Sunday 9/13 sermon

NOTE: There is a longer video version of this message on my Youtube channel at https://youtu.be/7tqCYiavKdE

Ever since I have been following the Lord, I have been clobbered on a regular basis by one of God’s policemen. They come to me with the express intention of straightening me out on something I believe or something I am doing.

For a long time in my experience, I would listen to these self-appointed prison wardens and try to live up to what they were saying. They always had good scripture for their attack, which is what would suck me in.

It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I finally broke free from the bondage these types would bring into my life.

Maybe some of you can identify with that—always being told how to do, what to do, what to believe.

As I’ve told you before, I was one of those types of preachers. I knew every rule of the NT and how to apply them. The fruit of that type ministry was not good. People would give up trying to measure up to a standard that God had never set.

As we learned last week, though, the only law we need to concern ourselves with is the law of love. It is the only rule that matters.

The apostle Paul wants to talk to those who think they have been appointed to clean up the body of Christ to make sure people are behaving properly.

The first 11 chapters of his letter to the Roman church is a step-by-step explanation of his complete theology about salvation. The 12^th through the 15^th chapters of Romans contain the practical application of this theology presented in the first 11 chapters.

Trying to understand theology may be fun for those of us who live in our heads, but without the practical outworking of any theology there is an emptiness of life that cannot be ignored. The reverse is also true, but probably more damaging. Those who focus on the practical outworking without understanding its reasoning tend to be very critical people. They generally have little tolerance for those who don’t measure up to their understanding.

Both the theology and what it means to a life well-lived are important.

Paul seemed to know this would be the upshot of his letter to the Romans, so he tried to stop the criticisms from people who thought they were better than others due to their grasp of theology.

These are the ones he addresses in his opening line of the 14^th chapter.

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. Rom 14:1

This statement assumes a superior position at the outset.

He is addressing those who think others may be weak in the faith.

As I try to engage certain ones who want to argue, they usually say that they are not quarreling, but presenting what is right.

The implication is that whoever disagrees with them is the one who wants to have an argument.

That is an arrogance I walk away from, because Proverbs says this type of person is a fool, and we know we are to not argue with a fool.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Pro 12:15

The phrase in v.1 of Romans 14—quarreling over opinions—is a bit misleading.

I think the New Living Translation has a better rendering of the verse.

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. (NLT)

Right or wrong. Does it matter?

Of course it does for the things that matter, but not for the things that don’t matter.

Okay. Good point.

How can we tell the difference?

Good question.

Paul gives us some guidelines here in this 14^th chapter.

He talks about what is okay to eat. And he talks about what festivals should be celebrated.

Should we stop with a legalistic idea that these are the only two unimportant areas of the Christian life? Or can we take these areas as a general principle for observing what is of lesser importance?

If we take the NLT translation as it stands, we could apply it to almost anything.

In other words, don’t get into a heated discussion about what is right and wrong.

QUESTION—have you arrived at such a full understanding of the things of God that there is nothing left for you to learn?

I hope your answer is that you have not arrived.

Since you do not have full understanding of the things of God, how do you get off telling others that they are wrong in what they believe?

I am not saying there is no place for discussion of differences, because a good discussion is beneficial.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Pro 27:17

Discussion of things from differing viewpoints is an awesome experience—if you can find someone who is capable of holding an opposing thought within the parameters of their own beliefs.

To say, “We’ll just have to agree to disagree,” is a cop-out of gigantic proportions. It is a discussion ender with nothing more that can be said. It is also the recourse of those who think the other is too set in their ways to acknowledge the truth, when in reality, they are the ones who are set.

Anyway, back to pointing out what someone believes is wrong.

Paul says here that we are not to do it—especially if we think we are the stronger one at the time.

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak,
and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:1

If you think that you are a better or stronger Christian than someone else, you are encouraged to bear with the difference. You are not called to correct them unless you have been ordained as one of God’s policemen.

And just so you understand,
there is no such position as God’s policeman.

I know that people like to quote Ezekiel to prove me wrong.

If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning,
nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life,
that wicked person shall die for his iniquity,
but his blood I will require at your hand.
Eze 3:18

However, this verse and the one like it in chapter 33 followed a direct word to Ezekiel—not to anyone else. Ezekiel was commissioned as a watchman over the house of Israel.

Not you and not me.

And that is the issue Paul is dealing with in this 14^th chapter of Romans.

No one is called to correct others about what they allow in their life, especially in the realms of food and festival. As regards food, Paul writes

One person believes he may eat anything,
while the weak person eats only vegetables.
Rom 14:2

Whether you are an omnivore or a vegetarian, is of no importance in the kingdom of God. In spite of this, there is an entire denomination devoted to vegetarianism as the righteous path of God.

Then, concerning special days, he says

One person esteems one day as better than another,
while another esteems all days alike.
Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Rom 14:5

Paul doesn’t mention the Sabbath nor Sunday here. He just makes a generalization that could include any day, special or not. Whether you observe Christmas and Easter, or believe they are pagan holidays is of no importance in the kingdom of God.

We are coming up on the Christmas holidays, and my Facebook page will be inundated with those who say we shouldn’t celebrate Christmas. They say that Christmas is a pagan holiday originally known as the Saturnalia. It is true that the season was originally a pagan holiday known as the Saturnalia, but so what?

The holy city of Jerusalem was originally known as Jebus—home of the Jebusites, a Canaanite tribe. David conquered this area about 1,000 years before Christ and it became a holy place.

There are also those who do not understand that Abraham grew up worshipping idols, and was in that condition when God told him to leave.

A true understanding of how God views things like this is given by Paul.

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.
The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God,
while the one who abstains,
abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Rom 14:6

Paul makes it plain that these things—partaking or abstaining—have absolutely nothing to do with the Kingdom of God.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking
but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rom 14:17

Why does Paul introduce the idea of the kingdom of God here? There has been absolutely no mention of this in any fashion up to this point. Simply put, the kingdom of God is not about rules and regulations trying to control the outward behavior of people.

God’s kingdom is the realm He rules as king of your heart. When the heart is ruled by the love of God, outward behavior becomes a non issue.

For the commandments,
“You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder,
You shall not steal, You shall not covet,”
and any other commandment,
are summed up in this word:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no wrong to a neighbor;
Therefore LOVE is the Fulfilling of the LAW.
Rom. 13:9-10

We have been taught to criticize and to judge others as not being as good a Chrisitan as they could be. Yet, we know that Jesus said that we are not to judge.

Being critical or judgmental makes it difficult to love.

Paul challenges our propensity to judge in v.4

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?
It is before his own master that he stands or falls.
And he will be upheld,
FOR THE LORD IS ABLE TO MAKE HIM STAND.
Rom 14:4

We all serve the same Lord, regardless of denomination, theology, or lack of either.

I encourage you to be law-abiding citizens. However, we are not to criticize those who do not believe and live as we do. None of us have been called to correct the life of another. They may be different, but God accepts that difference.

Therefore, go love somebody who may be different.