Romans 14:1-12
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The “Deal with it” chapter.
The “Deal with it” chapter.
We ended chapter 13 with an exhortation to live in the light of day. Some of how we do that might start to become rules, rules we think maybe other people should follow too. This is the right way, this is the way that won’t lead to temptation, this is… this is…
I think we address how we are living out faith alongside each other here in chapter 14.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Okay, so lets be real. We have wrong motives for things all the time. Even for things we think are good motives. This is a perfect example. We might come across another Christian but they’re weak in faith. We’ll get into more about that as we go but for now they just have all this other stuff they think that goes along with being a Christian. This is a warning not to bring that person into your fellowship for the purpose of arguing with them so you can change their mind. Now, I’ve mentioned it before but it’s often my first instinct to do just this very thing. Let’s fix all your opinions about a topic.
Now, these are “opinions” or “disputable things” the things reasoned out by someone. These aren’t core doctrine issues. That’s an entirely different story. If someone comes here with the view that the virgin Mary is a co-redemptrix or without all the weird words if someone thinks the role of the Virgin Mary is essential to our salvation we are going to correct that. Just like anyone that comes in and thinks any number of heresies. Those are things we are absolutely going to address. What this is talking about we can see in the following verses.
One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
First, the stronger faith is always a faith with more freedom. We’re talking about actions some people think are sinful and others don’t. I know people that vehemently believe anything other than veganism is sinful and evil. As the omnivore I shouldn’t despise the person who holds that opinion… I might struggle with rolling my eyes or having some uncontrollable facial expressions in reaction to their statements but that’s because y’all need to pray for me more, not because I’m correct in my opinions. Likewise there is not to be a tyranny of the weaker Christian who passes judgment on the one who eats everything.
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Who’s warned about judging? We all are but specifically this follows up the weaker Christian. They’re the one who thinks it’s sin so it’s more likely they’ll be thinkin’ “oh he’s goin’a hell for that!” But no, don’t do that. It’s not your place because you’re not their master to pass judgment on them. The same obviously goes the other way for the stronger person. Do not declare someone not of the faith because of their opinion about a matter.
We see the church divided up all over the NT. This is not an uncommon event. We see it in several of the major churches Paul writes to.
For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
Paul is shocked that they would take each other to court - why not let those in the church judge right and wrong in your case?
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Division in the church is not new but we shouldn’t allow it to harm the body of believers.
Let’s continue where we see the second of the two issues the Roman church seems to be struggling with. Rom 14:5-6
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 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.
Should we worship on Sunday or Shabbat? Should we remember the Holy Days (holidays) that Israel did? Pesach, Sukkot, Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur? What about other holidays should those be treated with special reverence like the New Year, Easter or Christmas? What about those who do something on Halloween, celebrate Earth Day, or take special time to reflect on their national holiday like Independence day for us here in the USA?
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Who are you living for, who are you dying for? If it’s all for God what’s the beef you might have with someone else who’s on that journey with you!?
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Why are you judging your brother over mere opinions and why do you reject your brother?
Judgment is all over this chapter. The root word for judgment shows up in different forms throughout. Quarrel, judgment, esteem are all the same root word in the Greek here. Is judging completely off the table from what we just read here? I don’t think so. I think we’re not to judge the stupid stuff. For all of these petty things Paul is about to tell us to get over it. Lets pause for a moment though and look at times we’re encouraged to judge.
In the troubles we saw earlier in the Corinthian church Paul says why would you go to the government? Just keep it within the church and have someone in the church judge the matter between believers.
Before that in Corinthians he talks about judgment for spiritual things. He talks about the spiritual things revealed to us by God, that is Christ and Christ crucified - the Gospel message.
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
And in John 7:23-24 Jesus is speaking with the Jews at the temple and tells them
If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
What’s right judgment? Judgment from a righteous person (one transformed by God and declared righteous) who will discern biblically things done. We cannot and should not try to judge the motives of others.
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
But we do seem to be called to judge within the church. It’s easier to think of us a fruit inspectors.
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
Last point about judging the most commonly quoted bible verse by people that don’t like Christians. Mat 7.1-5
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
This isn’t a prohibition on any judgment. It’s telling you the standard of judgment is the same so don’t be a hypocrite. We saw that problem back in Romans 2 where the religious leaders were judges over the people but they were the worst offenders! What’s the purpose of any judgment within the church? It’s restoration to fellowship. If someone has gone off the deep end and we have to tell them their lifestyle is not okay and a violation of all biblical principles we know. It’s not our hope or intention for them to leave and go to hell. No, we want them to see their sin, repent, and be in fellowship with us once again.
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.