ROMANS 14: 1-9
INEVITABLE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
[1 Corinthians 8:1-11]
Must Christians agree on everything? Sometimes we, as Christians, are quick to judge others as to their relationship with God or the way they live their life. We know that there is a lot of false teaching and casual Christianity out there, and rightfully we don't want to get taken in by it. At the same time, the basis for our judgment isn't always the best. It's very easy for us to confuse our personal preferences with what the Bible teaches regarding an issue. Thus it's best to allow others the right to decide concerning principles or matters of conscience (CIT).
A shoplifter with a guilty conscience sent a letter to a department store and enclosed $100. The letter explained, "I have just become a Christian, and I can't sleep at night because I feel guilty. Here is the $100 I owe you." He signed the letter and at the bottom added this postscript, "If I still can't sleep, I'll send you the rest."
Martin Luther King Jr; once declared, "Cowardice asks the question: Is it safe? Consensus asks the question: Is it popular? Conscience asks: Is it right?" The Bible assigns conscience an important role in the Christian life. The Holy Spirit often works through the conscience, either to excuse or to convict. However, this does not mean that the conscience is infallible. Some people have seared their conscience and can no longer distinguish between right and wrong (Rom. 1: ; 1 Tim. 4:2). Others, like those described in today's passage, suffer from a "weak" conscience. They feel guilty over actions that aren't inherently sinful.
In the Christian life, the conviction of our conscience should be taken seriously. Not only do we need to be sensitive to the prodding of our own conscience, it is important that we have regard for the conscience of others. Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of Christian liberty.
This conflict over Christian liberty surfaced in two primary contexts for believers in Rome: in the decision whether or not to eat certain foods and how to observe the Sabbath. The danger was that divisive arguments were erupting over non-essentials. So there are words of warning and encouragement for the weak group and the strong group. Paul's main concern is for the spirit of unity in the church (15:5).
[Chapter 14 deals with functioning in controversy, particularly controversies within the church family. Even in Rome the early church had already engaged in that most favorite of Christian indoor sports: judging other Christians. Thus the principle of acceptance of other Christians is set forth here. Christians are at different levels of spiritual maturity. They also have diverse backgrounds that color their attitudes and practices. We are to stop judging other Christians over nonessential and learn to live harmoniously with them.]
I. ACCEPTED BY GOD, 14:1-4.
II. A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE, 14:5-6.
III. WE ARE THE LORD'S, 14:7-9.
Verse 1 begins with an injunction to the strong. "Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
The focus is on him whose faith is weak ( "the one being weak in faith")[, which appears in the emphatic first position in the sentence]. "Faith" here refers to one's convictions about what faith allows him or her to do, rather than to one's general belief. The command is to accept [pros-lambánesthe -pres. mid. imper., "keep on receiving to yourselves"; 15:7] such a person, "without passing judgment on disputable matters." This phase literally says, "not into quarrels about opinions" [thoughts].
We must distinguish between essential Bible doctrines and personal opinions. Of course, this is often part of the problem. Some personal opinions are confused with essential Bible doctrines.
This verse assumes there will be differences of opinion (disputable matters) in the church. We are not to quarrel about issues that are matters of opinion. [Differences should not be feared or avoided, but accepted and handled with love.] Don't expect everyone, even in the best possible church, to agree on every thing. Through sharing ideas we can come to a fuller understanding of what the Bible teaches. Accept, listen to, and respect others. Differences of opinion need not cause division. They can be a source of learning and richness in our relationships.
Those who consider themselves to be strong in the faith are to "accept" those they consider to be weak in the faith. Accept is the opposite of reject. The human tendency is to look down on or treat with disdain those we consider weak. The human tendency for those who are weak is to be judgmental toward the strong.
We are called upon to receive those who are weak in the faith. Embrace and enjoy them without passing judgment on the areas in which you don't see eye to eye.
Who is the one who is weak in faith? The answer is initially strange to some. Verse 2 seems turns the tables on what we might generally think as "strong" and "weak." "One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only."
The reason some Christians then were vegetarians is not stated. Eating "everything" may refer to freedom from Jewish dietary restrictions, or it may refer to eating meat offered to idols (1 Cor. 8; 10:23-30). Some Jews who believed in Jesus continued to recognize the distinction between clean and unclean foods. Others who came from a pagan background felt guilty when faced with the prospect of eating meat that had been sacrificed to an idol. The meat of animals that had been sacrificed in pagan temples was sometimes sold in the market or served at certain festivities. Some from this background found it difficult to separate the meat from its religious context (1 Cor. 8:7). They were appalled at the thought that they might be eating something that had been part of a pagan festival and idol worship. [Paul also deals with this problem in 1 Corinthians 8.]
