FOCUS ON THE WHO, NOT WHAT PART TWO

 

Romans 14:13-23

Unity is the evidence of genuine Biblical love. Unity based in biblical love reveals it’s the only thing that can bring together people who disagree on matters of indifference. A love for the gospel and the hope it produces give us the ability to love those inside the church we might disagree with. The stronger brother or sister is to respond to the weaker brother or sister with patience. Again everything we are looking at in chapter 14 is dealing with indifference, not heinous sin. Certainly we are never to tolerate gross and heinous evil or disobedience to God’s Law and holy character. But we respond with patience and we are to respect others who have indifference on secondary issues where God has left us free. Everything we do in the Christian life is for this reason! To glorify God

 

We eat to the glory of God.

We sing to the glory of God.

We fellowship to the glory of God.

We breathe to the glory of God.

We even die for the glory of God. (v6-v9)

 

Everything we do is to the Lordship of Christ. When you understand the Lordship of Christ you begin to see that His Lordship extends to every detail of life, as well as beyond the grave. Paul said, “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” 2 Cor 5:6-9. Remind yourself this truth and preach it to yourself before you do something that you might regret over secondary issues. Both kinds of Christians (weak or strong) are to live their life unselfishly, not self-centered. The legalist or quarrelling person might question the genuine faith of someone who doesn’t share his or her convictions on a certain matter. And the same is true of the person who questions the genuine faith of someone who cannot stop quoting the law. And if you have a church full of this, all it produces is toxic gas.

 

Judgment of other should not be

part of our behavior on non-sin issues.

 

Paul’s primary concern is to address these two issues: The stumbling block and hinderance. (v13-v23) “Stumbling block” can be a result from a tumble, such as bruised knee or being tripped. Take the cartoon “Peanuts”, Charlie brown who runs to kick the football that Louise is holding up. He runs with full force to kick that ball, and Louise quickly removed the ball and he falls right on his back. Why did this happen? Louise has now become a stumbling block for Charlie brown. A stumbling block is something in us or something done by us that causes harm to another believer. Paul gives this warning in his first letter to the church of Corinth. “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” 

1 Cor 8:9

“Hindrance”   or “obstacle” the stick that caused the trap to fall on another; the cause of the offence or which lures you into sin. In other words “To transgress conscience is always wrong.” Why is it important that we don’t become a stumbling block or a hindrance? Paul said, “We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,” 2 Cor 6:3. Jesus rebuked Peter with this charge. “But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Matt 16:23. John MacArthur wrote, “The loving, caring stronger Christian will determine in his or her mind and heart to be sensitive to any weakness in a fellow believer and avoid doing anything, including what is innocent in itself and otherwise permissible, that might cause him to morally or spiritually stumble.”

We are not frustrate one another for the sake

of our conscience.

 

We are not to impede a fellow believer’s spiritual progress.

 

Accept One Another By Not Becoming A Source Of Stumbling, But Be A Blessing. 

(v13-v15)

 

Note the word play here! “let us not pass judgement” meaning “your judgment or decisions” The weak are to stop criticizing the strong, and the strong are to stop critizing the weak. Understand and put yourself in the weaker brother’s shoes for a moment. God called the nation of Israel from amoung the nations to be His chosen people, so that they might be a light to the rest of the world. God gave the Ten Commandments; these commandments were the provisions of His Covenant to govern His people. God added ceremonial rites and responsibilities; they had great feasts to celebrate, such as Passover. God gave His people a list of dietary regulations that they were obligated to keep at all times. When they were in captivity to the Babylonians, not all the Jews were taken. Only the best of the Jewish people were taken, those who were educated, gifted, artistic and eloquent. The Babylonians used this time to deconstruct these captive Jews by assimilating them into Babylonian culture.

We know from the Scriptures…. Daniel ended up in a lion’s den and the Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego wound up in fiery furnace. These men didn’t end up in these places because they wouldn’t bow down to the King ONLY!……they were also ready to pay with their lives if necessary to keep from eating food that God declares unclean. For centuries, every Jewish household were trained about permissible and forbidden foods, and this tradition continues even today. But when Christ came, He turned the world upside down, because what was considered unclean was now was considered clean. Peter said he had a vison and this is what he said, “….And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." Acts 10:9-15. We are never to place hindrances between each other, but help the other become a more effective witness for the gospel. Both parties loves the Lord, rest their trust in Him, and desire to please and walk in His ways. You can take six people from church that come over for dinner on Sunday. Three of the six might disagree with a song from the morning worship; so this isn’t going to be the center of the evening’s conversation. Instead you’re going to see that everybody receives a blessing and is happy.

The same principle should be applied to non-essential issues in the church. Jesus was clear on such issues as it pertained to the body of Christ over those who thought they were more righteous than others. (turn to Matt 18:1-6). Love never does something that will seriously damage a fellow Christian’s discipleship.

Live As Citizens Of The Kingdom Of God. 

