How should we live with other Christians when we disagree over secondary issues? Paul exhorts those strong in faith to give up their Christian liberty to eat and drink certain things when it may hinder another believer in his walk with the Lord. Our aim is to accept one another, build up one another, and please one another.
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Love Limits Liberty
Romans 14:13-23
Augustine is famous for declaring, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity.” There’s a lot of wisdom in that statement, especially in the statement “in non-essentials, liberty.” In Romans 14 and 15, Paul is dealing with the non-essentials of the Christian life – the gray areas. They are not black or white. They are not forbidden or commanded in Scripture. This is a very important issue for us all. We know that because Paul takes one and a half chapters to deal with it.
Last week we noticed that Paul is writing to two distinct groups in the church at Rome – the strong and the weak in faith. It’s important for us to understand who these two groups are.
The Strong believer is the one who understands and believes what God has said in His Word about His creation.
Romans 14:14 “I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself”
1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.”
Titus 1:15 “to the pure all things are pure.”
The Strong in faith is the person who knows that he can go ahead and eat meat, pork and shrimp, or meat that has been sacrificed to idols. He has the liberty to drink wine, and he may regard every day alike, rather than treating certain days as more holy than others.
Paul considered himself one of those Strong in faith. We know that because 15:1 says, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”
When it comes to the gray areas of the Christian life, all things are clean, pure and lawful. The one who is Strong understands his liberty in Christ. He understands that he can go ahead and participate in and partake of anything that is not shown to be sin in the Word of God. Now, that doesn’t mean that he will partake of all these things. If he decides that that thing is not profitable and does not edify, he probably won’t participate in it. But, he knows he can participate in it without his conscience condemning him. The Strong brother understands that all things are clean, lawful, and pure. He feels perfectly free to enjoy them if he chooses, even though he may not.
Last week we studied Romans 14:1-12 and we saw five reasons why the all believers must accept one another:
1) Because God has accepted him
2) Because you are not his master
3) Because God will make that other believer stand
4) Because that believer is living for the Lord
5) Because we will all stand before God to be judged
It’s important to realize that Paul is addressing the Strong brother all the way through this entire passage. If you feel you understand your liberty in Christ, then listen up – this passage is especially directed to you! In this passage Paul’s primary point is that the Strong need to be willing to give up their right to exercise their liberty at times for the sake of the weak. In 14:1-12 Paul’s point is that the strong and the weak must have correct attitudes toward one another. In 14:13-23 Paul’s point is that the strong must have the correct actions toward the weak.
Remember, in 14:1-12 the primary command is “Accept one another.”
In 14:13-23 the primary command is “Build up one another.”
In 15:1-7 the primary command is “Please one another.”
In 1 Tim. 4:13 Paul writes, “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” The minister of Jesus Christ does basically three things when He brings forth the Word. He reads it, He explains it, and He applies it. That’s what Paul tells Timothy to do. Read it, teach it (explain), and exhort from it (apply it). That’s the model I’m going to follow this morning.
I’m going to tell you what it says (read it to you). Then I’m going to explain what it means (teach it to you). Then I’m going to apply it to your life (exhort you).
1. What Does It Say?
Let’s begin by just reading through the passage.
“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. 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. 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. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.” For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”
2. What Does It Mean?
I think the best way to explain what this text means, is to simply read through the passage verse by verse, pausing to give some explanation after each verse, until we have studied through the entire passage.
14:13: “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.”
When the strong exercise their Christian liberty in the presence of a weak brother, it can become an obstacle or a stumbling block to him. It can be like a huge rock sliding down a hill and covering a road. It’s an obstacle that we can’t get around. It is blocking our path and our progress. It can also be a stumbling block. The word for “stumbling block” in the Greek, refers to the trigger on a trap or snare. When the person who is strong in faith exercises his Christian liberty in the presence of someone who is weak in faith, it can ensnare him and trip him up into sin. The truth is that we are either stumbling stones or stepping stones. So, what are you? Are you a stepping stone or a stumbling stone in the lives of your brothers and sisters?
