How is "every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" not contradictory to the "narrow is the way leading to life"?
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How is “every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” not contradictory to the “narrow is the way leading to life”?
The Romans verse in context is referring to disputes between Christians.
The "narrow way" refers to those from the population at large who have become Christian.
Even the nation of Israel had the problem of the "broad way" that leads to destruction.
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
The Romans verse is talking about those who have already entered in by the narrow gate by allowing Christians the elbow room to have their doctrine a little wrong.
Romans 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
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What you see is narrowness and broadness, so you see the two passages as contradictory. But if we look at their details, we see that they have nothing to do with each other.
Jesus is talking about destruction, roads, and gates while Paul is talking about days and food. Jesus is using roads and gates figuratively while Paul is talking about days and food literally. They are not talking about the same thing; Paul's words cannot have anything to do with destruction and gates; days and food don't seem to link up with roads and gates.
At first glance, they are contradictory. However, Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount and Paul's words are different sides of the same Kingdom of God. Jesus is possibly talking about religion per se, the rituals and traditions of men. The broad way would then be to follow the traditions everyone else is following, while the narrow way is to pursue the life-giving one, living day by day trusting in God. The kingdom is all about the King, and many miss him on the broad way.
Paul affirms the narrow way in regards to food and days. Some Jews still had attachments to Moses' laws about eating meat, while still having saving faith in Jesus. If they shun meat according to the law because it pleases Jesus, then it is okay for that person. If another Jewish person can eat pork and thank Jesus for it, then it is fine for that person. It is acceptable for both because in either case the King is kept in view; their relationship to the King defines what they do.
Jesus warns his hearers to watch which way they are going; Paul affirms his readers to continue in what they do when Jesus is kept in view. Both have the same kingdom in view, but their message is different.
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