Living Faithful and Free for the Lord
Romans 14:1-23
We should not Judge others based on our Convictions (Romans 14:1-13a)
We should not Stumble others based on our Freedom (Romans 14:13b-23)
Intro
Have you ever felt like another person has judged you for something you had no convictions about doing?
Or perhaps, you have seen others do something that you just could not believe they would do?
Now in this day and age, I am sure we have all had situations like that because there are people who do things that are just plain wrong.
But I am sure there are times that we have either looked at someone judgmentally or been looked at judgmentally for something that someone else thought was wrong, but is not necessarily wrong in itself.
In the Christian community, perhaps someone has had a drink of alcohol and someone else has judged them as doing something that is wrong.
Maybe others have gone to see a movie when you think going to the movies does not honor the Lord.
As we have seen at the beginning of our study of Romans, we all have a conscience, and while some things seem to be seared in our conscience as universally wrong, other things seem to affect people’s consciences differently.
Illustration
The story is told about a Catholic priest who was walking down an alley behind his church when a thief jumped out from behind some garbage cans and pressed the muzzle of his gun into the priest’s ribs.
The thief said, “Give me your wallet!”
Without hesitation, the priest went and reached for his wallet in the front pocket of his coat. It was then the thief got a glimpse of his collar.
“Are you a priest,” the thief asked?
“Yes I am,” said the priest.
“Well, put your wallet back,” the thief said. “I don’t rob priests. I am Catholic too.”
At that point, the relieved Catholic priest pulled out 2 cigars and offered one to the thief. The repentant thief responded, “Oh no, I could not do that. Smoking is wrong and I can’t believe you would do such an evil thing!”
Now here is a man who had some convictions about smoking, but it seems little else.
I want to ask you to turn with me to Romans 14.
Slide
This morning we are going to talk about convictions we may have concerning certain things and how these convictions can affect our relationship with others and what we should do about them, especially when we may not be in agreement regarding these convictions.
We are going to start out reading the first 13 verses of Romans 14.
Romans 14:1-13a
14 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:
"’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
’every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.’"
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Pray
Ok, Paul starts out this passage saying
We should not Judge others based on our Convictions
Slide
Romans 14:1-13
And he calls these things “disputable matters.”
There are things that are not necessarily wrong in and of themselves, but for us, we have a conviction that it would be wrong.
Now, we need to understand that just because we feel something is wrong for us, does not necessarily make it wrong for everyone.
We need to realize that our convictions don’t determine right and wrong. God’s word does.
Slide
For instance, the thief who was robbing the priest had no conviction over stealing from people, only in stealing from a priest. Just because he had no conviction over stealing in general does not make stealing right.
However, regarding things that God’s word has not spoken about, we need to recognize that there is a freedom in Christ that we have been given, and that we should not judge someone else on the exercise of that freedom.
Examples
Paul gives the example of someone who will eat meat versus someone who will not eat meat, but only vegetables or someone who thinks one day is more holy than another day.
Now it is important to note, that it doesn’t appear that either person believes this is a salvation issue, and both believe what they are doing is pleasing to God, maybe even more so than what the other person is doing.
But Paul says these are not issues of doctrine that need to divide the church or individuals, but that these are disputable matters that each of us should spend time thinking through for ourselves so we can please the Lord fully. He tells us to be fully convinced in our own minds.
Weak faith or strong
Now I find it interesting here how Paul identifies the individuals he is talking about.
He identifies them by the faith they possess, either a weak faith or a stronger faith.
And notice that the stronger faith is the one who is able to exercise more Christian Freedom regarding a disputable matter than the one with weaker faith.
Many times people think that the stronger a person’s faith, the more they deny themselves.
Maybe you have heard the saying, “I don’t drink, smoke or chew….or date girls who do!”
People often measure their faith by what they don’t do, not by what they feel free to do. But here Paul says that the one who is able to understand his freedom in Christ and exercise it to the glory of God has a stronger faith.
Weak faith is not a bad faith
Now understand that in this text this morning, it doesn’t say the one with the weaker faith displeases God, but it tells us instead that God has accepted His servant. (v. 14:3)
Now, we do know that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), but no matter the amount of faith we have, we please him when we act in that faith.
Paul says, “He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Romans 14:6)
As long as we have our focus on the Lord and act in ways that are in accord with the faith we have, we will please the Lord, no matter if our faith is weak or strong.
Now, that being said, I do believe that as we grow in faith, that it is beneficial to us in being able to experience the freedom we have in Christ to His glory.
God has created all things for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17) and we glorify Him when we enjoy them within the boundaries He has given us.
Transition
Ok, so in today’s world, what would be some examples of things that people have convictions about that are not specifically spoken of as sin in Scripture?
Watching TV
There are some people who have been convicted to get rid of their televisions all together. They feel that TV is a waste of time and that their time can be better spent without the TV. That is not wrong. There may be some truth to that as well.
But we should be cautious in thinking that our conviction on a matter makes us more spiritual or faithful than someone who does not share that same conviction.
We should not judge someone else in regards to our own conviction.
Other examples might include
Going to movies
Our method for educating our kids
Dancing
Playing cards
The list will never be exhaustive because different cultures will face different things that people will have convictions over.
Now for some of these things, many will see them as disputable matters.
For others, people see them sometimes as undisputable.
Alcohol
One matter that seems to evoke some of the most heated debate within Christianity is that of drinking alcohol.
There are people who think that if you are a Christian, you should not drink alcohol at all.