14:14: “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.”
In context, Paul is talking about various kinds of foods. The believers who were weak in faith, believed that some foods were unclean. For example, pork and shrimp. In Mark 7:19, it says, “Thus He declared all foods clean.” The distinction in clean and unclean foods in the Old Testament, lasted only during the Old Covenant. When Christ appeared to establish the New Covenant he let us know that there was no longer a clean/unclean distinction. All foods are now clean.
However, to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. To the weak believer, certain foods were unclean, because he thought that they were. And for him to go ahead and eat those foods would be wrong, because he would be sinning against the light of his conscience.
Interestingly, Paul tells us that the weak in faith were wrong. They felt bound in their conscience not to eat certain foods, but Paul says that he knew and was convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.
14:15: “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.”
All of this boils down to love, which is the major emphasis of chapters 12-15. Love will not insist on its rights or liberties. Love will be willing to give up his rights for the sake of a brother for whom Christ died. If we insist on exercising our Christian liberty, even though we suspect it may hurt our brother, we aren’t walking in love. Paul talks about “destroying” our brother. Whatever causes a brother to violate his conscience tends toward the destruction of his soul. It destroys the brother’s peace and comfort, and hurts his relationship with God.
14:16: “Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil…”
Paul must be referring to the meat and wine that the strong believer feels free to eat and drink. To him it is a good thing, because he enjoys it, gives thanks to God for it, and glorifies Him in it. But, if he eats and drinks these things in the presence of one who believes it to be wrong, these blessings will be spoken of as evil. Paul says we should not allow that to happen.
14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Paul’s point is that we shouldn’t become so fixated on and insistent about our rights to eat and drink what we want. After all, the kingdom of God is not all about that. The kingdom of God is not about what foods you can eat. Rather, it is all about righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I take Paul to mean that when a person enters God’s kingdom, he experiences real righteousness, peace and joy in his life. The righteousness mentioned here, is not the imputed righteousness of Christ by which he is justified. It is the practical righteousness of a man renewed by the Holy Spirit who is now careful to live his life pleasing to God, and obeying His will. As the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, we experience more and more of the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. So bottom line… stop worrying about food, and instead focus on living lives of righteousness which results in peace and joy!
14:18: “For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.”
Serves Christ in what way? By living a life of righteousness, and experiencing the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit. If that is the way you are serving Christ, then God will delight in you, and other people will approve of you. This is a beautiful, attractive way to live. People are starving for true peace and joy and righteousness. They don’t see it in their own lives. When they see it in yours, they will desire it for themselves.
14:19: “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
A better translation is, “So then, let us pursue…” This is an exhortation, not a declaration. What is Paul’s main concern? He wants the whole church to be concerned about peace between brothers and sisters. He wants them all to focus on how they can build up each other. They are not to focus on their rights and their freedoms. They are, instead, to be thinking about one another, and how they can build each other up in their faith. If they insist on their rights and exercise their freedom in Christ in front of a brother who believes it is wrong for him to do that thing, instead of building him up, you will be tearing him down. He may be emboldened to do the very thing you are doing. But, because he believes it is wrong, he will be sinning violating his conscience and sinning.
14:20: “Do no tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.”
What is the opposite of building up? It is tearing down! That’s precisely what Paul tells us we must do for the sake of food. What is the “work of God” he is referring to? It is the work of God in the soul of your brother or sister. God has convicted them of sin, led them to Christ, enabled them to repent and trust in Jesus, and has begun to sanctify them. Don’t do anything to oppose, or tear down that beautiful work of God in their life! Don’t do anything to diminish his faith, or put an obstacle in his path, or cause him to stumble in faith. Food is unimportant in the broad scheme of things. What is vitally important is to refrain from doing anything which will tear down the work of God in your brother’s life!
14:21: “It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.”
