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This is part of a series of posts based on the Churches Together in England publication one light: one world. If you click on the link you will find the biblical texts. This post of the same name covers the purpose of this series.
Romans 14: 13 - 18
It is worth reading the whole of Romans chapter 14. It seems to me this passage is far more significant for ecumenists than John 17, for example. Paul hits the nail on the head and drives it home.
The context is food sacrificed to idols. Some Christians will not touch it because it has been sacrificed to false gods; others argue that as these gods do not exist, there's no harm in eating the meat.
First, the use of the terms 'strong' and 'weak' to describes these two positions is counter-intuitive. It is the ones who eat meat who are strong and those who do not who are weak. Paul counts himself amongst the strong.
But then he drops his bombshell. The strong are not to despise the weak, nor are the weak to condemn the strong. Apparently the weak thought the strong would go to hell for eating meat, and the strong thought the weak stupid.
Amongst our most intractable present day divisions, is that between fundamentalists and non-fundamentalists. This is Paul's advice. It is incredibly difficult advice to follow! So, I shall restrain myself from elaborating on why fundamentalists are weak in honour of Paul's insight.
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