Dennis' Sermon Prep Workflow | Romans 14:1–6

Romans—Righteousness From Heaven Unity and Diversity (I) ( Romans 14:1-12 )

Leslie Flynn writes in his book Great Church Fights:

Wide disagreements exist today in our churches over certain practices. A Christian from the South may be repelled by a swimming party for both men and women, then offend his Northern brother by lighting up a cigarette. At an international conclave for missionaries, a woman from the Orient could not wear sandals with a clear conscience. A Christian from western Canada thought it worldly for a Christian acquaintance to wear a wedding ring, and a woman from Europe thought it almost immoral for a wife not to wear a ring that signaled her status. A man from Denmark was pained to even watch British Bible school students play football, while the British students shrank from his pipe smoking.

Churches have been ripped apart by even smaller disagreements over which factions have polarized, the more broad-minded becoming openly contemptuous of their narrow brothers, and others becoming hardened in their criticism of their loose brethren.

Believe as I believe,

No more, no less;

That I am right,

And no one else, confess;

Feel as I feel,

Think only as I think;

Eat what I eat,

And drink but what I drink;

Look as I look,

Do always as I do;

Then, and only then,

Will I fellowship with you.

As Christians this should not be our attitude.

Opinions, Opinions (v. 1)

We like our opinions. We love them. We love to think that our opinion on a matter is scripture.

Proverbs 18:2 NLT

Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.

This is no less true of Believers and Denominations and Churches. We love to hear ourselves speak. But Paul, in continuing to speak about what it looks like to love like Christ shows this in practice when dealing with the opinions of the different groups of believers in the church.

In Rome you had two major groups. One one hand you had Jews who held to the Jewish law and traditions they grew up in. On the other hand you had Gentile and Jewish believers who felt no compulsion to follow the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant given we are living in the new Covenant.

Paul, in speaking to both groups is calling them to not allow their opinions to dictate the way they treat one another.

There are two major issues Paul is addressing that seem to be touch-points to the church. One is the dietary customs of the Jews. The second is Sabbath keeping.

Paul’s response is that in both cases is key:

Accept Differences that Aren’t Scriptural

Paul’s response is this “Accept hime whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on quarrels of opinion.”

He calls those who abstain from eating meat “weak in the faith”. This is not to say that they are not faithful believers, but that their consciences are affected by certain activities.

In this case, it’s the eating of meat.

Paul touches on this point to another group of believers in 1 Corinthians 8.

1 Corinthians 8:7–13 ESV

However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Int this text, Paul is noting that some who understand that an idol is nothing are “strong” while others who consciences are “weak”, meaning they may be new Christians or may simply feel sinful for participating in certain activities.

Paul’s response in both cases is a response of love and mutual acceptance.

Now we may not have these arguments today over the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, but what are some of the other things we may feel strongly about

Romans—Righteousness From Heaven (Genuine Acceptance of One Another is the Only Option (vv. 1-3))

(1) Theater. Some Christians think they should never patronize a commercial theater. Others think they can, but that they should be selective, just as they are with the literature they read.

(2) Cosmetics. This is not the issue it used to be, but it is controversial in certain parts of the world.

(3) Alcohol. The use of alcohol is a major issue among American Christians today. Today more and more Christians are exercising their freedom to partake. Hence rising tension.

(4) Tobacco. Traditionally, the Mason and Dixon Line has been the dividing line for the use and non-use of tobacco among many evangelical Christians.

(5) Card playing. Because of its association with gambling, Christians are ambivalent about the use of traditional cards. The controversy can also include similar games, as was mentioned above.

(6) Dancing. For some Christians this is a litmus test, especially among youth.

(7) Fashion.Trendiness is viewed by some Christians as worldliness. Withering judgments are sometimes made both ways on the basis of clothing and hair style.

(8) Bible translation used. In some Christian circles your translation can be a quick ticket for acceptance or rejection.

(9) Sports. I know of young Christians who consider competitive sports sinful and ego-exalting.

(10) Music. Today a heated controversy goes on regarding appropriate Christian music.

(11) Material wealth. This tension is manifested in such forms.

These are all areas in which the church may disagree over what is and what isn’t acceptable for believers. We could today open a dialogue and have disagreements in this sanctuary over what is and isn’t acceptable.

But Paul is saying to us that Christian love and acceptance is key.

Essential Vs. Non-Essential

But you may say, Pastor, “There are all sorts of things we disagree on among those who call themselves Christians, how do we know what we can and can’t disagree with in relation to fellowship? Aren’t we called to judge the fruit of our brothers and sisters in Christ?”

The answer is yes! But the dividing line is Christ. There’s a HUGE difference between saying “My brother in Christ, in his Christian liberty smokes cigars and I feel convicted not to do it” and “My brother in Christ feels it’s ok to sleep with his mistress.” The dividing line is the Word of God.

It’s clear by the context, that Paul is not saying that we should never discern the ungoldy acts of sinful men from the disagreements over secondary issues. These issues also known as “adiaphora” or things different are areas of helpful disagreement. But there are other things that scripture clearly commands and condemns.

In this very book, in chapter 13, Paul gives a clear list of things that are prohibited.

Romans 13:13–14 ESV

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Paul's argument isn't an excuse to do "whatever we like" but a call to freedom from man made religious practices or acts of piety.  We are free in Christ to follow Christ.

No creed, scruples, or religious observance apart from Scripture can bind us. Christian liberty is not freedom from all law, but freedom to live God’s Righteousness!

1 Peter 2:16 ESV

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

Romans—Righteousness From Heaven (The Acceptance of Non-Essentials (vv. 5, 6))

Two of the most famous Christians in the Victorian Era in England were Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker, both mighty preachers of the gospel. Early in their ministries they fellowshiped and even exchanged pulpits. Then they had a disagreement, and the reports got into the newspapers. Spurgeon accused Parker of being unspiritual because he attended the theater. Interestingly enough, Spurgeon smoked cigars, a practice many believers would condemn. In fact, on one occasion someone asked Spurgeon about his cigars, and he said he did not smoke to excess. When asked what he meant by excess, he waggishly answered, “No more than two at a time.” Who was right? Perhaps neither, perhaps both! Better yet would be to realize that the two could disagree and both be in the will of God.

As Believers, our freedom should never cause us to look at others and condemn them as prudish, nor should our personal acts of piety cause us to look at others as sinful for things that are not condemned in scripture.

For God’s Glory and Our Joy

Romans 14:6 ESV

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

The key is that we do whatever we do to please the Lord. This means that as believers, whatever we do we do because of the Lordship of God.

Here’s the Truth we should remember: If we feel free in an area that is not condemned in scripture then we should not feel pressured by others to condemn activities if we do them for the Glory of God.

But the inverse is equally true: If the Lord convicts you that something is wrong in your life, you had better not do it, even if other Christians are doing it!

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.