Grow With Pastor Joe

The brand of mayonnaise that you prefer says a lot about you. If you, like myself, prefer Duke’s mayo then you are godly, humble, and intelligent. If you prefer Hellman’s then you are trying, but you just aren’t quite there yet. If you prefer or even use on occasion the atrocity called Miracle Whip, then you aren’t right with the Lord. Then, if you detest mayo in any size, shape, form, or way then you have some serious issues. People fight over food all the time. I do prefer Duke’s, and I can’t comprehend someone enjoying a “dry” sandwich without any condiment or toppings whatsoever. However, I don’t really believe that if you don’t like Duke’s the way that I do and prefer that you are some sort of apostate reprobate headed for Hell. Food will not send you to Hell. Faithlessness will. Sadly, in today’s Christian world people fight over food if you will. People fight over things that will not determine one’s eternal destination. Churches split over these issues because of pettiness or pride. While the Lord allows us to have preferences and convictions based upon our personalities, backgrounds, and Biblical illumination He does not allow for us to make our preferences the preeminent focus of our life. The life of the believer is not self-focused but focused upon the good of others and the glory of Christ. Christ must be preeminent over your preferences. Many Christians would rather those around them bow to their preferences than they would the scriptures because they themselves don’t want to bow their preferences down before the Lord. Christ has set us free through the gospel and grace not just from our sin, but from having to have our own way. The Christian doesn’t have to have their own way. Biblical believers forgo their personal “rights” and “freedoms” for the good and growth of others for the glory of Christ. Your freedom in Christ is not to forfeit fellowship with those that have disagreements on what we call “doubtful” things or what we may refer to as “gray areas” of the practical Christian life. Your freedom in Christ is to forge the fellowship that we have with one another in Christ as we learn to love Christ and one another (See Eph. 4:1-6).

            Before we go further as we prepare to deal with Romans 14 which predominately deals with the believer’s Christian liberty in relation to one another within the church, we need to understand that not everything is non-essential. There are some essential doctrines that must be held not just for eternity’s sake, but for our current fellowship’s sake. We can agree to disagree on some practical theology and still be friends, go to the same Heaven, and have the same assurance of salvation. However, when it comes to the doctrines of the trinity, scripture, Christ, salvation, among others, there is no room. Doctrine must be discerned and there are some hills worth dying over as well as many not worth dying for. Christians have died over the fundamentals of the faith (as seen above) or the “solas” of the faith (scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, to the glory of God alone) since the first century. However, we shouldn’t be willing to die for length of hair, if women can wear pants, or if Christians can go to the movie theatre or bowling alley. We must remember that we must agree on some things in order to enjoy our union and communion with Christ and His Church; however, we can agree to disagree too without being disagreeable in it. Differences and disagreements over these gray areas of practical theology and Christian liberty are opportunities to experience and extend grace.

Our freedom in Christ is for us to have fellowship with Christ and His Church. This is a fight in our day, but it was also a fight in Paul’s day as he wrote this chapter in his letter to the Romans. The instructions of Christian liberty span the entirety of the chapter and into the next. Today, we will focus on the food fight of Rom. 14:1-4 which says, “¹Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. ² For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. ³ Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. ⁴ Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Those within the church of Rome had different backgrounds. There were those who were saved from a Jewish background and a Gentile pagan background. One lived with the Old Testament Law in their life’s luggage while the other lived with a pagan’s lawlessness. Those with a Jewish background still struggled with the feeling that they needed to keep the Jewish holy days and dietary laws (See Acts 15). The believers who were saved with a Gentile background used to eat meat that was sacrificed to false gods. Because of this, many of them refused to eat meat at all thinking that avoiding meat altogether would increase their holiness and maturity before God. Paul would also address this in Col. 2 where he deals with the same issue of fighting over preferences of food or festivities. Grace is needed when it comes to these things. We must not compromise the truth of the gospel; however, we must learn to forbear with those who are “weaker” in their understanding and application of the grace of God through the gospel. Every Christian has Christian liberty, but unfortunately many put another yoke of bondage on themselves or allow someone else to put it on them through preferences being emphasized. Today, we will see the observations of Christian liberty, the obstacles of it, and the obligations of it when it comes to these opening verses of the chapter.

First, we must see the observations of our Christian liberty. When it comes to Christian liberty there are three major views. Two are extremes and the one I believe is the biblical view that we should hold to. If you don’t know what freedom the gospel and grace of Christ has actually accomplished for you then you’ll struggle with how to then apply it in your daily life. This is why so many run to extremes, both of which are outwardly motivated and are performance oriented. These extremes lead to burnout and exhaustion as the believer ends up either abusing or abandoning their freedom in Christ for the flesh. Let’s look at each view to better understand biblical freedom or liberty in Christ.

