Grow With Pastor Joe

We are an individualized society both in and out of the local church. We are self-focused in all areas of life. “What’s in it for me? What about what I want?” These are the questions that are asked by everyone everywhere. Sadly, when this takes place in the local church divisions arise. Needless divisions. Our fleshly preferences and personal convictions seek to gain the preeminence of influence or acceptance. Often, we either condemn someone for being too strict or too loose in comparison to our personal convictions. Throughout Romans 14, we have seen the issue of our Christian liberty which is not the freedom to do as we please, but to freely and faithfully do what pleases God and edifies the Church. Days, diets, and drinks (we’ll cover more next week) are doubtful distractions that cause unnecessary divisions. As Paul writes about how to enjoy and experience our Christian liberty, he reminds us that our Christian liberty and Christian love are inseparable. Conflicts and divisions arise when we love our liberty more than we love our weaker brethren. Today, we will focus on Rom. 14:13-18 which says, “¹³ Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. ¹⁴ I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵ But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Let not then your good be evil spoken of: ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸ For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

            Throughout the exhortations of this chapter, Paul is addressing both weak and strong believers in the faith. The weaker brother is not weak in some sort of sinful area, but rather it is that he is weak in understanding and exercising the liberty that Christ has given to every believer. Therefore, the weaker brother believes that the strong brother is abusing their liberty and is in danger of falling into sin; then the stronger believer is condemning the weaker as some sort of legalist “do gooder” who can’t be free. The whole passage deals with weak and strong NOT right and wrong believers. As we have seen already, each believer must be fully persuaded in his own mind that their personal convictions are according to the Bible and are done unto the Lord without the authority or ability to judge another blood bought brother who feels more or less liberated in their practices. We have the authority of the Bible to admonition those in doctrinal or sinful errors, but we can only give advice to those differing in doubtful things. It is up to the Lord to enlighten the weaker brother not you. It is up to all of us to be responsible in our relationship to Christ and His Church to not only enjoy our personal liberty, but to encourage others in their liberty through love. Those not enlightened to the transformational truth of their Christian liberty struggle to enjoy their liberty, but others struggle to allow others to enjoy it. By the way, there is a difference between enjoying your liberty and indulging in it. Christian liberty and Christian love are united together. Both are how we experience and exercise our union in Christ as we commune in faithful fellowship with Christ and His Church. When we love our liberty more than we love our brother, though they may be weaker or stronger in the area of enjoying Christian liberty, then we cause unnecessary divisions. We can be convinced or convicted without needlessly condemning our brother or condoning immoral conduct. Unity is essential, not uniformity. As we look at today’s passage, we will see the overview of Christian liberty, the obstacles of liberty, and the observances of liberty.

            First, we need to see an overview of Christian liberty in Rom. 14:13 which says, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” This verse is a summary statement that gives a perfect overview of the whole issue of enjoying and exercising Christian liberty through Christian love. Essentially, Paul exhorts us to stop the habitual condemning of weaker and stronger brethren regarding their Christian liberty and exercise Christian love, so we don’t hurt their walk with the Lord. We must understand that our Christian liberty is experienced vertically because it is from and through Christ that we enjoy the freedoms that the gospel has provided. However, we exercise it horizontally in love for the Church. Your liberty is not merely for you to enjoy, but for the enlightenment and encouragement of others in the faith. By putting the “therefore,” in this verse, Paul points back to the preceding truths of the passage before giving the admonition to use your liberty to help, not hurt; build up, not break down; unite and not undo. We are called to determine in our heart to not be detrimental to others in the family of God through continual condemnation of weaker and stronger brethren. Believers must stop condemning who God has not condemned and stop condoning what God does not condone. We are not to “put a stumblingblock” in the way of our brother. The word used is “proskomma” which means “. . . to cut toward or against, to strike against and is used of those who strike against a stone or other obstacle in the path. It can describe literal or figurative stumbling (figurative of course in this context). It is something a person trips over.” (https://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_1413-15) Our liberty should not be a stumbling block of offense that causes our brother to lose their balance or way on the path of righteousness. We are not to put “an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” The word for “occasion to fall” is “skandalon” meaning to snap up. The word was used to describe a trap that had bait laid on it that would then snap up whatever sprung the mechanism. Putting our preferences first or personal convictions first, we cause our brother to stumble or be entrapped. The traditions and taboos that we often hold to, or reject, can become entrapments as seen in the extremes of liberalism and legalism. Both are outward focused and cause incredible damage to believers. If the exercise of my Christian liberty or my insistence of my conviction that I am persuaded by causes my brother to be stricken, stumble, or snatched up in liberalism or legalism (both are sinful by the way) then I need do some serious reevaluation. When it comes to Christian liberty, we must consider Christian love. Because of Christian love I want to conduct myself in a way that glorifies Christ and helps the growth of other believers. In this way, it is Christian love that empowers us to truly exercise Christian liberty that is not just conscious of personal conduct but also considers the convictions of others. J.B Phillips writes, “We are either stepping stones or stumbling blocks.” Which one are you?