Though some doubt remains about the exact conditions which Paul is addressing, there is no doubt about the advice. To be sure, Paul counts himself among the strong (15:1), but he does not commend the strong or demean the weakness of those whose faith or conscious does not permit them certain freedoms which the Bible allows.
[Who is weak in faith and who is strong? We are all weak in some areas and strong in others. Our faith is strong in an area if we can survive contact with sinners without falling into their patterns. It is weak in an area if we must avoid certain activities, people, or places in order to protect our spiritual life. It is important to take a self-inventory in order to find out our strengths and weaknesses. Whenever in doubt, we should ask; "Can I do that without sinning? Can I influence others for good, rather than being influenced by them?" Application Bible. Zondervan. p. 2053]
Verse 3 teaches us to accept those God accepts even if there practice or opinions differ from ours. "The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him."
Since the motive or action is a personal matter Paul does not make an issue out of it. He is solely concerned with the reaction to it. Those who are "strong" have no right to look down and judge the continued abstinence of the "weak." The "weak" also have no right to pass judgment on the freedom practiced by the "strong."
We all have different convictions about what we should and should no do. In such circumstances neither believer should judge or look down on the other. "Look down on" (exoutheneit ; v. 10 also) should be translated "despise" or reject or treat with contempt (Gal. 4:14; 1 Thess. 5:20). The reason a "strong" Christian (Rom. 15:1) should not despise a "weak" one, and the reason that a weak Christian should not condemn (krinet) the strong one is that God has accepted [pros-lambán , v.1] both of them. [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, p. 492]
To enforce the command points out that they are not the boss of others in verse 4. "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
The issue at stake is not the strength or weakness in faith, but the danger of judgments from both sides regarding matters that are not essential [for salvation]. The weak judge the strong for what they believe to be illicit uses of freedom. The strong despise the weak for their lack of freedom. Each side judges the other from its own conscience in an attempt to compel the other to its opinion. The issue is the lack of acceptance for the conscience or opinions of the other.
[The Reformers called these non-essentials adiaphora, or matters about which Christians may differ. There are, of course, far more adiaphora than there are diapheronta (2:18), or essentials of faith. Understanding this, Paul makes no attempt to take sides. Rather he exhorts his readers not to judge fellow Christians on points which from God's perspective are not of ultimate importance. "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (15:7). Edwards, James. NT Series. Vol 6. Romans. p. 319]
As a believer, each person is a servant of God and is accountable to God, his Judge. Any Christian tempted to judge another believer must face Paul's question, Who are you to judge (Lit, "the one judging") someone else's servant? [Oiket n, "domestic servant," is not the usual word doulos, "slave."] Such criticizing is wrong because a domestic servant should be evaluated by his . . . master, not by fellow believers. Therefore, Paul concludes, And he will stand (lit., "he shall be made to stand"), for the Lord is able to make him stand. Even if a believer despises the scruples of another Christian, God can defend the second person. [Walvoord, & Zuck, p.492.] Don't over step your proper bounders or limits of authority. God has freed believers from the opinions and consciences of others. God sustains us all.
II. A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE, 14:5-6.
Whether a person be though weak or strong the important thing is to conduct your life before God, for God's approval is the truly significant one. Verse 5 looks at the difference of opinion for observing special days. "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind."
Apparently some believed that all days were holy to the Lord verses some held one day to be more sacred than another. Or perhaps some observed special days for feasting or fasting. It is acceptable to hold these different opinions and practices. What isn't acceptable is to judge another as wrong based on our convictions.
If a person who once worshiped God on the required Jewish holy days were to become a Christian, he might well know that Christ saved him through faith, not through his keeping of the law. Still, when the feast days came, he might feel empty and unfaithful if he didn't dedicate those days to God.
Paul responds to both brothers in love. Both are acting according to their consciences, but their honest scruples do not need to be made into rules for the church. Certainly some issues are central to the faith and worth fighting for - but many are based on individual differences and should not be legislated. Our principle should be: In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in everything, love.
