This time of year for us is very special as we observe the spring Holy Days we see in the book of Leviticus. I personally have observed them all of my life and intend to do so for the rest of it. Over the years have become more special to me in my walk with God.

That being said I am always reminded that observances like these are not shared the same way at the same time. Some look toward other days for the same observances, many do not observe this at all. When you talk about the reasons for observing them and times we do, you can get a variety of interests and responses that are as different as the individual people you interact with. Some try to understand, some feel it is legalistic, some genuinely accept it as my personal walk. What is always warming to me is those who do not do them who are willing to accept that I do. They are rare people, especially those in the faith. Even with all these responses I am always reminded that even with those who observe them on different days or not at all we are still all believers and united in our beliefs.

Romans 14 is the greatest reference on how so many observances can still be united in Jesus Christ. I look at it to remind me that I have many more brothers and sisters out there that are in the faith even though we may do things differently from one another:

Romans 14:1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,

‘every knee will bow before me;

    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

To me this passage always reminds me of the rich and diverse nature of God’s elect. Nobody does everything perfectly, but even in our imperfections we can still be holy and sanctified. We should also never hold our own way of doing things as superior to somebody else’s. In doing so we invite corruption. We know through this passage that we can share this with others in the faith too regardless of what we observe.

In Christ,

Stephan M. Koenig

Lakeshore Fellowship