Reading: Romans chapter 14 verses 1-23.
Ill:
• It is said that when the British and French were fighting in Canada in the 1750s,
• Admiral Phipps was the commander of the British fleet,
• He was given orders to anchor outside Quebec.
• His orders were to wait for the British land forces to arrive,
• 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 eventually arrived and the signal was given to attack,
• The admiral was of no help.
• Because he had used up all his ammunition shooting at the “saints.”
Unfortunately, the same could be said for many Christians today.
• When God calls on them to do something for Him;
• They have nothing left to give;
• Because they have used up their ammunition shooting at the saints.
Throughout church history churches have split for the stupidest of reasons.
• Some have split over which version of the Lord’s prayer to say;
• Some have split over which hymn book they should use.
• Some have split because the name of the building was changed.
• Some churches have split over whether to sit on pews or chairs.
• Churches split over styles of worship or formats of meetings;
• It seems to me it is rarely over doctrinal reasons – often personal/cultural preference!
Ill:
• An issue of National Geographic;
• Included a photograph of the fossil remains of two saber-tooth cats locked in combat.
• To quote the article:
• “One had bitten deep into the leg bone of the other,
• A thrust that trapped both in a common fate.”
• The cause of the death of the two cats;
• Is as clear as the cause of the extinction of their species.
• They could not survive because they were too busy fighting each other
• And sadly the same can be said of many Christian’s today.
As the apostle Paul put it (Galatians chapter 5 verse 15):
“If you keep on biting and devouring each other,
watch out or you will be destroyed by each other”
Earlier on in this letter the apostle Paul tells us that we are to
• “Live in harmony with one another”.
• (Romans chapter 12 verse 16).
• Paul gave the church in Rome some practical, step-by-step instructions;
• On how to be in H.A.R.M.O.N.Y. with ... one another.
• We can learn from this information
• Because we today have much in common with the Roman church.
• The Roman church was not divided in their faith.
• They all believed the fundamentals of the Christian faith!
• However, they were divided on many nonessential details of the Christian life.
• There were some in the church who had some very strict convictions;
• Concerning things like particular days of worship and types of diets;
• And they considered those who disagreed to be too liberal.
• Others, however, had an equally strong conviction;
• That in Christ they were free from such constraints;
• And they considered the others to be narrow minded.
• Paul says that the solution to all of this is to stop condemning one another;
• And start excepting one another.
• Tonight I want to share with you:
• Paul’s seven steps to H.A.R.M.O.N.Y.
SEVEN STEPS TO H.A.R.M.O.N.Y.
(1). Hold Back Judgment on Disputable Matters.
(14:1)
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.”
Question: What is a disputable matter?
Answer: A disputable matter is an issue on which the Bible is not clear.
• The disputable matters to which Paul speaks of ;
• Are concerning diet and religious special days.
• Some believed that certain days like the Sabbath or other religious holidays;
• Were to be considered more sacred than others.
• They also held to certain dietary rules e.g. like not eating meat;
• Probably because the meat purchased in the market place had been offered to idols.
• Others in the Church believed that all days were the same;
• And that if you gave thanks to God for the food;
• Then there was no problem with eating it and enjoying it.
Question: Who was right and who was wrong?
Answer:
• Paul says that neither group is right or wrong;
• Because these issues are nonessential to Christian faith and practice.
• If the scriptures do not speak clearly on an issue;
• It is because God has given us freedom to choose in this area.
• (a). Some of the Christians were free to choose to keep the Sabbath as a sacred day;
• Other Christians in the same assembly could treat the Sabbath as no different to any other day.
• (b). Some of the Christians were free not to eat;
• Other Christians in the same assembly were also free to choose to eat meat.
• There are many things that Christians are free to do or free not to do,
• BUT the one thing we are not free to do is to pass judgment on disputable matters.
(2). Avoid Looking Down on Those Who Don’t
Share Your Convictions. (14:2-4)
“One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Paul says that the one who is strong in the faith:
• The strong one is described as the person who realises;
• That in Christ we are free from legalistic constraints in disputable matters.
• Having understood that says Paul;
• Do not look down on those who don’t believe they have such freedom.
• He also says that those who are weak in the faith;
• And therefore feel that they must follow certain rules & regulations;
• Must not condemn those who don’t follow their rules.
Question: Why not?
Answer:
• Because the other person is not your servant, but God’s!
• And that person does not answer to you, but to God.
• And furthermore we see that God has accepted them both.
• So we are to be Godlike and accept the other person as well.
• We dare not look down on the one whom God has accepted.
So the next time you are tempted to look down on someone:
• Because they do not share your freedom;
• Or because they don’t share your strict convictions.
• Remind yourself that you are not better than them;
• Nor are they better than you.
(3). Realize That You Must Live for the Lord
Alone. (14:5-12)
“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.' "
12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Ill:
It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament,
• And golf legend Arnold Palmer had a one-stroke lead;
• And had just hit a very satisfying tee shot.
• He felt he was in pretty good shape. As he approached his ball,
• He saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery.
• The friend motioned him over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.”
• Arnold later said,
• “I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus.”
• On his next two shots, he hit the ball into a bunker,
• Then put it over the edge of the green.
• He missed the putt and lost the Master’s tournament because he had first lost his focus.
Arnold Palmer realised albeit too late:
• He was not on that golf course that day to renew old acquaintances.
• He was not there to accept congratulations.
• He was there for one purpose and one purpose only - to put the ball in the hole.
