Q&A Home > J > Judging Romans chapter 14, is about judging. If someone is not fasting during the Holy Days they cannot receive communion. Does or does not this fit in with what St. Paul is teaching? I would appreciate your explanation of verses 13 to 23 in this chapter. First of all, in this section of the letter to the Romans, St. Paul addresses the Jews who became Christians and brought with them all the Old Testament dietary laws concerning the cleanliness of certain foods only. Also he addresses the question of whether they should eat what was offered to the idols. St. Paul teaches that it is not about food. St. Paul also teaches us not to be a stumbling block to our brethren; and if our eating causes our brethren to stumble; then we should refrain from eating out of brotherly love; not religious obligation.
With regard to judging those taking communion without fasting during the holy days:
First of all, you should know the difference between judging one's sins and judging canonical mistakes/sins related to beliefs and dogma. As Christians, we have no right to talk against, judge others' personal sins nor defame them; we should always think that we are all sinners in need of God's mercy and grace.
The Lord Jesus expressed His stance regarding judging others with the adulterous woman caught in the act "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first" (John 8:7) and also, St. Paul said: "Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand" (Romans 14:4).
On the other hand, it is our duty to defend matters that concern our beliefs, dogma, tradition and church rules (including taking communion without fasting). Concerning matters of correct faith and dogma, St. John the beloved, the one who had talked the most about love, said: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 10-11). Also, St. Paul, in his second letter to Thessalonians, "But, we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
This is what the apostles have taught us. Not only should we judge their disorderly behavior; but we should avoid them. As for the heretics, we should not accept them in our homes nor greet those who claim that they are in the church but not willing to abide by the rules and traditions of the church. As a matter of fact, not judging their behavior is a sin because not judging a heretic's beliefs might propagate his teachings; thus affecting larger groups of people. Consequently, we will end up neglecting our duty of defending our faith we have been asked to do: "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).
Therefore, as explained above, there is a very big distinction between personal sins and deviations from the faith. Personal sins affect only the sinners or those around them in a very small circle. But, the sins of perverted faith and heresies affect a larger group of people. These thoughts spread very rapidly to the point of affecting the entire church. For this reason it is our duty to identify and judge their behavior righteously.
| |