Romans 14 & the One Who is Weak in Faith

Introduction

Romans 14 is often used in discussions of fellowship as guidance to deal with areas of disagreement.

Paul instruct patience and love toward one another throughout this chapter, but what sorts of issues does he have in mind.

Virtually no one puts ALL disagreements in the category of what is being discussed in this chapter.

So what are the boundaries? How do we identify the weak and the strong brother? What is required of the weak and what is required of the strong?

These are the sorts of questions we hope to address in this lecture.

Weak & Strong

Who is weak?

The weak brother is acting under greater restriction than required (Rom. 14:2; 1 Cor. 8:10-13).

The weakness involves an inability to participate in liberties not a taking of liberties.

Weak in “faith”.

This weakness of faith is not the same as “ye of little faith.” (Matt. 8:26).

The faith being discussed here is aimed in the direction of the liberty, not in the direction of God (Rom. 14:2, 23).

These are matters of opinion (Rom. 14:1).

I don’t mean we shouldn’t be patient with those who have little faith, but this passage isn’t addressing that.

Both are accepted by God (Rom. 14:3, 6).

Neither of these brethren are required to change practice, only attitudes.

This excludes the situation where we are “allowing for growth.”

Consider two examples (1 Cor. 8-10; Jer. 35).

In Corinth, the solution is not “it doesn’t matter.” The solution is to practice caution on both sides of the issue (1 Cor. 10:19-32).

The Rechabites have practiced restrictions against liberties and even blessings that God has provided and it has left them in a stronger spiritual position than their “stronger” brethren.

The weak are not necessarily spiritually weak. They are weak toward a particular liberty. Being strong in that liberty is not bad but neither is it automatically good.

Practicing Unity

Accept the weak without judgment or contempt (Rom. 14:1, 3).

The most likely attitude toward a stricter brother is contempt.

“You don’t have a TV?”

“You don’t do social media?”

“You don’t have a smart phone?”

“You don’t let your kids play organized sports?”

You don’t have to accept those restrictions, but you do need to respect them.

You don’t even need to try and convince them otherwise. They are accepted.

If you say, “they are foolish, but I accept them anyway,” then you are not obeying Romans 14.

Do not judge the stronger brother (Rom. 14:3, 22).

The most likely attitude toward someone practicing a liberty we don’t practice is judgment.

“I can’t believe you allow your kids to participate in organized sports. Don’t you know that can become an idol.”

“Don’t you see that this is the safest path?”

“I guess they don’t love the Lord (or their brethren) as much as I do.”

The weaker brother is required to acknowledge this issue as a matter of opinion.

Practicers of the “one-cup” doctrine do not see themselves as weaker brethren and are not willing to practice Romans 14.

I do not see myself as a weaker brother toward institutional brethren. If I did, I would need to say, “they are approved by God.”

Paul does not advocate for a “tender conscience” to “run the show.”

My conscience restricts my actions, not those of others.

I need to be thoughtful of my brother’s conscience, but not ruled by it (1 Cor. 10:29).

Conclusion

Weak in this context refers to one’s ability to engage in a liberty, not to someone taking a liberty and not to the spiritually immature or weak (necessarily).

These are matters of opinion and ought to be recognized as such by both sides.

While God’s word provides room for growth in knowledge and understanding, this passage does not really address that circumstance.