Every Christian needs to realise that:
• We are not on this earth for the purpose of exercising our freedoms.
• Nor are we here for the purpose of adhering to strict religious convictions.
• We are here for one purpose and one purpose only;
• To live for the Lord.
• If we exercise our freedoms, we do so for the Lord.
• If we adhere to strict religious convictions, we so do for the Lord.
• If we live, we live for the Lord.
• If we die, we die for the Lord.
• And if we ever lose focus on that purpose then we, like Arnold Palmer,
• We are in serious trouble.
(4). Make Sure You Don’t Put Obstacles in the
Way of Others. (14:13-18)
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.”
• While it is true that in Christ we have been set free from the law and legalism,
• However, we must not flaunt this freedom in the faces of those who are weak in the faith.
• Also those who have strong convictions;
• Are not to beat others over the head with those convictions.
• We are to exercise our freedoms and carry out our convictions;
• In ways that do not cause our fellow Christians to stumble.
This section is primarily addressed to those who are strong in the faith:
• You see faith results in freedom.
• The stronger the faith, the greater the freedom.
• The weaker the faith,
• The smaller the freedom.
• It is important to notice that Paul says that both groups have faith.
• In other words both groups have saving faith and are, therefore, true Christians.
• It is just that some are stronger in faith than others;
• And those who are stronger in faith;
• Must be careful about exercising their freedoms;
• In the presence of those who don’t have such freedom.
• The danger is that those who are weak in the faith;
• May be tempted to participate in the freedoms of those strong in the faith;
• When they themselves do not have that strong faith.
• This is dangerous because if anyone believes something to be wrong;
• Then it is wrong for them even if it is not something God’s word forbids.
• You see, it is a sin to violate your conscience.
• You must be, as Paul says in verse 23:
• “Fully convinced.” Because “everything that does not come from faith is sin”.
• So to those who are strong:
• Paul says if the exercise of your freedom;
• Causes a fellow believer to violate their conscience and sin,
• You have “destroyed your brother for whom Christ died.”
• Paul says that it is better to voluntarily restrict one’s freedom;
• Than to cause others to stumble by exercising it.
Ill:
• In 1 Corinthians 8:13 he puts it this way:
• “If what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin,
• I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.”
(5). Only Do What Leads to Peace and Mutual
Edification. (14:19-21)
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.”
• What is good can actually become bad if it leads to disharmony;
• And does not build up the church.
• In Romans 12:18 Paul writes:
• “If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
• He says, “if it is possible”
• Because he knows that it is not always possible to please people.
You know the old saying:
“You can fool some of the people some of the time,
but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”
Well it is also true of pleasing people:
“You can please some of the people some of the time,
but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
• But the point is you need to do your part - the part that “depends on you.”
• To try and keep everyone happy.
(6) Never publicize your personal convictions.
(14:22-23)
“So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
Question:
• Why does Paul tell us to keep our personal convictions;
• Concerning these matters between ourselves and God?
Answer:
• Because our personal convictions are just that - personal.
• If they were meant to be corporate convictions;
• Then God would have put them in His word.
• But He didn’t.
• He gave them to you personally and they should stay between the two of you.
Ill:
• There was a woman in North Carolina USA,
• Who set a world record while playing an arcade video game.
• After standing in front of the game for fourteen hours;
• She scored an unprecedented seven and a half million points on the game,
• She was so pleased with her success that her fiancée;
• Phoned the local TV station and they sent a news crew to report the achievement.
• She continued to play while the crew, set up their cameras and equipment.
• However, she was amazed and shocked to see the video screen suddenly go blank;
• While setting up their lights, the camera team had accidentally unplugged the game,
• Thus bringing her bid for ten million points to an untimely end!
• The effort to publicize her achievement became the very agent of her ultimate failure.
• It is often unwise to go public!
(7). Yield Personal Preferences for the
Common Good. (15:1-7)
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."[a] 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
• Paul is saying here that we should not insist on doing things our way.
• Insisting on doing things my way is the world’s way, not the Christian’s way.
Ill:
• One reason we have plurality of elders in our leadership.
• We hold each other in balance.
• This Church is not a Gordon Curley style Church or a Martin Fielder type Church;
• Together we seek to be a Bible based New Testament Church.
• Obviously we will share our beliefs, experiences and insights;
• But we share together for the common good of all the Assembly – not just some.
Note:
• Paul holds up Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of someone who,
• Rather than pleasing Himself,
• Gave up His personal preferences for the good of others – i.e. mankind.
• We know from the gospels that it was not Jesus’ personal preference;
• To suffer and die on the cross.
• When He was praying in the garden prior to His arrest
• He asked God the Father;
• “If it would be possible for that cup of suffering to pass from Him”.
• However, He also prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
• If Jesus didn’t insist on His way, who are you to insist on your way!
Ill:
• In the summer of 1986,
• Two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia.
• Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below.
• News of the disaster was further depressing;
• When an investigation revealed the cause of the accident.
• It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction - or even thick fog.
• The cause was human stubbornness.
• Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby.
• Both could have steered clear,
• But according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other.
• Each was too proud to yield first.
• By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.
• Sadly:
• Too many assemblies have been sunk by the ‘My Way’ mentality.
Summary:
• God wants us ‘as far as it is possible’ to live in harmony;
• That does not happen automatically – it takes a lot of work.
• Our motivation and example is Jesus Christ;
• Who did not please himself – but thought about the welfare of others.
