Romans 14 -- Disagreements Between Christians Regarding BELIEFS

Disagreements between Christians over nonessential matters (these are not regarding major doctrinal issues spelled out in Scripture) were a potential source for problems in the Roman church back then and remain a source of problems for churches today.  Paul offered guidance for both the spiritually strong Christians and the new, spiritually weaker Christians.  Surprisingly to some, the bulk of the “giving” needed to occur with the stronger Christians.  Here’s why:  A Stronger Christian is one who has come to accept the freedom Christ gives from the law, while a weaker Christian, having yet to fully understand that, still sets up boundaries around his life to keep him from potential temptations and also feels obliged to adhere to ritual.  There’s nothing wrong with those boundaries.  Unfortunately, though, these spiritually weaker Christians are viewing all other Christians through their own filters.  To them, all are most likely struggling as they are and are in need of similar boundaries.  They would also still be believing that true spirituality requires ritual.

 

Paul’s advise was for spiritually stronger Christians to “roll with the punches”, going along with much of what the weaker Christians saw a guardrails against potential temptations, such as abstaining from eating meat, because it wouldn’t hurt them to do it, and it might help the weaker Christian not to sin.  My commentary likened this to new parents who have to adjust home life to a toddler, putting away scissors and other dangerous items with they’d have no problems with themselves, but which could endanger the young child.  Yet at some point, the “child” needs to grow up and learn responsibility, and it’s the same with weaker Christians.  In their weaker faith, they often tend to judge other Christians based on their own filters, not on the Word of God.

 

Paul used a very good illustration to help both sides.  He said no one may tell a master how to handle his servant.  In other words, it is wrong for a weak Christian to take the place of God in the life of a strong Christian.  God is the Master; the Christian is the servant.

 

One of most-often-referred-to Bible verses ends this chapter:  “Anything that is done without believing it is right is a sin.”  It’s an awesome test for young people, particularly, and helps them make correct judgment calls about things they are considering.  If you think that it’s wrong, then it is.  In the gray areas not specifically covered by Scripture, this is our personal litmus test for any action or thought or word spoken.  We cannot extend it to others, however.  Only ourselves.

 

Father, help me to desire unity with my Christian brothers more than proving myself right, for that amounts to the sin of pride.  However, help me when Your Word is clear on a matter to lovingly confront my Christian brothers and sisters.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford