ROM 14:1 – 12 THE DILEMMA AND DUTY OF MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE.
LAST WEEK WE SAW THAT PAUL DEVELOPED A LOVE LIFESTYLE WHICH WAS TO BE MANIFESTED IN OUR LIVES IT INVOLVED BEING AWARE OF THE NEW ATTIRE WE NOW POSSESS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. UNDERPINING THIS LOVE LIFESTYLE ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THESE COMMANDMENTS ARE NON NEGOTIABLE (TO BREAK THEM IS WRONG) WHEN WE BREAK THEM IT EFFECTS OTHERS AROUND US,
SO WE FAIL TO LOVE OTHERS BECAUSE WE SEE THE CAUSE AND EFFECT PRINCIPLE: ADULTERY EFFECTS OTHERS, MURDER EFFECTS OTHERS, STEALING EFFECTS OTHERS, COVETING EFFECTS OTHERS AND SO ON . SO WHEN WE LOVE OTHERS WE BEGIN TO FULFIL THE LAW.
CHRISTIANS ARE NOT ANTINOMIAN, THEY DO NOT HAVE RIGHT TO BREAK THE COMMANDMENTS THEY ARE SET IN STONE - FOR THE CHRISTIAN IT IS QUITE CLEAR THEY ARE NON NEGOTIABLE, THEY ARE TO BE OBEYED AND BREAKING THEM IS WRONG. WHAT GOD COMMANDS IN HIS WORD IS TO BE OBEYED, IT’S UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED ANYTHING THAT GOD’S WORD FORBIDS DIRECTLY OR BY CLEAR PRINCIPLE IN ITS TEACHING IS NOT TOO BRUSHED UNDER THE CARPET AND IGNORED BUT TO BE OBEYED.
THE DILEMMA. V1 DISPUTABLE MATTERS
YET THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THE WORD OF GOD WHICH ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN, THERE ARE THINGS IN WHICH WE DO NOT GET CLEAR DIRECTIVES. SO SOME CHRISTIANS KNOWING THE LIBERTY THEY HAVE IN CHRIST DO THESE NON FORBIDDEN THINGS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS ... WE CAN CALL THESE CHRISTIANS ‘THE STRONG.’
• WHEN THE STRONG SEES THE WEAK THEY GENERALLY SAY “DOESN’T BE STUPID, ITS FINE!”
THEN THERE ARE OTHER CHRISTIANS WHO FEEL LESS OF THIS LIBERTY FEEL IN THEIR CONSCIENCE THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR THEM TO DO SUCH THINGS SO THEY ABSTAIN , THE BIBLE CALLS THEM THE WEAK .
• WHEN THE WEAK LOOK AT THE STRONG THEY GENERALLY SAY “DON’T BE SO WORLDLY”
BUT THE POINT TO NOTE IS THAT NEITHER THE STRONG NOR THE WEAK ARE WRONG BECAUSE NONE ARE BREAKING ANY OF GODS MORAL LAWS SET OUT IN HIS WORD. IT IS IN THESE GREY AREAS OF WHERE NO CLEAR DIRECTIVE IS GIVEN WHERE MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE COME INTO PLAY FOR INSTANCE....
“SHOULD A CHRISTIAN DRINK?” “SHOULD WE GO INTO PUBS” “ SHOULD WE WATCH TV ON A SUNDAY” “ SHOULD WE DRESS AS THE WORLD DRESSES” “SHOULD WE PLAY SPORT ON A SUNDAY” “SHOULD WE GO SHOPPING ON A SUNDAY” “SHOULD WE USE CONTEMPORY WORSHIP” SHOULD WE RAISE OUR HANDS AND BE EXUBERANT IN WORSHIP OR STAND FORMALLY IN WORSHIP”
THE STRONG BELIEVER WILL SAY “THERE IS NOTHING EVIL IN THESE THINGS” SO WE CAN ENJOY THEM AND THEIR CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR. THE WEAK BELIEVER WILL FEEL A SENSE OF FAILURE AND CONVICTION IN THEIR CONSCIENCE IF CARRIED OUT SO THEY AVOID THOSE ACTIVITIES AS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE. –
IN ALL MATTERS OF PERSONAL CONSCIENCE WE MUST NOT IMPOSE OUR PREFERENCES WHETHER YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A STRONG OR WEAK BELIEVER UPON YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER DON’T MAKE NON ESSENTIALS INTO FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FAITH OR YOUR COULD MISS YOUR REAL PURPOSE.
