Don't Judge me!
One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
Romans 14:2-3
In the verse above it says that God has accepted us and what we eat. Why can't we accept others? Is it because the food pyramid, vitamins, minerals, calories, fats and the like have brainwashed us into thinking that certain foods are okay and others are bad?
What does that passage mean from Romans? One man's faith allows him to eat everything while another only eats vegetables. I think it means that one man trusts God that whatever he eats God will keep him healthy and strong while the other doesn't have that kind of faith to believe that to be able to happen.
Last August, my sister suddenly had a hard time swallowing food. That condition knocked her choice of foods down considerably. Since she had always had a strong gag reflex, she could only eat foods strictly on how the texture of the food was. Eating smooth things went down easier. The only things she could eat was ice cream, mashed potatoes, Cream of Wheat and on good days, she could eat our homemade bread with butter. My sister felt at peace that God was doing this for a reason. I, on the other hand couldn't grasp how God could allow this to happen. I was angry at Him. What was His plan for this?! What good would come from this? I was afraid because I would tell her (out of my ignorance and pride) that this was all unhealthy. She would become flustered and hurt and try to explain to me that she literally can't eat certain foods and that God said He would keep her healthy.
This summer, my parents, two of my sisters and I went to help chaperon our youth group to a Christian camp. My sister went there the previous year so she was ready. She knew where the kitchen was and she knew that they would be gracious enough to let her prepare her own special food. She would make Cream of Wheat and mashed potatoes from packets she brought. The kitchen staff stared ate her and only one lady was kind and helped her around. Later on in the week, she confessed her story to all the adults and youth pastor in charge of the whole camp. One of the women found my sister later on and explained to her that her daughter had the same exact thing. The woman told her it had something to do with the back of her throat. The nerves were hypersensitive. My family and I realized that when me and two of my sisters were born (yes, we're triplets) she was the only one who choked on the sticky medicine that me and my other sister swallowed easily. Wow, she had this her whole life!! It was very subtle growing up. She remembers times when she was younger when she would have flare ups but, they weren't as severe. Now, it is much better and she can eat a little more variety but either way, I'm at peace about it. My faith and trust grew through that too!
What now?
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
I was an idiot! I was breaking the peace between me and my sister over food!! Have any of you got into a fight with someone about whether that's healthy or not? We need to keep the peace with the Holy Spirit and with His people as well. We need to look past all that stuff. Remember, don't ever judge someone about what they eat. We don't know their story. Focus on the people with love and compassion.
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