How should
Christians engage with one another when they disagree over those 'grey matters'
of Christian living and lifestyle where there is no specific Biblical command
giving clear direction? That's the
underlying problem Paul is addressing here in Romans 14:1-15:13.
When Jewish
Christians and Gentile Christians came together under the one roof (never mind
under the one Saviour), the potential for heated disagreement was always very
real. Before conversion to Christ, the
faithful Jew was bound by numerous rules and regulations (some from the Bible,
others from pious traditions) which clearly mapped out how he or she was to
live. These included issues like
Sabbath observance, circumcision, and not eating meat which had been previously
offered to pagan idols. So intense was
the expectation to keep these rules that even after becoming a Christian they
hung over the Jewish convert like a dark, foreboding cloud. After years of
faithful observance and practice, in their conscience, they still felt bound to
keep them, even though it was understood (in principle) that Christ had fully
kept the law for His people. The Gentile
believers, on the other hand, had no such qualms about breaking free from
Jewish rituals since they had never been constricted by them before. They had no problem eating meat from the
local pagan butcher; neither were they concerned about Sabbath-observance since
they understood that particular Commandment had been limited to Old Testament
ways. With the arrival of the Messiah,
Jesus, all that changed. Other
Commandments such as prohibiting murder, adultery, theft, worshipping One God
with no images, etc, etc, remained in place and, yes, were to be obeyed. But
the Sabbath (a picture of Gospel-rest), they argued, was not binding on
Believers since the real 'salvation-rest' had come with the death of Jesus; and
so observance should not be enforced.
The problem was that
the fellowship was being increasingly polarised along Jewish-Gentile
lines. The church was in danger of
fracturing, a tragedy in itself; but all the more so, since it undermined and
would hinder God's declared intention of having His people take Christ's Gospel
to the Gentile nations for their salvation (15:7-13). So, how does Paul tackle
this one?
His response and
counsel is one that may be applied in countless contemporary areas where
today's Christians disagree - sometimes very strongly - as to how to live as
believers. In essence he writes and says "let this be your guiding
principle: in whatever you do (or don't
do), do it out of love for God (14:5-9) and out of love for your Christian
brother or sister" (14:13-23). While he clearly sides with those who
consider that "no food is unclean in itself" and may therefore be
eaten (v14), the Gospel changes - or should - our perspective: rather than debating minor concerns,
Christians should put the eternal priorities of God's kingdom first (v17). This means, that even when our behaviour is
permissible, we must not allow our liberty to cause a Christian brother (who
considers it 'sinful') to be discouraged or hurt. We forsake our Gospel-gained rights to build
each other up in love (v19-23), not tear down.
In this, we are following the example of Jesus in not living to please
ourselves (15:1-6). As we learn to lovingly accept one another and each other's
differences in understanding and
practice, God's priorities are fulfilled and He is praised (v7-13).
Paul brings his
letter to a close with the conventional greetings, warnings and prayers
(15:14-16:27), interwoven with themes which have motivated him sending the
letter in the first place: that the
Roman Christians recognise his God-given call to take the Gospel to regions as
yet unreached with the Christian message, and so, be supportive - financially
and prayerfully - of this venture (15:14-33); that the Roman Christians stay
alert to the prevailing danger of false teachers (16:17-20); and a final
reminder that echoes the beginning of the letter - that the Roman Christians
remember that the Gospel is all about Jesus who can keep us secure in Him
despite the suffering (v25), that the Gospel is for everyone so be active in
passing it on (v25-26) - and that all, everything we do, is for the praise and
glory of God alone (v27).
Is there anyone you should be passing it on to?
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