IT IS SAID THAT WHEN THE BRITISH AND FRENCH WERE FIGHTING IN CANADA IN THE 1750S, ADMIRAL PHIPPS, COMMANDER OF THE BRITISH FLEET, WAS TOLD TO ANCHOR OUTSIDE QUEBEC. HE WAS GIVEN ORDERS TO WAIT FOR THE BRITISH LAND FORCES TO ARRIVE, AND THEN SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY ATTACKED THE CITY. PHIPPS’ NAVY ARRIVED EARLY.
AS THE ADMIRAL WAITED, HE BECAME ANNOYED BY THE STATUES OF THE SAINTS THAT ADORNED THE TOWERS OF A NEARBY CATHEDRAL, SO HE COMMANDED HIS MEN TO SHOOT AT THEM WITH THE SHIPS’ CANNONS. NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY ROUNDS WERE FIRED OR HOW MANY STATUES WERE KNOCKED OUT, BUT WHEN THE LAND FORCES ARRIVED AND THE SIGNAL WAS GIVEN TO ATTACK, THE ADMIRAL WAS OF NO HELP. HE HAD USED UP ALL HIS AMMUNITION SHOOTING AT THE “SAINTS.” OUR DAILY BREAD, OCTOBER 6
THE DILEMMA IN ROME V2: THE MATTER OF FOOD V5: THE SACRED DAYS
IN ROME THE DISPUTABLE MATTERS WERE BETWEEN THE CONVERTED JEWS WHO CAME FROM A RICH JEWISH HERITAGE AND THE GENTILE BELIEVERS WHO FOR MANY CAME FROM A PAGAN BACKGROUND. IT APPEARS THE JEWISH BELIEVERS ARE DESCRIBED AS THE WEAKER , THEY CANNOT ACCEPT EATING MEATS WHICH WERE OFFERED IN IDOL WORSHIP AND THEN LATER OFFERED IN THE MARKET FOR SALE, THEY BELIEVED THEY WOULD BE DEFILED BY IT SO OUT OF A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE THEY ABSTAIN. UNLIKE THE GENTILES WHO HAD ‘NO WORRIES’ ABOUT IT. SO YOU CAN WELL IMAGINE SOME SHARP DEBATES TAKING PLACE.
SECONDLY IT INVOLVED CERTAIN DAYS OF WORSHIP AND FESTIVALS THE JEWS COULD NOT SHAKE OFF SO EASILY THEIR SABBATH DAY OF A SATURDAY. SINCE THE RESURRECTION TOOK PLACE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK ALL CHRISTIANS WORSHIPPED ON THE SUNDAY AND GENTILE BELIEVERS HAD NO OTHER SACRED DAYS YET THE JEWISH BELIEVERS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP THE OTHER SACRED DAYS SATURDAY SABBATH – THE PASSOVER FESTIVAL - OTHER FESTIVALS.
THESE WERE THE DILEMMAS GOING ON IN THE 1ST CENTURY CHURCH AND PAUL TACKLES THE MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE HEAD ON, IT APPEARS HE’S ADDRESSING THE STRONG V1 BUT IT CUTS BOTH WAYS TO THE STRONG AND THE WEAK. HOW DO WE RESPOND IN THE CHURCH TO MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER?
DO WE WASTE OUR AMMO ON FIRING AT THE SAINTS OR DO WE SERVE THE PURPOSE S OF GOD TOGETHER? SO THERE WE HAVE THE DILEMMA AND WHAT WAS TRUE FOR ROME IS TRUE FOR THE CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
LET’S TURN TO OUR DUTY AND FOUR CLEAR DIRECTIVES FROM SCRIPTURE.
