What is the background for this chapter in Paul's letter to the church at Rome? Let us first consider the difficulty of bringing together people from many different backgrounds, cultures, races, social positions, and personal opinions to form ONE church. Not just the church at Rome, but any church would have difficulty "coming to one mind." "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." {1 Corinthians 1:10} Paul wrote similar words to the church in Philippi. "Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind." {Philippians 3:16} All Christians do not think alike. Yet, we are commanded to be "one in the faith." Differences arise between the old and young, rich and poor, wise and unwise, conservative and liberal, and a host of others. Because of these differences, relationships among brethren can be strained; at times, becoming quite tense. This was also true in the early church.

Jews and Gentiles sought membership in the same body. "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity." {Ephesians 2:14-16} Many Jews, when they converted to Christ, brought into Christianity certain convictions about things they did under Judaism. Their consciences were tender. True, the Old law had been taken away (Colossians 2:14). Yet, some Jews had reservations about eating certain meats, the eating of which the Old Law prohibited. Certain days, especially the Sabbath, formerly considered to be holy days, were not binding under the Law of Christ (Colossians 2:15-17). The Old Law's demands were satisfied, and it was set aside. "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." {Matthew 5:17,18} The Jews who converted to Christianity still had difficulties concerning these matters.

The Gentile converts came from a very different background than did the Jews. Many of the Gentiles came from pagan religions. Still, both Jews and Gentiles would have to coexist in a peaceful atmosphere. With people from such different backgrounds, creating such an atmosphere would not be easy. The teaching in Romans 14, and later teaching in 1 Corinthians 8-10, were intended to help the two groups work together in peace and unity.

Could members of one group exercise the freedoms they had in Christ by engaging in activities that members of the other group, because of their backgrounds, found to be offensive -- and not stir up problems that would malign their unity? One could act, while another's conscience would be too tender to allow him to do so. Did this give the green light for practicing one's personal convictions? I believe that a careful study of Romans 14 will show that this is exactly what the text is discussing. The Jew, because of his background, was unable to do certain things without violating his conscience. On the other hand, the Gentile had no problem with those things because he came from a different set of circumstances. Someone has said: "one man's faith is another man's poison." Paul tried to help them coexist peacefully.