Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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.

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’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.

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?

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

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?

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 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.

And in John 7:23-24 Jesus is speaking with the Jews at the temple and tells them

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.

But we do seem to be called to judge within the church.

It’s easier to think of us a fruit inspectors.

Last point about judging the most commonly quoted bible verse by people that don’t like Christians.

Mat 7.1-5

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.