1. ACCEPT YOU’RE WEAKER/STRONGER, BROTHER/SISTER V1.
PAUL CALLS US TO ACCEPT THE WEAKER BROTHER/SISTER THIS INVOLVES TURNING AWAY FROM QUARRELS OVER DISPUTABLE MATTERS. WE MAY DIFFER IN CONSCIENCE BUT NONE THE LESS YOU ARE BROTHERS, YOU ARE SISTERS YOU ARE ONE IN THE SAVING FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRIST, THE NON NEGOTIABLES YOU BOTH AGREE UPON. SO ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER ON THESE PRINCIPLES. NEVER TRY TO SPEND YOUR TIME TRYING TO SCORE POINTS IN AREAS OF YOUR PERSONAL CONSCIENCE. DON’T IMPOSE YOUR THOUGHTS AS ESSENTIALS UPON YOUR BROTHER /SISTER.
BUT ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER.......
JOHN ORTBERG IN HIS BOOK EVERYONE’S NORMAL TILL YOU GET TO KNOW THEM WRITES
“TO ACCEPT PEOPLE IS TO BE FOR THEM. IT IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A VERY GOOD THING THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE ALIVE, AND TO LONG FOR THE BEST FOR THEM. IT DOES NOT; OF COURSE MEAN TO APPROVE OF EVERYTHING THEY DO. IT MEANS TO CONTINUE TO WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR SOULS NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO.” AND – AFTER COMPARING THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY JESUS AND THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW DEALT WITH THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY (THEY WANTED TO THROW STONES, HE ACCEPTED HER AND SAID ‘GO AND SIN NO MORE)
HE WRITES; “AMAZINGLY ENOUGH RADICAL ACCEPTANCES DOES WHAT CONDEMNATION AND JUDGMENTALISM AND SELF-SUPERIORITY COULD NOT DO: PRODUCE A CHANGED LIFE…”
WHY? YES ACCEPTANCE AS JOHN ORTBERG SAYS LEAVES ROOM FOR A CHANGED LIFE’S, BUT ALSO IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LOCAL CHURCH AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IT PRODUCES UNITY AVOIDING SCHISM OVER MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE.
HOW OFTEN DO BROTHERS/SISTER ARGUE OVER ISSUES WHICH ARE MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE IN THE CHURCH WHICH CAUSE DISUNITY? WE ARE CALLED TO ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER. AND THE DRIVING FORCE FOR THIS ACCEPTANCE OF OUR BROTHER/SISTER OVERIDING IS THAT......
• V3 – 4. GOD HAS ACCEPTED THEM
ARE WE TO PLAY GOD? FOR GOD HAS ACCEPTED OUR WEAK BROTHER AND STRONGER BROTHER ALIKE, DO WE KNOW BETTER THAN GOD? LET US ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER IN MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE.
2. AVOID ALL CONTEMPT TOWARDS YOUR WEAKER/STRONGER, BROTHER/SISTER V2-3.
ACCEPTING ONE ANOTHER IN MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE WILL MOVE US AWAY FROM THE TRAP OF SHOWING CONTEMPT (DESPISING OTHERS) TOWARDS OUR BROTHER/SISTER.
IN THE CASE OF THE STRONGER CHRISTIAN THERE IS A TENDENCY TO LOOK DOWN UPON THE SCRUPLES OF THE WEAK - AS LEGALISTIC - NARROW MINDED - A SOME WHAT LESSER CHRISTIAN WITHOUT THE SPIRITS LIBERTY.
IN THE CASE OF THE WEAKER CHRISTIAN IS THE TENDENCY TO SHOW CONTEMPT TOWARDS THE STRONGER CHRISTIAN AS MERELY WORLDLY AND SOME HOW LESS SPIRITUAL ALSO. BUT HAVING SUCH AN ATTITUDE IS TOWARDS ONE BROTHER/SISTER IS OWNING A ZEAL WHICH GOD HIMSELF DOESN’T POSSESS.
IN BOTH CASES ARE WE NOT SHOWING CONTEMPT TOWARDS EACH OTHER?
BUT AGAIN WE NEED TO ASK THE QUESTION WHY?
BECAUSE IT DAMAGES THE LOCAL CHURCH IT BRINGS DISUNITY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY....BOTH WEAK /STRONG DO WHAT THEY DO TO PLEASE GOD
V6 – 9 THEY DO WHAT THEY DO TO PLEASE THE LORD.
