FOCUS ON WHO, NOT WHAT

 

Romans 14:1-23

On the last night Jesus spent with His disciples in the upper room, He washed the disciples feet, exposed the Betrayer amoung them, instituted the Lord’s Table and when this was all done, Jesus bowed His head and prayed, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do”…..He goes on to say, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:1-22

 

There is no doubt in what Jesus is saying here as it pertains to the unity of the church in a darkened world system. There is no doubt about the importance which God’s Word places on the unity of His people. David penned these words, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” Psalm 133:1-3

Christian unity is of the utmost importance as Paul clearly explains, “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 1 Cor 12:14-21

When Paul wrote the letter to the church in Roman it had already been established for about 20 years. So that gave this church ample time to see its fair share of disunity. We have churches today that are in the beginnings stages and are faced with disunity. It doesn’t take long. Why? It doesn’t take long to get the focus off of “who” and on to “what”. Now the church in Rome was nothing like the Corinthian church, but obviously there was some issues presenting itself, for Paul to address. Unity is a vital strength in the church because it’s how the world knows that Jesus is our Lord. Unity amoung Christians provide the stable, ongoing base needed for extended gospel witness efforts to be useful. And in this Unity we see some very important things to remember. 

Unity Encompasses Liberty. (v1-v12)

 

Paul explains here that unity is more important than agreement on nonessential matters in the Christian life. Here in the context of this chapter Paul is detecting a lack of unity between the Jewish and Gentile believers. It seems the weaker Christians were trying to enforce particular customs and practices, such as… Ceremonial laws and practices, which they have been drenched since early childhood. This would include strict dietary law, to strict observance of the Sabbath, this would include “eating only vegetables” due to the concern of uncleanness or because it associates to pagan idolatry. (Lev 11:1-47; Deut 14:1-21). While is probably fair to say a majority of the weaker believers here were Jewish Christians, who were trying to adapt to this new found freedom in the gospel. It probably caused some heated conversations and disputes. This was evident when Paul confronted Peter about how we are treat each other in the church. “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?" We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” Gal 2:11-16

 

Paul identifies the fundamental problem inside the body of Christ and that is what he says that affects our freedom (v1). “But do not Quarrel” Paul urges the Christians to stop arguing about disputed matters that have no eternal value. This is key for liberty to be practical in the church; unfortunately there are those in the church who like fight over everything. While it’s important to have passion for truth we need to be careful to recognize that not everything is equally as important. The plain meaning of this statement is, “Do not admit him to your society for the purpose of debating the matter in an angry and harsh manner; of repelling him by condemnation.” John MacArthur wrote, “A major theme of the New Testament is that of sin’s power to destroy the spiritual and moral health of the church as well as of the individuals who commit the sins.” This is what disrupts the church and has the ability to cause a lot of damage. Fighting over opinions, because every one of us has an opinion. Whether it’s: A song, movie, automobile, sports team, weather and so on.

Its fine to have an opinion, but it’s another thing to frustrate

another person to conform to your image on that opinion.

 

Paul is not talking about the foundations of the church…. We all must agree on in the Triune God (3 persons, 1 God), faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone and to God be the glory alone.They are the foundation of our faith; as the Scriptures are sufficient, and authoritative, over our lives and the church. What causes quarrelling has been more evident in the past two years, but it goes way back before lockdowns. Fighting over music, monuments in the church, and name plates on everything, preachers who speak to long, even the temperature of the sanctuary and the list is endless. But more recent! Covid, masks, trucker’s convoy, preachers who were put in jail, politics, music, movies, End Times and or church attendance. Those last few are to make it a little lighter to the others that are on this list.

 

How many conversations or fights have you

had over the things just mentioned?

 

Did it solve anything? Did it produce

anything for the kingdom of God?

 

Did it help the person you disagreed with by pointing out what they should and shouldn’t believe on secondary issues that have no eternal value? Has these past two years given you an opportunity to demonstrate the past two chapters as a living sacrifice for the glory of God and the gospel? Is the community feeling drawn to the gospel more because you have demonstrated you can agree to disagree to still work together for the sake of lost souls? Because Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

What is the cause of quarrels?

 

James answers that question very clearly. “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:1-3. The root of quarrelsomeness is “covetousness.” Covetousness is discontentment with Christ, a desire to be satisfied in something outside of Him. And the same principle applies to how we interact with one another inside the church. We quarrel to try to change someone’s mind, or behavior, because we want something our way. Our covetous wants are often rooted in selfishness and pride. We may want to win an argument, look better than another person, or showcase our intellectual superiority. So, we quarrel. We may want to crush another person, so that they won’t dare challenge us again. That is very dangerous on our part. Samuel Sey, a brother in the Lord said recently about how to have a balance when we disagree with others, You can be candid and kind at the same time. You don't have to pick between the two. Kindness and candidness are not mutually exclusive. You can be candid without being harsh. You can be kind without being a coward. Jesus is candid and kind. I want to be like him.” The strong are to welcome the weak, and the church is do not break fellowship over debatable nonessential issues. Legalism or conscience bondage…. does nothing to produce the freedom we have in Christ in the gospel.