The important thing here is not being able to eat what you want! The important thing is to help your brother on his way to heaven. If that means that you won’t eat meat or drink wine in his presence, then so be it. His soul is more important than my personal enjoyment.
14:22: “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”
Paul does not tell us that we must change our minds, and adopt the conviction of the one weak in faith. No, he tells us to have our faith as our own conviction before God. Don’t flaunt that conviction before your weaker brother. But you should have that conviction before God, who sees, and knows. You should not condemn yourself in what you approve. If you feel free to eat meat or drink wine, there is no reason to condemn yourself. You know that all foods are clean, and are given by God for us to enjoy. Just enjoy them when they will not harm your brother’s faith.
14:23: “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.”
Personal condemnation arrives when we do something apart from faith. For example, if I don’t have faith that eating meat or drinking wine is allowed by God, but do it anyway, I will feel condemned. God does not condemn me. I condemn myself for doing something that in my heart, I truly feel is wrong. Here is one of the shortest definitions of sin – whatever is not from faith. If a person has doubts as to whether his actions are approved of God, will find himself self-condemned later. He will reflect on his actions, and feel he has done wrong. That’s why our actions must flow from faith, and why whatever is not from faith is sin.
15:1: “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”
The Strong are those who understand that they have liberty in Christ to enjoy and give thanks for all of God’s good gifts. They can eat meat, drink wine, or regard every day alike, with no pangs of conscience. What are they to do? They are to bear the weaknesses of those without strength. The “weaknesses” of those without strength are the scruples and sensitivities of believers who don’t understand their liberty in Christ. The Weak did not believe it was okay to eat meat, drink wine, or regard every day alike. The Strong must bear their weaknesses. Rather than just indulge their liberties in a place or setting where the Weak may be hurt, they refrain from those liberties. Instead of just pleasing themselves, their goal is to please their brother.
15:2: “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”
Paul has told us to accept one another (14:1) and build up one another (14:19). Now we are commanded to please one another. My goal must be to do what is best for my brother. I must not seek to please myself, but my brother. Of course, this teaching strikes at the core of our self-centered hearts. The Christian life is a selfless life. The longer we walk with the Lord, the more we must learn to put others before ourselves.
15:3: “For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
In order to spur us on in pleasing our neighbor, Paul gives us the example of Jesus Christ. He didn’t please Himself. If He had merely pleased Himself, He would have remained in heaven. He would never have come to earth, been persecuted, and suffered in our place. The reproaches mentioned here refer to the insults Jesus received at the hands of sinners. Others called Jesus a gluttonous man and a drunkard, Beelzebub (the ruler of the demons), and a blasphemer. They mocked Him while He hung upon the cross. Jesus didn’t have to take these insults! He could have let all of us plunge into hell. But He wasn’t seeking to please Himself, but us. He was seeking our good. We must follow His example. The Strong must not insist on their rights, and ask what’s in it for me. No, I am third. God first, others second, me third.
15:4: “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Since Paul has just quoted Psalm 69:9, he goes on to tell us the purpose of the Old Testament Scriptures. They were written for our instruction. True, the Old Testament was not written to us, but it was written for us. The Old Testament is not just some old, antiquated, dry words that have no relevance to our lives today. Rather, God gave the Old Testament Scriptures for our instruction today. For what purpose? That we might be granted perseverance and encouragement and hope! This tells me that the Christian life will be difficult. Living to please others is not easy. I will need to persevere in this difficult duty. I will need encouragement and hope, and God has given us the Scriptures for that very purpose. Brothers and sisters, when you feel you need perseverance, encouragement and hope, go to the Book! Oh, the inestimable value of the Bible! Read it, study it, meditate on it, memorize it!
15:5: “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus”
Here we discover that the perseverance and encouragement we need come directly from God! God grants them. How does He do it? Through the Scriptures. And as God grants us perseverance and encouragement, He has a greater goal in mind. It is that we would be of the same mind with one another. God does not want us to despise or judge one another, or live to please ourselves. Rather, He wants us to be of the same mind with one another. He wants brothers to dwell together in unity.