One, there is the liberal. This extreme practice views God’s grace as a license to live as one pleases because after all, there is grace for all my sin. This is a selfish believer that is just glad they aren’t going to Hell when they die but choose to live for temporary pleasures instead of the pleasure of God. John Bunyan wrote, “Wherefore, though the Christian, as a Christian, is the only man at liberty, as called thereunto of God; yet his liberty is limited to things that are good: he is not licensed thereby to indulge the flesh.” This truth is seen in the previous section of Rom. 12:11-14. This believer is willing to compromise doctrine for the sake of unity, but it leads to a life where anything goes doctrinally or practically. It focuses on feelings, not facts. It focuses on personal rights, not the responsibility that the believer has in relation to Christ and His church. Essentially, this extreme is all love with no law. It has a filled-up heart with devotion, but an empty head void of meaty doctrine. This view treats Christian liberty as if it only was about our personal happiness as opposed to God’s desire of our personal holiness.

Two, there is the legalist. The legalists run back to the law to keep them in check. The legalist emphasizes rules and regulations instead of our relationship to Christ and our responsibilities in light of our union with Him. This too is outwardly motivated, and performance driven. It has a filled head with doctrine, but an empty heart often with no grace for anyone. While the liberal abuses God’s grace, the legalist abandons it for self-righteous living. This extreme leaves no room for deviation, disagreement, or even discourse over gray areas of practical theology. These were the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who added to God’s law their own rules and regulations that overstepped what God commanded.

Three, there is the literalist. I say this because they simply take the Bible’s word for what it means to be free in Christ positionally and practically. The literalist applies grace through faith instead of abusing it or abandoning it in the flesh. Don’t exchange God’s grace for anything else. Grace is the Christian life from start to finish. This biblically balanced view is gospel fueled, grace filled, and glory focused. It is Jesus who is preeminent, not one’s preferences as the liberal and legalist. Just give me Jesus. The literalist is inwardly motivated by the gospel, grace, and glory of Christ to live outwardly in an appropriate way that represents Christ. Instead of being performance driven (What can I do for Jesus?) it is participation driven (What does Jesus want to do in and through me?). Paul addressed the believer’s freedom already in Romans 5-8. In Romans 5 the believer is freed by the gospel by grace through faith. In Romans 6-7 the believer is freed from having to serve sin any longer while also being freed from either abusing or abandoning grace. In Romans 8 the believer is freed to live by the power of the Holy Spirit while resting in their union with Christ and the coming reunion with Him in glory. Galatians 5 as well shows us the literalist view of Christian liberty. We are set free with liberty in Christ not to do as we please, but to be pleased to do what pleases Him. We are free to serve the Lord by the Holy Spirit to the glory of Christ as He completes His work in and through us. The literalist loves the Lord and therefore by faith obeys the law of God while loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Those who are truly free in Christ are totally dependent upon the sustaining and sufficient strength and sanctifying work of Christ. They rest in the transformational truth that our Christian liberty and life is “of Him, through Him, and to Him” (Rom. 11:36). The liberal and legalist believe that they are the stronger Christian because of how they live in relation to the grace of God. However, because they both make their preferences and personal rights or rules preeminent, they are weak in the faith. Simply, they are immature because they think they are mature. This chapter begins with the call to accept the one who “is weak in the faith” because we all have growing up to do when it comes to the gospel, grace, and glory of Christ. Christian maturity is a lifetime process, but we stunt our growth when we abuse or abandon God’s grace. The literalist knows his weakness and worthlessness apart from the gospel and grace of Jesus. Therefore, he surrenders himself or herself to Christ each day (Rom. 12:1-3). The Christian life is about growing in grace so that we may then give grace (See 2 Pet. 3:14-18). Because we have experienced it, we must extend it.

Second, we need to see the obstacles of our Christian liberty. Our Christian liberty is a gift of grace, but it is often a battlefield of preferences and personal convictions. It turns into a food fight over little to nothing of eternal importance. The foundation of the obstacles of living in our liberty in Christ comes down to maturity. Immature believers either abuse it or abandon liberty by putting on a yoke of bondage to live a performance-based Christianity. The issue of the passage deals directly with Christian maturity. The mature believer embraces and enjoys the grace that they have experienced in the gospel while also extending grace to those who have not been fully enlightened to the marvels of His grace. There are three dangers that lurk with our liberty that often manifest in the extreme views that we previously dealt with. One, there is misunderstanding the scriptures. The Bible is black and white, but when it is mishandled, it becomes misunderstood; therefore, turning what is black and white into gray. It muddles the clarity of what God’s word says on the matters of life and godliness (See 2 Pet. 1:3-11). Two, there is misapplying the scriptures. Whatever you affirm doctrinally will be applied practically, for better or worse. Those who misapply what the scriptures say about our freedom or liberty in Christ often go towards liberalism or legalism. They either emphasize personal rights or personal regulations. This makes a gray area black and white when it is there to leave room for grace. The weaker brothers and sisters in Christ present the obstacle toward Christian liberty and unity within the church by majoring on minors and minoring on majors. Normally it is one or the other. This was prevalent in Jesus’ day as He pronounces judgment on the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23-28. The obstacles of Christian liberty are our selfish pride and preferences. This stems from misunderstanding and misapplying the scriptures by either seeing oneself as too free or not free enough. This is why it is critical to know what it means to be in Christ and live in Him and through Him; not merely knowing that we are supposed to live for Him. We must learn by grace through faith to rightly discern the black and white doctrines of the Bible so that we can distinguish them from the doubtful gray areas of practical theology that need grace for difference without division. Your pride and personal preferences can quench the Spirit and grieve Him as you then begin to lose your joy, peace, and unity in your walk with Christ and His Church.