(v16-v18)

 

The believer tends to think that the Kingdom of God primarily involves what a person…..Does not eat or drink or what he wears or what he does or does not do on the Lord’s day. This is how the Pharisee’s lived by making a big issue about external things, but of no eternal value. The primary eternal element of God’s Kingdom is “righteousness.” Through the gospel we experience God’s righteousness, this produces in us an intense hunger and thirst for holiness and right living. As the sons of Korah sang, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Psalm 42:1-2. The essence of Christianity is not found in external matters, “And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Matt 15:10-11

What is my focus? 

Are we more concerned with one another’s preference than the true product of Christian righteousness, peace and joy? 

When the outside world peeks into the window of our church, what do want them to see?

 

A family fighting over non-essential issues; or a family that is respecting the sensibilities of one another? May we listen to the words of Prov 18:19, “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,” People in the church find it difficult to learn when they are offended. So we should use these opportunities as teachable moments by deferring to the preference of others on non-essential issues. Kent Hughes wrote, “The Kingdom of God is not operative in your life if your rights are so important to you that you are willing to separate from the a brother who does not agree with you. The fact is, the man who feels he must demonstrate his emancipation on every possible occasion is a slave in spite of his apparent freedom, for the need to prove his liberty has become a tyranny.” This is where I really needed to grow in the past many months. Whether it’s my expectations of you, or me, over issues that should have no eternal value. We need to remind ourselves that through Christ, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, so be careful in addressing one another over non-essential issues.

 

Genuinely Pursue That Which Brings Mutual Benefit. (v19-v20)

 

Paul says when we are pursuing these things its building up the body to be stronger and this result in a heathier body. The idea that Paul is conveying is that we are to pursue the benefit of others in the exercise of our Christian liberty. We must always ask ourselves! Is what we are doing is it building others up?  Pursue peace and be edifying, which means walking unified; though we are not yet glorified we pursue peace towards one another. We are to mindful of each other to build each other up and not tear down. “All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:23-31. We must keep our focus on what’s important, how silly are we to squabble about petty differences in non-essential matters.

Nothing should hinder the work of God, especially you or

me in the life a sinner saved by grace.

 

We are to daily pursuing righteousness with a joy and peace that we have in the forgiveness of our sins. A peace, and a joy, that is given to the church through the gospel’s reconciliation. So don’t take this peace for granted in causing or hurting another over non-essential issues.

 

Make Sure All Actions Are Done With A Clear Conscience. (v22-v23)

 

What is Paul saying? What you believe about neutral things is between you and God, so keep it that way. Everybody doesn’t need to hear or conform to your conscience on non-essential issues. Exercise your liberty absolutely, but do not condemn yourself by harming another. It other words! “You are blessed if no one is being dismayed or led towards sin by you.” What do I mean by that? Charles Spurgeon at the height of his fame was walking down the street and saw a sign that said, “We sell the cigar that Charles Spurgeon smokes.” This sign is where Spurgeon gave up the habit. Why? It is said, “He came to see that what was for him a freedom might cause others to stumble.

 

“Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself

by what he approves.” (v22)

That’s what Paul says to the strong, but he also has something for the weak. (v23) Conscience is not an infallible guide, but it’s also wrong to go against one’s own conscience. We ought never to sin against our consciences, no matter who pressures us to do so. Take your weapon of disputable items from this past two years as an example. We must never be a source of a stumbling block, or a hindrance, to one’s conscience of non-essential issues. We must never teardown for the sake of our own conscience, but build each up as with the time we have left.

 

Ask yourself first before you speak……. 

What are you prioritizing?

What values are on display?

Whose interests are uppermost in your mind?

Are you burning bridges with people?

Do you demonstrate that you care for all the members of this congregation?

 

We are to keep Christ front and center.....Churches are not just another social organization or institution, the true church is part of the new creation. The way we work and live together within congregational life should be a gospel witness to the public, as the way of life as a body of Christ. What can we do so that we don’t frustrate or be a stumbling block over secondary issues that we might disagree on in the body of Christ?

 

1 Assess the way you usually respond to conflict or difference of opinions. Don’t yell or belittle the other person, don’t attack, don’t escape; but seek wisdom to respond correctly.

 

2. Confess your own sins before trying to help others along the pilgrim’s way. Recognize you can’t effectively help other people deal with conflict or opinions.

 

3. Rely on God’s generous grace. We count on God through the Spirit to respond in a godly manner through the gospel confession.

 

Make sure you cloth yourself with compassion. This is an inward felt emotion as we respond correctly to others who might disagree. Jesus said in Matthew’s gospel, “…When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matt 9:35-38. We have been sent out into the harvest to be Jesus’ hands, feet, eyes to a broken world system with the gospel. And that gospel witness begins, and is strengthened by, one another inside the body of Christ; so that we can go into the harvest.

 

Prepare yourself for a long journey. Some conflicts and difference of opinion’s can be restored quickly, but some might take weeks, months, even years. Some deep wounds are long journeys to make for peace. Peter encouraged us with this reality, “let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:11

Peace at times won’t be easy but we must pursue it for the sake of the gospel. Peace may sometimes be far in the distance and that in order to find it; you’ll need to stay on the journey. The gift of freedom is sometime burdensome, but it is so much less burdensome when we walk this road together for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God.