15:6: “so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What will being of the same mind cause us to do? Glorify God with one accord with one voice. A united church glorifies God. God gets no glory from factions, strife, and squabbling in the church. He is glorified when a church dies to self, and lives to love and please others. This is not a unity, where we all have the same convictions about what is wrong or right. In this very church some believed it was okay to eat meat and drink wine, and others who didn’t. So, how can a church which is made up of people with very different convictions be of the same mind, be in accord and lift up one voice? Only by dying to self, and seeking to please one another.
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So, what is the conclusion of all this teaching? We must accept one another, just as Christ has accepted us to the glory of God. How did Christ accept us? With warts and all. We were sinful, wretched, enslaved to lusts and pleasures, hateful, hating one another, having nothing within us to attract God’s favor. Yet, Christ forgave all, and warmly accepted us into fellowship with Himself. Now, we must accept one another in the same way.
So, who are you to accept? All whom Christ has accepted. There’s an old saying, “You get to choose your friends, but you don’t get to choose your family.” Folks, the church is your family. You don’t get to choose them. When you come into God’s kingdom, you are part of an instant family. We don’t get to choose whether we will accept one another or not. It’s a done deal. That means you have to accept people who are very different from you. They may be from a different nationality, have a different skin color, speak a different language, and have different convictions. But that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you die to self and live to please others so that the church is in one accord and lifts up one voice to glorify God.
3. How Should It Be Applied?
Be willing to give up your liberty for the sake of the weak in faith!
When should we be willing to give up our liberty for the weak? We must be careful here to make a careful distinction between someone stumbling with the result that their faith is harmed, and someone who disagrees with you and just wants you to stop exercising your Christian liberty. A lot of the time, conflicts arise, not over issues that will harm someone else’s faith, but over things that just “bug” us. If we boiled it down, it would amount to, “I don’t like what you are doing. I think it’s wrong, and you need to just stop!” They may have no Scripture for their position, and you doing that thing is not going to harm their faith or relationship to Christ. But it bugs them. They think you are wrong, and want to impose their convictions on you.
Let’s take an example. You tell a Christian friend how much you enjoy Christian Rock or Rap music. They tell you that Rock and Rap music are of the devil and no good Christian should ever listen to it. Now, you have a decision to make. You need to decide whether God wants you to give up your liberty and stop listening to Christian Rock or Rap music or not. You will need to ask yourself whether your example in listening to Christian Rock or Rap will bring spiritual harm to your brother. In other words, is he in danger of following your example, and then being self-condemned for his actions. Well, in this case, there is no danger of him following your example, because he hates Christian Rock and Rap, and would never willingly listen to it. You are not in danger of causing him to stumble by your actions. It just bugs him that you listen to it. My conclusion in this case, is that you are not in danger of causing your brother to stumble. But, because this kind of music bothers him, you should probably just listen to this kind of music when he is not around to be offended by it.
Or again, let’s imagine that you enjoy smoking a cigar occasionally. You invite another brother over to hang out together, and invite him to enjoy a cigar with you. The problem is that the other brother believes it is wrong to smoke the cigar, but because he doesn’t want to appear “legalistic”, he goes ahead and smokes the cigar. However, afterwards his conscience smites him and he feels condemned. In reality, he has sinned, because whatever is not from faith is sin. You have stumbled your brother. Your actions have led him into sin.
Verse 22 is our guiding principle in these things: “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God.” In other words, enjoy your liberty, but enjoy it in private. If there is any chance you might harm the faith of another brother, don’t do it. Remember, you want to build him up, not tear him down.
Bottom line – be far more concerned about building up your brother, and pleasing your brother than on insisting on exercising your Christian liberty. You can always exercise your liberty in private. When you are with your brother, do what will help him in his walk with God. Amen.
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