THE COST OF FREEDOM – Romans 14:13-23
What is one of the churches most precious comoditys? What do we stomp on with a vengence in the eyes of the world? What does the world look for and rarely seen intact in the body of Christ? UNITY
John 17 ‘That they may be one even as we are one’
John 13 ‘ they will know us by our love’
JOHN WOODEN: won many college basketball national championships in a row while at UCLA. Was asked, ‘What does it take to make a winning team? THREE THINGS
1) Get players in right condition (right with God/Salvation)
2) Team them the fundamentals (Discipleship)
3) Teach them to play together as a team (fellowship)
Church needs to learn lesson #3 especially.
Paul is concerned about those in the church in Rome who in using their ‘liberty’ they have harmed the conscience of those who are offended by certain behaviors: Eating of meat, keeping of Sabbath. It was upsetting the delicate balance of unity.
Problem was that some people saw certain attitudes, behaviors and actions as perfectly ok while others were offended by the same.
WRONG VIEW OF LIBERTY: Confused Liberty with License. Our nation today has confused our ‘freedom’ with the right to anything and everything we want to do.
Liberty does have rights but it also has responsibilities. When you take liberty and do things that harm others then it becomes license and is a misuse of freedom.
John Ashcroft is under fire now politically by many who are trying to get his appointment for Attorny General withdrawn. Read an article that most of the money and concern are coming from the pornography industry that fears his appointment means that finally the obscenity laws already on the books will now be enforced. They have abused liberty and now will be reigned in.
Paul is discussing, not obvious wrongs, but the decision to do certain things knowing the effect it will have on others in the body of Christ. Judge the appropriateness of it.
AUGUSTINE: In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things love. LOVE TRUMPS LIBERTY
MAKE SURE YOUR LIBERTY HAS THE RIGHT EFFECT ON OTHERS (13) Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
1. Stop the atmosphere of judging others and create an atmosphere of self-inspection.
a. You like judging, turn the microscope on your self. Look at your own actions and the effect they are having on others and learn what it means to exercise love instead of liberty.
b. Same word is used twice: judge determine Point is to judge our lives as to whether we are causing others to stumble.
1) Obstacle – simple rock in the middle of road
2) Stumbling block – elaborate stick used in setting a trap.
Simple or complex issue: what effect is it having on my brother or sister’s walk with God.
We cannot make our decisionS independent of the body of Christ.
2. Stop trying to determine what you can do without deciding what you should do. (14) I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
FREEMAN: Lady who was near the end of life who was faithfully there each Sunday. I decided during the winter to grow a beard, I had had one a few years earlier but hadn’t grown one since coming to the church. ‘I know what to give you for Christmas RAZOR!’
I had every right, nothing in Bible, most all had beards, but I had to decide was my beard worth the effect it would have on her.
a. Paul states ‘I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself’ He understands that things that bother others are not necessarily wrong.
Around 1928 Donald Grey Barnhouse was preaching at a Conference. He was approached by some older women who were upset that some of the younger women were not wearing stockings. He responded: The virgin Mary never wore stocking! ‘She didn’t’ In fact they were first worn in the 15th century in Italy by prostitutes. ‘OH’ It was a scandal when a wealthy woman wore then to an upper class ball. Finally Queen Victory wore them and they became the badge of a prude. TIME TO DUCK OR RUN
b. Paul point is that even though it may be right if in the mind of another believer it is wrong then to them it is wrong. Right become wrong when in your heart you believe it to be wrong.
c. Does that mean that they are automatically weaker believers? They could be stronger! Confused?
It is a sin for me : I have a list of demands on myself that are not in the Bible but for me to break any of them I feel would be a sin.
1) Smoking(see these bumps on my face, want cancer?)
2) Eating too much salt
3) Watch movie with constant stream of profanity
4) Watch most sit-coms of nighttime drama
5) Being in church:
6) Put a Bible on the floor or even under other books(Weirsbe) prayer closet
Esteem those things to be unclean and to do them would be for myself a sign of rebellion against God. Weaker? I don’t put those demands on you: eat all the salt you want(see Jesus sooner), Spurgeon & G. Campbell Morgan smoked, put your Bible wherever but these are issues to me of having a higher level of commitment physically, morally, & spiritually.
d. Paul point is how are other’s effected.
On fire couple in church in Virginia: ‘Thank you Jesus’, wife led an obscene phone caller to Christ. Family owned a distribution business: various brands of pop/soda and also various brands of beer. Came to Christ as an adult Q-what about the alchohol? Gone, best year financially followed
3. Start seeing the effect your life is having on others. (15) For if because of food your brother is hurt you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.(compare values)
a. Strong language: brother is hurt….destroy….for whom Christ died. Do the math…is it worth hurting someone so valuable over something so trivial.
