The* “SIGNS” QUESTION CORNER by William G. Wirth

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California, U. S. A. · Nov 11, 1930

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 57, No. 44.

The “SIGNS” QUESTION CORNER

By William G. Wirth

Conducted by WILLIAM G. WIRTH, 5447 EL VERANO AVENUE, EAGLE ROCK, CALIFORNIA

If you have a question regarding Bible doctrine and Christian living, or on other subjects apropos to the field of the “Signs of the Times,” write out your question and send it in, preferably direct to Dr. Wirth. Anonymous questions will not be answered. Do not become impatient if your question is not answered immediately, for Dr. Wirth has scores of questions in waiting, and yours will be answered in order.

MEATS OFFERED TO IDOLS; SABBATHS

Mrs. Leone Manning of California asks an explanation of Romans chapter 14, especially the portions speaking of certain meats and sabbath days.

The meaning of Romans 14 will be grasped if we catch the main idea of Paul in the group of chapters (12 to 15) of which it forms a part; namely, the peace and unity of the church in its internal and external relations (see Romans 12:16, 18; 13:10; 14:13, 19; 15:1, 2). Chapter 12 tells, in general, of the peace and unity of the believers with God and the church; chapter 13 tells of this peace and unity with the state and society; and chapter 14 and the first part of chapter 15 deal with this peace and unity with those Christians who are “weak in faith.”

From condemning, in the closing part of chapter 13 (verses 13, 14), base fleshly indulgence, Paul passes easily and immediately, in the 14th chapter, to the opposite extreme,—excessive scrupulousness. In divine love and forbearance the apostle urges the “strong” in faith (see Romans 15:1) to “treat people who are overscrupulous in their faith like brothers; do not criticize their views” (Romans 14:1: Goodspeed). In these “overscrupulous” matters Paul mentions, which were due to ascetic and Judaizing influences, the “strong” were to be most careful not to discourage and ruin the faith of the “weak” by debarring them from church fellowship. “Who art thou that judgest the servant of another [God]? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.” Verse 4. “Each man” was to be left to the work of the Holy Spirit upon his understanding, until he was “fully assured in his own mind,” since in his sincerity what he does is “unto the Lord.” Verses 5, 6.

NOTHING UNCLEAN OF ITSELF

Because the apostle, in Romans 14:14, says that “nothing is unclean of itself,” by no means proves, as the questioner well realizes, that we may eat and drink anything we wish. This is so obvious that we need not take time to prove it. We may eat only those things that are approved by God. That which is filthy, unhealthful, and vile is divinely disapproved. We need to keep in mind 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20: “Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.” Physically, therefore, we must do right as we feel we must do spiritually. Paul again writes: “Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. We shall not go wrong if we abide by this rule.

In the 5th verse the apostle turns to another instance of similar scrupulousness. The days refer to the Jewish ceremonial, special festival sabbaths, such as the Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, etc. (Leviticus 23), which the “weak” Judaizing Christians felt should be observed. The “strong,” comprehending clearly that these old ceremonial feasts and holydays were done away at the cross, made no difference between days from this dispensational viewpoint, and so, ceremonially speaking, esteemed “every day alike.” In other words, there were for them no more of these special holydays. Let the questioner study carefully Galatians 4:8-11; Colossians 2:8-17.

Romans 14:5 makes no reference whatever to the regular weekly recurring seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment, which is immutable and ever required of Christians (Genesis 2:1-3; Matthew 5:17-19; James 2:8-12). Hence this verse does not mean that any day will do as the Sabbath.