We tend to forget! That we have a true freedom and it’s not dependent on the government or our institutions or even your personal convictions on nonessentials. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Gal 5:1. Jesus, Himself said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32. Unfortunately we forget, and we want to put each other into bondage so that they conform to you and your conscience. Paul is says, “Do not criticize one another” (v3) The stronger should not criticize the person whose conscience is easily offended. This has been evident in the past two year’s especially. Mocking each other and in the end it only hurts and produce animosity. We are not to avoid one another when we differ on matters of “adiaphora” this is a Greek word that means “morally neutral issues.” This is not referring to heinous sin, but issues of indifference. A better definition of “Adiaphora” is the teachings and practices that are neither commanded nor forbidden in scripture. An example might be whether or not to use a sound-board in a church, to meet in a tent or a building, or to have two or more services or simply one on the day of worship. These are not kingdom issues; remember what Peter said, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

As God has received us by grace, we must do likewise towards one another. Love covers a multitude of sin, and that same love covers a multitude of misunderstandings, secondary issues and weak theology understanding. R.C Sproul said, “One who is weak ought not to despise one who manifests liberty, and one who manifests liberty ought not to despise one with a scrupulous conscience.” My passions, or opinions, should never get in the way of my responsibility towards those who disagree with me on issues of indifference. It’s not about conformity to Mike, or I am gone. The body of Christ doesn’t give ultimatums on issues of indifference.

 

We learn to disagree with grace

and humility.

 

Work together for something that is way more important than my personal convictions on secondary issues. That is the GOSPEL! We are to be unified with our biblical worldview; we are to be faithful to the gospel and to one another. (weak or strong). Again as a reminder what did Paul already say? “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” 12:10. The Scriptures reveal that we are to be subject to authorities (within reason); we are to be subject to one another. (within reason) And in this liberty we are called to love our neighbor even if you completely disagree with that person on issues that have no eternal value.

 

Here is the danger! The easy solution to what Paul is speaking about here would be to form two churches.

 

“The Church of the Carnivores”

and “The First Church of The Vegetarians.”

That is the easy route and this is why we have so many churches in the same area. Paul in the chapter teaches us how to deal with difficult conscience situations in the first twelve verses. Churches have been ripped apart by some of the smallest disagreements; the ripple effect of this leaves people fractured by the hurt words and feelings. And sadly the person who becomes more disapproving of their brothers and sisters over non-kingdom issues would have no problem with poem I came across.

 

Believe as I believe,

no more, no less;

That I am right,

(and no one else) confess.

Feel as I feel,

think only as I think;

Eat what I eat,

and drink but what I drink.

Look as I look,

do always as I do;

And then—and only then—

I’ll fellowship with you.

 

As Christians this should not be our attitude. The liberty we have in Christ has given us a freedom from the bondage of men over issues that have no eternal value. What liberates and unites us together?  (v7-v9) This is what keeps the body together despite personal convictions, and this is the finishing work of Christ. This is what we are to stand united together for in a world that will continue to degrade until Christ gloriously returns to perfect that salvation that is so near to you and me. This is what unity in the church is to look like! (v2-v3) Genuinely accepting one another without passion judgement on disputable matters. The one who is weak is not weak in the basic Christian faith. In the context here they are weak in understand their faith gives them freedom to eat meat. The strong are to accept them without the ulterior motives of straightening them out.

It not your job to straighten people out

on secondary issues.

The acceptance for unity is to be mutual on the part of both the strong and the weak. Love must be patient and tolerant of other people’s views on non-essential issues. Otherwise it will trample on what God is doing and working out in each and everyone us here. We are never to be the cause of another who is weaker to the liberty that we have in the Lordship of Christ.

 

If we don’t heed this warning the

danger could be devastating.

 

Here is an example found in a play! “A previous argument caused a separation between a father and his. In the middle of the night a son had trouble sleeping, so he went down to kitchen to fix himself a sandwich, and there was his father, who couldn’t sleep either. After they fixed their sandwiches they began to reminisce about the past….the years of Little League, their great hunting expeditions, swimming together and about their fishing trips together. As some needed healing was taking place, the son said, “Dad, do you remember the time we were out on the lake in that green boat?” His father said, “The boat was blue, son.” The son said, “No, it was green.” The father said, “You are mistaken it was blue.” “Green.” “Blue.” “Green.” “Blue.” And his son departed, never to return.

Some things just don’t matter

 

May we heed this warning and preach this to ourselves. May we allow God to give us love, grace, wisdom, to see what essential and what is not. The greatest thing we can do for the sake of the body is to focus on who, not what.