5. Stop passing Judgment
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One another
One another
Illustration: Dr Pepper vs Coke vs Water, Favorite movie genre,
There was a problem - They were making each other feel as if they were failing or that they were better. There was conflict happening because certain people were saying “Here’s the standard” and others couldn’t live up to it. They seemed to be arguing over two areas. To eat me or not eat meat. Which day do we worship on.
There seemed to be two types of people: Those that have found certain freedoms in Christ (who seem to be the more stronger believers) and those that have still felt burden to abstain from certain things (Paul uses the term weaker in faith). The ones that were stronger in the faith were saying “It’s okay to eat anything” and those that were weaker in faith said “I want to only eat vegetables”.
It really doesn’t matter what stance we stand on, we believe that we are the stronger ones. The one that followed the dietary laws or didn’t eat meat because it could have been sacrificed to another god (which is a very good reason not to eat meat), believed they were the strong ones. We label that as self control. The ones that eat meat no matter what believed they are the stronger ones. Paul takes us down a journey of who is actually stronger and who is not.
First we need to see what they were arguing over:
1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
What is happening is that they are inviting or asking those of “weaker” faith to come in and debate. They are arguing over things that are doubtful, opinions…things that are not foundational spiritual matters. Some will come and use Romans 14 to say stop judging me, when they are clearly rebellious or defiant to clear spiritual principles. But for doubtful things…this should not cause disunity or division.
We see today with some of the same things. What day do we worship on? Sunday or the true Sabbath? Do we drink alcohol or abstain from it? Do we use wine or grape juice for communion? What if we hear someone using language we don’t approve of? Who is weaker and who is stronger? Those that find “freedom” in Christ or those that want our lives to look different and holy? Let’s walk through Paul’s second part of 14 and the 5th one another:
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
Paul was a devote jew that discussed how he kept all of the law. One law would stick out in this discussion: Do not eat certain meats. He says that he knows and convinced that nothing is unclean. This is a huge statement. “I believe it’s nothing is unclean, BUT IF someone thinks it’s unclean, then it’s unclean.” Here’s what to do. Put your own opinions and feelings aside. They believe something is unclean and you are making them wrestle with their own convictions. You are being a stumbling block. You aren’t putting a stumbling block in front of them, you are the block. He says “stop passing judgment on things that are doubtful, or not salvation issues. But decide never to put a hindrance in the way of them. If there is something that you are doing or saying, that makes another brother or sister in Christ question their salvation or walk with God, STOP IT. YOU ARE NO LONGER WALKING IN LOVE.” Then he reminds of us Christ. Christ died. He gave up his life…you can give up your steak dinner.” Paul goes on:
16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
He points out: Salvation, the kingdom of God, our relationship with God, is not about eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy…in the Holy Spirit. You remember the fruits of the Spirit that Paul wrote in Galatians: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. This is how to show you are a follower of Jesus, by working on and exhibiting these things. So here is how we know who is stronger and weaker. If we serve Christ, we are to be like Christ. By sacrificing our thoughts and desires and opinions and exhibiting the Holy Spirit to our brothers and sisters. We pursue peace and building up one another. The weaker believer continues to fight and divide based on their opinions. It doesn’t matter if you eat meat or not. It doesn’t matter what day you worship on. What matters is if you can stop being prideful, hear their story, and understand why they are doing what they are doing, and live in peace and build each other up. If it is not a matter of clear spiritual issues, give grace and don’t be a stumbling block because of doubtful things. In fact, Paul ends like this:
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
Do not destroy the work of God for something that doesn’t matter or is an opinion. The sin isn’t eating or not eating, it’s making another follower stumble. He makes it even broader for us: He says “It is good not to do anything that causes your brother to stumble”. This is challenging for any believer.
So let’s break this down for our groups. There will be all types of believers in your groups, maybe even unbelievers. There will be certain topics that will come up that are not salvation issues, but simply opinions. As the leader, unite the group. Bring peace to the group. What was the saying “Don’t stress the small stuff.” If there are non-believers in the group, they will be watching. They will notice. Remember to come back to pursuing peace and building each other up. Ask yourself “are we showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control?” If not, why? Is it an opinion or a clear spiritual issue?