WHETHER ITS AVOIDING CERTAIN DAYS OR CERTAIN FOODS OR PARTAKING IN THEM THEY DO IT TO PLEASE GOD – SO WHETHER ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE WORSHIP ONE WAY AND ANOTHER GROUP ANOTHER WAY BOTH GROUPS DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD AND WE SHOULD NEVER SHOW CONTEMPT TOWARDS ANOTHER WHO HAS DIFFERENCES TO OUR OWN IN MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE AS THEY DO WHAT THEY DO TO GLORIFY GOD!
WE ARE NOT LORD OVER OUR OWN LIVES OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS – WE CANNOT DICTATE OR SHOW CONTEMPT IN MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE TO OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS.
V7-9 JESUS CHRIST IS LORD OVER ALL HIS PEOPLE HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION SECURED IT, HOW CAN WE SHOW CONTEMPT OVER OUR BROTHER SISTER?
3. AVOID BEING JUDGEMENTAL TOWARDS YOUR WEAKER/STRONGER, BROTHER/SISTER. V3B - 4
WE ARE EVER IN A POSITION TO JUDGE OUR BROTHER/SISTER IN THESE MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE SIMPLE ANSWER IS NO! THIS IS A DANGER THAT THE WEAK BELIEVER CAN FALL INTO AS HE SEES THOSE ACTIONS DISPLAYED IN OTHERS WHICH WOULD DEFILE HIS OWN CONSCIENCE - THEIR IS A TENDENCY TO JUDGE.
FOR SOME REASON, IT IS EASIER TO JUMP TO NEGATIVE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT PEOPLE THAN IT IS TO ASSUME THE BEST ABOUT THEM. WHEN WE DO THIS, WE ASCRIBE TO THEM BAD INTENTIONS AND EVIL PURPOSES THAT MAY NOT BE TRUE. WE ALSO REVEAL SOMETHING ABOUT OURSELVES, FOR THE FAULTS WE SEE IN OTHERS ARE ACTUALLY REFLECTIONS OF OUR OWN.
IN HIS LITTLE BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS OF BIBLE TRUTH, H. A. IRONSIDE POINTED OUT THE FOLLY OF JUDGING OTHERS. HE RELATED AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF A MAN CALLED BISHOP POTTER.
HE WRITES “BISHOP POTTER WAS SAILING FOR EUROPE ON ONE OF THE GREAT TRANSATLANTIC OCEAN LINERS. WHEN HE WENT ON BOARD, HE FOUND THAT ANOTHER PASSENGER WAS TO SHARE THE CABIN WITH HIM. AFTER GOING TO SEE THE ACCOMMODATIONS, HE CAME UP TO THE PURSER’S DESK AND INQUIRED IF HE COULD LEAVE HIS GOLD WATCH AND OTHER VALUABLES IN THE SHIP’S SAFE. HE EXPLAINED THAT ORDINARILY HE NEVER AVAILED HIMSELF OF THAT PRIVILEGE, BUT HE HAD BEEN TO HIS CABIN AND HAD MET THE MAN WHO WAS TO OCCUPY THE OTHER BERTH. JUDGING FROM HIS APPEARANCE, HE WAS AFRAID THAT HE MIGHT NOT BE A VERY TRUSTWORTHY PERSON.
THE PURSER ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VALUABLES AND REMARKED, ’IT’S ALL RIGHT, BISHOP, I’LL BE VERY GLAD TO TAKE CARE OF THEM FOR YOU. THE OTHER MAN HAS BEEN UP HERE AND LEFT HIS VALUABLES FOR THE SAME REASON!’“ OUR DAILY BREAD.
WE ALL HAVE A TENDENCY TO BECOME JUDGE AND JURY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER WHETHER WEAK OR STRONG BUT WE MUST REFRAIN FROM THOSE JUDGEMENTS WHICH ARE MATTERS OF PERSONAL CONSCIENCE AND NOT FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE.
WHY?
BECAUSE EACH ONE OF US HAS A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD. OUR BROTHER/SISTER IS A SERVANT OF CHRIST AND WILL BE JUDGED BY CHRIST V10-12. HE ALONE IS MASTER AND JUDGE - WE ARE NOT MASTER TO SOMEBODY ELSE’S SERVANT IN FACT WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT, FOR WE TOO ARE SERVANTS AND HAVE A MASTER, WHOSE JUDGEMENT SEAT WE WILL STAND BEFORE ALSO 10 -12 READ.
