Category Archives: Romans

“Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth” (Romans 14:22).

That part of the verse leaves me scratching my head.

Let me check two or three other versions to see if they help me out . . . .

Hmmm. After checking two other versions, I checked Strong’s and learned that alloweth isn’t talking about permissiveness (that is, having a careless, “anything goes” attitude).

Rather, it has the idea of proving — examining and testing things with discernment. Notice two other verses that use different English words for the same Greek word. (I’ll underline them.)

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Well, anyway. Here’s my rendition of the Romans 14 sentence:

“Blessed is he who does not judge and shame himself by that which approves.”

In other words, may you see as God sees — clearly and correctly.

“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10).

I pay my taxes. I stop at stop signs. I don’t use another’s identity. I abide by speed limits. I have marriage and driver’s licenses. I stop when told to do so by an officer of the law.

In other words, I try to be in compliance with this:

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers” (Romans 13:1).

I suppose my most conscious reason for submitting to civil authority is that I fear the consequences of disobedience.

More importantly, though, I obey because of the rest of the verse.

“For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

Civil authority gets its power from God. Not from the people, not from the Constitution, not from the military. From God. Period.

So obeying them is obeying God. Honoring them is honoring God.

I want to do better at this, especially at my attitudes toward some of them.