“A SURVEY OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS” ROMANS 14:1-23 THE BELIEVERS IN RELATION TO DEBATABLE ISSUES

As one well knows, there are times when conflict will arise in our churches.  In a real sense, this is possible because our churches are composed of fallible human beings.  However, most of our church conflicts do not arise from grave or serious doctrinal issues; but, our conflicts revolve around issues relating to power struggles, personality clashes, or even disagreements over a variety of opinions.  When our opinion differs about debatable areas of conduct from someone else, let us try better to understand the interest of someone else, rather than our interest (Philippians 2:3-4).

The issue in verse 1 of this chapter relates to some Christians who are weak and overly concerned about “doubtful disputation,” that is disputes about debatable matters.  In the early church there was much controversy revolving around meats that had been offered to idols.  There were those who would not eat this meat because the meat had been previously offered to a false god; thus, those who opposed could not dissociate the purchasing of the meat from the practice of it being offered to a false god.  Others, however, recognized that false gods did not exist and that there was nothing wrong with purchasing the meat.  The brother who was overly concerned with not eating meat was considered spiritually weak (v. 2).  However, in such a matter, a believer who may be spiritually mature must be careful not to unnecessarily offend the weaker brother (I Corinthians 8:13).

It would be highly advisable on debatable issues to accept one another instead of judging one another (v. 3-4).  We should not allow an opinion or a preference to disrupt fellowship between fellow believers.   When debatable issues erupt in our churches, a wonderful principle that we can employ is this: “where scriptures speak, we speak; where scriptures are silent, we are silent.”

If a brother ate meat offered to idols, Paul’s approach was to accept him, “for God hath received him”(v. 3).  Remember, Paul knew that false gods did not exist; therefore, there would be no harm in eating the meat.  But on a real note, if God accepts someone, we have no choice but to accept him as well.  We have no prerogative to judge “another man’s servant” (v. 4).  Since we are all servants of the Lord, we stand or fall before Him.

In verses 5-8, another debatable matter revolved around the significance of special days – when one man considers one day more sacred than another day; or another man thinks every day alike.  Which position a man holds was immaterial to Paul; however, Paul was concerned that “every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (v. 5).  In other words, the man must examine his heart to discern if he is doing what God would have him to do.  In issues relating to the keeping of special days or eating or abstaining from meat, or in other matters not plainly prohibited in scriptures, we should make sure that our opinion reflects that of the Lord’s (v. 6).  We are accountable to the Lord in every aspect of our existence, for we totally belong to Him (v. 7-8).

As believers, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  We must remember that Christ is the “Lord both of the dead and living” (v. 9),  By virtue of His death, He is Lord of the dead; by virtue of His resurrection, He is Lord of the living.

In verses 10-14, Paul uttered that we should be careful that we would not judge another brother in debatable matters not prohibited in scriptures, because the Lord will one day judge each of us “for we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.”  Since we will all stand or fall before the Lord Jesus, what is the point in judging one another? (v. 10)   To set ourselves up as judges is to usurp a divine prerogative.  Not only should believers not judge because we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, but we should not judge because all of mankind will one day bow in submission to God, for verse 11 says: “every knee shall bow to me (the Lord) and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Since “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (v. 12), we should not be overly concerned about such matters that do not relate to salvation.  In debatable matters, a Christian should judge himself and his actions so that he does not place a stumbling block in his brother’s way (v. 13).

Although Paul held to a firm conviction regarding the fact that no food is unclean, he recognized that this was not the conviction of all Christians (v. 14).  However, when our conviction over whether some food is good or not, we should forgo our Christian liberty in love so as to avoid being a spiritual hindrance to our brother (v. 15).  If we continue to continue to exercise our Christian liberty in an unlovely way, we may cause harm to our brother for whom Christ died.  Also, the Christian that persists in exercising his Christian liberty may be the cause of his liberty being evil spoken against (v. 16).  However, the Kingdom of God is not about the importance of food, but Paul said in verse 17 that: “For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Thus, the Christian who serves God by pursuing righteousness, peace and joy will be pleasing Him (v. 18).

In verses 19-21, Paul was concerned that harmony would prosper among believers rather than one’s Christian liberty being the focal issue.  Finally, the actions of believers on debatable matters should stem from one’s faith or trust in God, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (v. 23).

May God Bless!