2COR 5:10 FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, THAT EVERYONE MAY RECEIVE WHAT IS DUE TO THEM FOR THE THINGS DONE WHILE IN THE BODY, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD. LEAVE ALL JUDGEMENT OF THE SAINTS IN MATTERS OF PERSONAL CONSCIENCE TO GOD. ITS YOUR DUTY!
4. ALWAYS KEEP A CLEAR CONSCIENCE IN YOUR OWN MIND BEFORE GOD V5
CONSCIENCE IS THAT FACULTY IN ME WHICH ATTACHES ITSELF TO THE HIGHEST THAT I KNOW, AND TELLS ME WHAT THE HIGHEST I KNOW DEMANDS THAT I DO. IT IS THE EYE OF THE SOUL WHICH LOOKS OUT EITHER TOWARD GOD OR TOWARD WHAT IT REGARDS AS THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY. IF I AM IN THE HABIT OF STEADILY FACING TOWARD GOD, MY CONSCIENCE WILL ALWAYS INTRODUCE GOD’S PERFECT LAW AND INDICATE WHAT I SHOULD DO.
THE POINT IS WILL I OBEY? I HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO KEEP MY CONSCIENCE SO SENSITIVE THAT I WALK WITHOUT OFFENSE. I SHOULD BE LIVING IN SUCH PERFECT SYMPATHY WITH GOD’S SON THAT IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE THE SPIRIT OF MY MIND IS RENEWED. THE ONE THING THAT KEEPS THE CONSCIENCE SENSITIVE TO HIM IS THE HABIT OF BEING OPEN TO GOD ON THE INSIDE. WHEN THERE IS ANY DEBATE, QUIT. THERE IS NO DEBATE POSSIBLE WHEN CONSCIENCE SPEAKS. - OSWALD CHAMBERS
A. BE CONVINCED YOURSELF
WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU DO - DO YOU HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD OR ARE YOU ALWAYS LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER AT OTHERS? BE CONVINCED OF WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS IT OKAY WITH GOD, IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT DON’T DO IT V5......
DO NOT LET THE THOUGHTS OF OTHERS DIRECT YOUR GODLY ACTIONS BUT LET GOD DIRECT ALL YOUR ACTIONS AGAIN PAUL IS APPLYING ROM 12:2 AND SAYING THAT AS LIVING SACRIFICES ITS GOING TO INVOLVE SOME SELF EXAMINATION IN THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY LIVING WITH YOUR BROTHERS/SISTER WHETHER WEAK OR STRONG.
B. BE MINDFUL OF OTHERS
BUT ALSO BEWARE OF YOUR WEAKER /STRONGER BROTHER/SISTER BY NOT IMPOSING YOUR LIBERTIES UPON THEIR LAWS OR IMPOSING YOUR LAWS UPON THEIR LIBERTIES. KEEP YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR AND BE ASSISTING YOUR WEAKER /STRONGER BROTHER IN AVOIDING THAT WHICH WOULD MAKE THEM FALL V12 – 18
WHY? ULTIMATELY BECASUSE THIS IS PLEASING TO GOD V18.
CONCLUSION.
SO THAT ABOUT WRAPS UP THE DILEMMA AND DUTY IN MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE LOCAL CHURCH...
1. LET’S ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER – BECAUSE GOD HAS ACCEPTED YOUR BROTHER/SISTER.
2. AVOID SHOWING CONTEMPT TOWARDS EACH OTHER - BECAUSE WHAT IS UNDERTAKEN IS UNDERTAKEN TO PLEASE GOD.
3. AVOID BEING JUDGEMENTAL IN MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE – BECAUSE ULTIMATELY GOD IS MASTER AND JUDGE AND WE ARE MERE SERVANTS WHO WILL ALL STAND BEFORE HIM.
4. FINALLY PURSUE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE BEING CONVINCED IN YOUR OWN MIND AND BEING MINDFUL OF OTHERS AROUND YOU AND THAT MIGHT WELL MEAN PUTTING TO ONE SIDE YOUR LIBERTY TO ASSIST YOUR WEAKER/BROTHER/SISTER FROM FALLING.
AMEN AUBREY VAUGHAN CBCOMMUNITY.CO.UK