Third, we must see the obligations of our Christian liberty. In Rom. 12:1-4 we are instructed on the obligations that a more mature Christian should heed when it comes to fellowshipping with a weaker brother who does not rightly understand or apply the grace of Jesus. Christian liberty is one’s maturity in Christ. Some Christians seem to remain babies that throw fits who can only drink milk. However, the mature and stronger believer continues to grow in the gospel and grace of Jesus to be able to handle the bread and meat of the Word (See 1 Cor. 3:1-3). Remember the cultural (and our current) issues that Paul was addressing. There were fights, schisms, and church splits over the practical daily application of doctrine and the Christian’s liberty in Christ. Paul dealt extensively with this in his letter to the Galatians and Colossians as well. In these four verses, there are two obligations that the mature believer must obey by grace through faith. One, we must receive the weaker brother but not to simply rebuke him for his ignorance. To “receive” is the word “proslambano” which gives the idea of intensely, intentionally, initiating inclusion into fellowship. It is to gladly and graciously receive a guest in a home so that what is yours is their’s. It is a shared intimate fellowship. Because the weaker brother is a part of the fellowship of faith because of their union with Christ, they too are united to the Church and should enjoy the communion of other believers. This is something that we have and must protect according to Eph. 4:1-6. The weaker brother is not to be despised over what he eats or doesn’t eat. Food choice shouldn’t determine fellowship. However, if this brother is a true brother he needs grace to grow into maturity. As Paul will deal later on in the chapter, we don’t need to be so easily offended, nor do we need to easily offend others. Ask yourself the next time the liberal or the legalist brother comes around, “If Christ received them with grace, then why won’t I? Am I better or wiser than Christ?” You don’t have to be someone else’s Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit and scriptures do the maturing, but by faith you can do the ministering with grace and patience. We don’t need to be so quick to condemn or confine our brothers who are growing slower than we may be. Two, we must remember the gospel, grace, and glory of Christ. If you forget the gospel then you won’t mature, or perhaps you will begin to be puffed up at your own “maturity.” Don’t forget who you are in Christ and what He saved you from. Remember that it is His grace that saved you, seals you, sanctifies you, satisfies you, strengthens you, and will secure you unto glory. Because you constantly experience the grace of Christ, you should consistently extend grace to others. Remember the glory of Christ and that you will stand before Him and give an account for yourself, not your brother. You are accountable for your heart and your home, not someone else’s. Let God defend you and be the one who decides what is black, white, or gray. The Lord will give His righteous judgment one day. Although we are not called to judge to condemn our brother, we are called to be able to discern the truth from error. We must know the line of fellowship that doctrine gives to us to live with. Be willing to fellowship with the weaker brother at the expense of your personal preferences but do not give up the black and white eternally essential doctrines. Know the truth and be transformed by it. Grow in grace to give grace where and when it is needed.

Dukes? Hellman’s? They’re both mayo. I like one better than the other, but I can still be your friend and worship the Lord if you like Hellman’s, miracle whip, or even no mayo at all. However, if you outright deny the eternal essential truths of the faith, you are not in the faith, and we can’t be in fellowship. If you and I affirm the truths of the gospel, grace, and glory of Christ we can fellowship even if there are disagreements in doubtful gray areas of practical theology. Don’t use your liberty to hurt me and I must not use mine to hurt you. Christian liberty is for personal holiness and to be a help to the Church and give the hope of the gospel. Are your preferences more important than the preeminence of Christ? Are you easily offended, or do you like to cause offense? Differences are opportunities to experience and extend grace, not extinguish the growth of a brother or sister who is still maturing. Maturing is realizing that you give an account for you and not others. Maturing in your liberty in Christ is learning that you should not abuse or abandon grace but apply it by faith to be pleased to please God. We shouldn’t have to force or fake fellowship. It is foundational to our Christian life, and it must be forged by grace through faith. Learn to forbear others, forget yourself, and focus on Christ.