They look across society and can see the destruction that alcohol has caused in many families. They are fully convinced that if no one drank, the world would be a better place.
While I understand their thinking and desire for the world to be a better place, we have got to be cautious in thinking that eliminating the things we abuse will make the world a better place.
Martin Luther once said regarding this subject
“Do you suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused? Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women?”
As quoted by Mark Driscoll – “FAQ – What’s your stance on Alcohol?” – accessed 9/15/2011 at http://pastormark.tv/2011/09/14/faq-whats-your-stance-on-alcohol
We have got to speak and stand where the Bible speaks, and allow liberty and freedom where the Bible is silent.
Now before everyone goes out to the bar and ties one on after this message and thinks that it is ok to do whatever you want and that nobody has a right to judge me for anything I do, you need to keep in mind a couple of cautions.
First, we need to recognize that
If we Judge something is wrong, then for us, it is wrong
Slide
At the end of this chapter, Paul says in Romans 14:23 that “the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
Even though we may have freedom, to do something and something is not a sin, in and of itself, but we are convinced and convicted that it is wrong, then it is wrong for us.
If we think drinking alcohol is wrong, then we should not do it. It would be a sin for us to drink because we would not be acting in faith.
As Paul has said, ‘be fully convinced in your own mind.’
Second,
If we think we should never be judged by others, then we are wrong
Slide
If we seek to use some area where the Bible is silent or permits freedom to abuse that freedom to the point of sin, and you are part of the church, expect to be confronted on it.
Paul, who wrote this letter to the Romans saying not to judge in disputable matters, also wrote 1 Corinthians where he says this.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13a
9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside.
Paul is saying don’t worry about judging someone who is not a Christian who is sinning. They have no ability to stop sinning because they do not have the Holy Spirit. God will judge them.
However, those inside the church, those who call themselves a Christian, who are sinning, not just doing something we may have a conviction about, but sinning, doing what the Bible says is wrong; those are people we should judge and confront to help them overcome their sin to the glory of God.
So regarding this issue of drinking.
If you think drinking is wrong, you should not drink. It would be a sin for you.
But also, if you often indulge in this freedom to the point of drunkenness, you are sinning and you should stop exercising this freedom.
Jesus said, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.” (Mark 9:43)
For us as individuals, we need to cut out of our lives those things that are likely to lead to sin for us. And we as the church need to be a help to those who are sinning by lovingly confronting their sin.
Transition
Now just because we are free to do something does not mean that we should or that it cannot be wrong to exercise our freedom.
There are times that it may be wrong to exercise a freedom we may have.
For instance,
We should not Stumble others based on our Freedom
Slide
Read with me the rest of Romans 14, beginning at the second part of verse 13.
Romans 14:13b-23
13…Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
We have to be careful not to use our freedom to hurt someone whose faith is not as strong as our own.
This means making judgment calls as we make those decisions regarding whether it would be right to exercise our freedom.
What factors can help us to determine if we should exercise a freedom or not?
Factors in making decisions on exercising my freedoms
Slide
Is it loving toward the weaker Christian
Paul says if, in using your freedom, you would cause a fellow Christian to be tempted to go against their own convictions, then we are not acting in love in exercising our freedom and we should, in faith, refrain from that, at least while they are with us.
Those of stronger faith should make other people a priority over indulging in something we are free to do.
Now, does this mean that I have to follow everyone else’s convictions regarding an issue so they don’t get upset?
No.
We need to act in love toward the Christian who is weaker in faith.
The one who is “weaker” is not someone who just disagrees with what my convictions allow me to do and is upset by it. But the one who is “weaker” is the one who might see what I do and, forgoing their own convictions, they might follow.
That person is sinning because they are not acting in faith, but in violation of their consciences.
Someone who just wants me to conform to their convictions, but is not going to be led to violate their own conviction is not the weaker brother.
And this also does not mean that we can never exercise a freedom if there are some who are weaker in faith on that particular issue. We should only not exercise that freedom when it may cause them to stumble.
We should not drink alcohol around those who may be tempted to drink by our actions.
The second factor we want to consider is,
Jesus conducted himself in ways that the Pharisees did not like and were upset by, but
Is it glorifying to the Lord
Slide
Paul tells us in
Romans 14:17-18
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
In everything we do, we want glorify the Lord and please Him.
Paul also writes in
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Paul was always concerned about the glory of God and about people coming to salvation.
There were some of the Jewish Christians did not like that Peter and Paul ate with Gentiles when some of the Jewish brothers came, Peter separated himself from the Gentiles.
Paul confronted Peter (Galatians 2:11-14) and judged his actions as wrong because it was not glorifying to the Lord and people were being led astray. Peter was not a weaker brother and the Lord was not being glorified, so Paul confronted the situation and continued exercising his freedom to eat with the gentiles to the glory of the Lord.
Conclusion
God has given us liberties and freedoms to enjoy, but not to abuse.
There are many things that the Bible does not specifically condemn that can be viewed as Christian liberties. That does not mean we should exercise that freedom whenever we want, but that we should examine things closely and make decisions on whether it is ok for us based upon how it expresses love for a weaker brother and how it glorifies the Lord.
Don’t just do things with no regard for others.
But be discerning in living your life.
So, have you been judging others based on your convictions?
Are you stumbling others based on your freedoms?
Let’s ask the Lord to reveal areas where we need to repent and seek to love others and glorify the Lord in our exercise of freedom.
Let’s pray.
