink wine or eat meat in the presence of those who take offense (Rom 14:21). However, to endure weaknesses is not to affirm the powerless in their interpretation of Scripture, but only to appreciate your sincerity – even in misinterpreting Scripture. So the powerful ones will also have to practice demarcation. They not only concede the weak the freedom for their personal interpretation, but also stand up for their own freedom not to let themselves be determined by others.

In the 2nd chapter of Colossians mentioned earlier, Paul writes in this sense:

“If then you have died together with Christ to the basic rules of the world, what do you put yourselves under decrees like those living in the world: Do not touch this! Do not taste this! Do not touch this! (all this is destined to destruction by consumption) – according to human precepts and doctrines which, though they have an expression of wisdom in arbitrary ritual, in humility and non-sparing of the body, are of no value except for the gratification of the flesh.”
Col 2:20-23

“What do you pose!” is the statement of misguided religiosity. That’s where you hear Paul’s correction. This is not only about certain things, but also about ritual and false humility. This is the religious attitude that is not useful for anything other than satisfying one’s own flesh. The Colossians were influenced by philosophy, traditions and human interpretations (Col 2:8). But those were not the only challenges. Let’s also read the following section:

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand fast in it now, and do not be bound again in the yoke of slavery!”
Gal 5:1

In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul deals primarily with Jewish brethren who wanted to establish the law for the nation-believers. Paul vehemently defends himself against this by clarifying: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is able to do anything, but only faith working through love” (Gal 5:6).

In various letters, Paul defends freedom in Christ against various influences. It is the strong in faith who stand in this freedom and therefore can give direction, both for themselves and for others.

For edification

“Each of us seek to please our neighbor, for his good, for his edification.”
Rom 15:2

The next verse follows with a logical summary: Everyone should serve their neighbor for edification by allowing them the freedom of Christ and encouraging them to grow toward Christ. On the way to this goal, Paul then presents Christ to us as an example:

“For even the Christ did not live to please Himself, but as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproach Thee fall upon Me.”
Rom 15:3

Have confidence

Paul takes the example of Christ from the Bible. He quotes a Psalm (Ps 69:10) which he interprets in reference to Christ. Because Paul has now singled out those who are strong in faith, they too should find strength. That is why he now writes:

“For all that was written aforetime was written especially for our instruction, that we through perseverance and through the promise of the scriptures might have confidence.”
Rom 15:4

The Bible is given to us for instruction so that we may

• through perseverance and
• through the encouragement of the scriptures
• “May have confidence”.

The “perseverance” is our perseverance, but in this we are confirmed by the “promise of the scriptures”. Reading the Bible (Paul spoke of the writings of the Tenach, the Old Testament) is a source of encouragement in this. Elsewhere, Paul writes that the Scriptures are shaped by God’s Spirit and are “profitable for instruction, for reproof, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be prepared, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Scripture is shaped by God’s Spirit (Gr. theopneustos, God-breathed). This is what builds up and refreshes the man of God.

Mutual acceptance according to the example of Christ

By reading the Bible, we become familiar with Him. This is where our confidence comes from. The Bible is the interface between us and God. Spiritually minded people become strong through fellowship with Him. This strength should now also flow back into the community as confidence:

“May the God of perseverance and encouragement grant you to be like-minded among yourselves, according to the mind of Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may glorify with one mouth the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as the Christ also accepted you to Himself for the glorification of God.”
Rom 15:5-7

Here now culminates the mutual acceptance of the powerful and the powerless: they accept each other, just as the Christ has accepted us. He did not do it because we are good or about perfect, but he did it to glorify God. This is part of the attitude of the strong.