Thus how we observe the Lord's day is not so importance as is the fact that we are honoring our Lord with our observance. Each should "be fully convinced in his own mind" as to the rightfulness of our observance. More important than the observance is the certainty that the individual is involved because of a motivation and desire to honor the Lord in what he is doing, be it Sunday or any other day. Examine your heart to be sure your doing what you feels the Lord would have you do.
Therefore verse 6 admonishes one and all, in all we do, and what ever we do, we are to do it for the Lord. "He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God."
Paul is expressing a precept applicable to all people. There is far more to living the Christian life than how we observe the Lord's day. All circumstances in life, the routine and the extraordinary, provide tests and opportunities to prove that Christ is Lord of our life. Even the simplest of deeds therefore must be dedicated to God. Indeed every thought is to be taken captive in obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Whoever eats or refrains from eating, or observes special days or does not observe them must do so out a conscience wanting to please and honor God.
The one eating can give thanks for the meat before him, while the one abstaining from meat can give God thanks for his vegetables. In whatever we do our aim and desire is to do it for the Lord.
Each must act with a clear conscience in everything. In matters where there is no specific guidance, each person must be persuaded that the manner in which he or she acts is in accordance with God's will. Then the Christian is to commit a given act to the Lord with thanksgiving.
III. WE ARE THE LORD'S, 14:7-9.
The Apostle now rises above the opinions and controversies of earth to proclaim again the lordship of Christ beginning in verse 7. "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;"
A key component in the equation of liberty is responsibility to Christ. A Christian is living out his or her life as Christ's servant before God. We are individually accountable to the Lord in every area and experience of life. Each Christian in both life and death is seen by the Lord, and is accountable to Him, not to other Christians.
The reason the Christian does not live to himself is that he lives to the Lord. This purpose, which is also an obligation, does not cease with death but carries forward into the next life (Phil. 1:20). Death does not separate Christians from the love of God in Christ (8:38, 39; 2 Cor. 5:9). Our death is not merely a transfer from the arena of struggle to the realm of rest. Our death is an enlarged opportunity to show forth the praises of the Lord. Relationship to Him is the key to life on either side of the veil.
Verse 8 emphasizes the believers union with Christ. "for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's."
Paul is convinced of the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ, and of his possession by Christ, in both life and death. None of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone (v. 7). Our culture may teach that individualism and self-fulfillment are the sole guarantors of happiness, but Paul exults not in who we are, but in whose we are, for we belong to the Lord (v. 8).
Since our lives belong to Him, we are not our own (1 Cor. 6:19), we have been bought with a price. Therefore we do not live to ourselves. We are to live for the one to whom we belong. This simple truth forms the bedrock of all Christian ethics, which is the visible side of our relationship with Christ where we demonstrate His Lordship (e.g., Eph. 4). The one who gave His life without reserve for us is worthy of our lives without reserve for Him. In life and death we are His.
Let the Lord guide you. Let Him work in you. Let Him give direction to you. For you are the Lord's!
Verse 9 proclaims that when Christ is our Lord, He is Lord no matter where we are or what happens to us. "For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living."
By the virtue of His death, He is Lord of the dead. By the virtue of His resurrection, He is Lord of the living.
The Savior gave His life, laying it down in obedience to the will of God, and thereby purchased the church by His blood (Acts 20:28). But only after His resurrection could He assume the active headship of His people. The resurrection event established [Hina purpose clause] Jesus' claim to deity, His claim to Lordship, and His claim to universal dominion. His triumph included victory over death, so that even though His people may be given over to death's power temporarily, they have not ceased to be His, as the future bodily resurrection of Christians will demonstrate. He is in fact the Lord of both the dead and the living. [The order in which these two divisions appear reflects the order in the previous statement about Christ in his death and return to life.]
Not even death breaks the Lordship of Christ. Death is the gateway that lead to Christ into a life eternal over which He is also Lord.
In CLOSING
What was the subject of your latest "Christian debate?" Was Christ honored in the disputed matter? There are some Christians who are zealous for correct doctrine whose lives reflect nothing of the love and life of Jesus Christ. Do others see you as one who contends for non essentials of the Christian faith in such a way that could only be described as contentions? [A Christian has no right to play God in another Christian's life.]
May God enable us to distinguish between personal opinion or personal preference and that which the Word of God requires us to be truly faithful followers of Jesus. So let the Lord guide you. Let Him work in you. Let Him give direction to you.
