Okay, I can see that as a denominational analog. The problem is that interpreting it that way makes all the Scriptures that presume Church authority and discipline, moot.
Yes, this was the original denominational fight -— kosher, not kosher -— circumsize, not circumsize, etc. It rang loudly to me because I spent most of my life under the Law. (Again, I was raised Jewish. Remain Jewish, I suppose.)
“The problem is that interpreting it that way makes all the Scriptures that presume Church authority and discipline, moot.”
Ah, read on (R14,v23):
. . . So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
To parallel to more modern denominational issues, if you are a Roman Catholic, you are subject to Church discipline for variance.
(And if you are a Baptist, you shouldn’t drink booze. Etc.)
And for the record, I don’t think all denominations are equal. Some are surely better than others!
I do think, however, that most Christians are largely ignorant of huge portions of the Bible that almost all denominations agree on.
I see nothing wrong with grabbing that low-hanging fruit, then worrying about predestination and all the arcane stuff later.