Liberties

"there are responsibilities that both 'the strong' and 'weak' have one towards another for the sake of unity among the children of God".

Romans 14:3 gives the instruction, "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not."

There are things that different Christians respond to in different ways due to the limit of their knowledge or the scope of their background. (STANDARDS?)

The word despise means "to make of no account." It would carry the idea of the stronger Christian making the weaker feel inferior, or less of a Christian, because of their more restrictive decision to not eat meats.

"the strong believers understood the freedom they had in Christ; the weak were ones who were more restrictive due to the limitations of a misinformed conscience"

. . . "the last part of Romans 14:3 warns the weaker Christian, "let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth." The biblical usage of the word "judge" in this context would be "to pronounce an opinion concerning right or wrong" or "to pronounce judgment and subject to censure."

The weak were not to stand in the place of God, passing judgment as pointed out in the next verse, "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand." (Romans 14:4). It is then reinforced in verse 12, "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

A KEY PHRASE/CONCEPT: "to engage in liberties they are not ready to exercise" ***

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