The diagram in this post seeks to present biblical truths about foodstuffs in a way that helps provide greater understanding about what Scripture really teaches about acceptable versus unacceptable uses of foodstuffs or of things as foodstuffs.
The diagram is patterned after the X-Y axes diagrams used in mathematics to display the coordinates of points in their proper quadrants.
It provides many (but not all) biblical truths about foodstuffs or things used as foodstuffs in my Four-Quadrant Approach to understanding what Scripture reveals about foodstuffs or things used as foodstuffs.
Acceptable versus Unacceptable Uses of Foodstuffs or of Things as Foodstuffs
In this diagram, a positive value on the “X” axis (on the right half of the diagram) denotes biblical information about acceptable uses of foodstuffs or of things as foodstuffs. A negative value on the “X” axis (on the left half of the diagram) relates biblical information about unacceptable uses of foodstuffs or of things as foodstuffs.
Eating or Offering Foodstuffs in Corporate Worship versus Eating Foodstuffs in Ordinary Life
A positive value on the “Y” axis (on the top half of the diagram) denotes biblical information about eating or offering foodstuffs in corporate worship. A negative value on the “Y” axis (on the bottom half of the diagram) relates biblical information about eating foodstuffs in ordinary life.
Properly Interpreting Romans 14:1-4
This diagram helps us in interpreting properly the statements about foods in the following battleground passage in Scripture concerning “Christian liberty”:
Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 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.
Because Paul says in Romans 14:2a, “For one believeth that he may eat all things,” some have wrongly understood this teaching to be without any limitations. Scripture, however, teaches us that understanding is false.
All of the Scripture-based entries in the bottom left quadrant of the diagram that are preceded by an “x” relate biblical teaching about things that no one may believe that it is right for a believer to eat. Eating any of these things is not a matter of “Christian liberty.”
Romans 14:2a does not teach that a believer who is strong in the faith eats things that are poisonous to humans (cf. 2 Kings 4:40), It also does not teach that being strong in the faith includes eating human flesh (Deut. 28:57) or blood (Lev. 17:10; Acts 15:20).
Conclusion
“Christian liberty” does not extend to eating all things without any qualifications whatever they may be. Using the teaching of Romans 14:1-4 as the basis of asserting that “Christian liberty” entails the legitimate use of all things without any qualifications at all in matters that one believes are matters of “Christian liberty” is a misunderstanding and misuse of Scripture.
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
