As Paul begins to draw his letter to the believers at Rome to a close (Romans 14:1-15:13) he is directed by the Holy Spirit to tackle a subject that has become one of the most hotly debated and misunderstood in all of Christendom. If you want to have a long talk, and possibly a heated debated, bring up the subject of Christian liberty. Just exactly what is to be our position on this matter? When studied in context with the preceding paragraph (Romans 13:8-14) the subject is seen in a light far different than what many would practice today. As you approach the subject of liberty it must be done with the realization that Paul has just reminded believers that we are to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5) and love our neighbor (Leviticus 19:18). To try to understand Christian liberty without first taking into consideration the matter of loving God and loving other will certainly lead to erroneous and hurtful conclusions.
Paul's description of the "weak" and the "stronger" is an obvious statement that there are going to be differences that arise among God's children. How to handle those differences is what should set believers apart from the rest of society. The differences among spiritual brothers and sisters, just as in a physical family, is what makes the family unique, special and productive. The differences are not to cause division but should be greeted with deference.
When Paul uses the term "receive" he is commanding Christians to admit to friendship and familial unity those who may approach certain matters of spiritual practice differently than you. The burden to demonstrate deference is clearly placed upon the "stronger" in Paul's exhortation. If there is division instead of deference it is probably because there is not love; love for God and love for others.
It is not important that we are all alike; it is important that we are all like Christ.
"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in everything, love."