Communities of people who believe modern things and bright clothing are wrong. What if I drove up next to a horse drawn buggy and slowed to say, ‘What do you think about this car, it will really move, got some electric light bulbs on sell down at walmart, what do you think of my new orange shirt?
Clap in church: Set next to an applaude. Wear make up: Buy them a gift card to Avon or Mary Kay for Christmas.
b. Don’t flaunt your freedoms or demand that others run at your same pace. Jesus was willing to die for them so..
HEIGHTS bug me: Picture a swinging bridge over a mountain stream. Some people can run across without even having handrails. They just see the other side. I get there: I feel every sway, I hear every movement of the water below, I creep across. If someone said ‘Let’s cross’ and then grabbed my hand and began to run with me a problem or a fight would quickly break out. Just let me move at my own speed: on my hands and knees in prayer..
CAN’ SWIM? Toss in AFRAID OF DARK? Put in dark room One child afraid of escalators: found out a mall in St. Louis: he didn’t follow, came down holding hand of stranger. Eat out on Sundays
c. Realize that people come out of backgrounds that your expression of freedom might effect.
MAKE SURE YOUR LIBERTY HAS THE RIGHT END IN MIND (16) Therefore, do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; (17) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
1. Don’t let the kingdom of God, the message, the church, Christians, good things be spoken of as evil.
Church got in argument over Christmas tree: some said it was fine while others said it was a pagan symbol angry dragged out & in fist fight court newspapers. Church split over the location of the piano in auditorium.
What is the kingdom of God all about? Eating
2. Kingdom is about 3 things: righteousness peace joy
a. My relationship with God – my relationship with others – my personal testimony
b. World should see in the church people broken over sin, seeking to love each other and excited about who they are in Christ.
(18) For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
2. Now what am I to do now if my life is to be acceptable to God and approved by men?
(19) So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
a. Ask Two Questions:
1) Will this bring peace?
2) Will this build up my brother or sister?
(20) Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food(your liberty). All things indeed are clean, BUT they are evil for the man who eats and gives offence.
4. I can sin by doing something I feel is acceptable but in a way that harms my brothers weaker conscience.
(21) It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
YEILD: good sign to put up in the church. Remind people to slow down and consider others before they act. Not to insist on your own right of way.
5. Language of the Bible: turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, bear one another’s burdens, forgive 70x7, take up your cross and deny self.
MAKE SURE YOUR LIBERTY HAS THE RIGHT ESSENTIAL THAT COUNTS (22) The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. (23) But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
1. The Right Essential is FAITH: A faith based on a conviction of what is right. That means taking time to find out the truth.
TIMMY TEASED by older brother about being so easily fooled about something he didn’t know any better about. Timmy listened to it all and then said, ‘HELLO, I’m in kindergarden here, ya know’. Excused
a. We have the Word of God, the Holy Spirit in our lives, a body of believers to minister to us. Should we not have convictions on important issues.
2. Faith is a belief in what God has said to be true and a response of obedience. The opposite is doubt. He who doubts is condemned. God expects us to exercise faith and that means He expects us to know His truth: Whatever is not from faith is sin. I do what I do because I believe it is God’s desire for my life: in church, raise family a certain way, spend my money by faith, use my free time by faith, treat others by faith…
3. Warned in Scripture that two areas in our lives are under attack by Satan: 1 TIM 1:19 Keeping faith and good conscience which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
GRAVEYARD of SHIPS: dead in water, better days in the past, engines dead, sails down, going nowhere. Satan’s will for the life of a Christian
PHILIP PETITE: walked a tightrope in NY from the twin towers of the world trade center. Tension on the wire was 5 tons, when the wind picked up the buildings would sway 6-8 inches which would increase the tension to 10 tons. Friend set up a safety harness and begged him to wear it. ‘NO WAY, IF I ATTACH MYSELF TO A BUILDING I AM NOT FREE!’
Average Christian tries to put everybody else in his own harness: rules, regulations instead of experiencing the grace of God and the freedom it brings we reinterduce more and more religion.
IF JESUS WALKED INTO THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW: only uncomfortable person would be the legalist: Does He fit my list? Say right words, look acceptable, act accordingly? JESUS was accused of being a friend of sinners: He said, the sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath…..it is not what goes into the stomach that defiles but what comes out of the heart
PHILIP PETITE DIED: Red box was found. ‘Future projects’ Niagra falls at place where it is a mile wide….Eiffel Tower: set line in ground and walk up to top at 45 degree angle. Grace offers the most incredible lifestyle. Go out of this life riding on the power of what only God can do with you life.