            Second, we must see the obstacles of Christian liberty in Rom. 14:14-15 which says, “¹⁴ I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵ But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.” Notice the confident declaration that Paul makes here. He says that he knows and is persuaded (convinced and convicted) by the Lord Jesus Christ that there is “nothing unclean of itself.” Sadly, poor preaching has led many to believe that a lot of things are sinful that are not. Paul will give more examples later in this same chapter, but it suffices to say that many view certain days, diets, and drinks as sinful. Where is the line? If it controls your mind, heart, or body there is a problem. No matter what it is. If it isn’t Jesus filling you and having control over every part of your body, soul, and spirt then that’s where sin comes in. Notice though, no substance is sinful in its essence but can be esteemed personally as sinful causing someone to abstain from a particular substance. For example, the juice from a grape is not sinful, neither is fermentation; however, drunkenness is sinful. There are several obstacles to enjoying and exercising Christian liberty, but they come down to the issue of the heart. Do I love Christ and my brother? Does this cause me and others to love Jesus more or less? In Paul’s day and in ours, many stronger brothers were causing others to “be grieved” and stumble because they were flaunting their Christian liberty without living in Christian love. You are not the stronger brother if you have to assert your liberty. I have a real problem with believers who flaunt their liberty. Let’s take alcohol for example. Paul will use this in the following section. There are many strong Christians who can enjoy their liberty to have a beer or glass of wine on a special occasion, but they post it all over social media or even pressure weaker brothers into partaking. That’s a problem. A big problem. You are not stronger because of your abstaining from something or from asserting your liberty. Today, many will use their liberty to abstain from substances believing that their self-denial will make them more holy. Others will assert their liberty by partaking and go from enjoying themselves to indulging themselves leading them to self-deception. 1 Pet. 2:16 says, “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” Then, there are others who will abuse their liberty which leads many times to self-destruction if not dealt with. 1 Cor. 10:23-33 says, “²³ All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. ²⁴ Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. ²⁵ Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: ²⁶ For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. ²⁷ If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. ²⁸ But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: ²⁹ Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? ³⁰ For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? ³¹ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: ³³ Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” If it deceives, distracts, or destroys you or others then it is no longer liberty, but it is now your captor that holds your life in bonds. If it distorts or distracts from the gospel, grace, and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ then it is an obstacle to your Christian liberty and those around you. We must be careful that the exercise of our liberty does not “grieve” our brother. The word grieve is used for hurting or hindering. If we do this, then we are not walking “charitably” meaning we are abusing Christian liberty by abandoning Christian love. Liberty without love is not liberty. We should be grieved by the thought that our life grieves the life of faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

            Third, we must see the obligations of Christian liberty in Rom. 14:16-18 which says, “¹⁶ Let not then your good be evil spoken of: ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸ For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.” If the exercise of your Christian liberty negatively influences or impacts another, whether lost or saved, then there is a problem. The exercise of our Christian liberty must be done in Christian love which cares for the blessing and benefit of others. It is sacrificial and even willing to forgo the open exercise of liberty as to not hurt another weaker brother. We must understand that our personal Christian walk, though personal, is very public. Rom. 14:5-8 dealt with the fact that we are under the authority of Christ and that we are also accountable to one another. The local church is counting on you, and you are too are counting on the encouragement and examples in your local church. The exercise of our liberty and love always have an impact and influence upon the unity and usefulness of the local church. When we look at biblical Christian liberty and love, we must not get a wrong impression that we are free to do whatever we want, but we must also not get the impression that we must live in a cave or monastery somewhere. Furthermore, we must not give the wrong impression of Christian liberty and Christian love. Your lost neighbor needs to see your love for Christ and them, not your assertion of liberty that may hinder them from seeing their need to repent and believe the gospel. The obligation of Christian liberty is primarily that the exercise of it would not be a poor testimony or reflection of the transformational truth of the gospel, grace, and glory of Christ (V.16). No one should be able to speak evil of us if we live a life surrendered to the Lordship of Christ for then can we truly enjoy Christian liberty while exercising Christian love. Paul reminds us that the “kingdom of God” (primarily where God sovereignly rules and who are under His authoritative Lordship) is not outward focused on conforming to ceremonial partaking of meat and drink. Yes, the physical matters. Yes, our conduct matters. However, what matters is that our hearts are humbly surrendered to Christ so that we may exercise “righteousness” and experience “peace and joy in the Holy Ghost”. Notice too that peace and joy are seen in the “fruit of the Spirit” in Gal. 5. It is only by the Spirit’s power that we can live in Christian liberty and love. Those who by grace through faith in the power of the Holy Spirit exercise their liberty through love are able to represent righteousness, rest in the peace with and of God, and rejoice with joy for the riches of the gospel, grace, and glory of Christ. True Christian liberty and love is explained and experienced by the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (see Eph. 4; 5:7-20; Gal. 5). The exercise of Christian liberty through Christian love means that in all that we do in life to serve Christ, including our personal persuasions or convictions, we are “acceptable to God, and approved of men.” Why do we disapprove of whom God accepts? If your liberty is not “acceptable to God, and approved of men” then we must reexamine if we are abusing or asserting our personal preferences or if we are truly loving our brethren (See 1 Pet. 2:11-17).            

As we bring this section to a close, we must see the relationship and responsibilities of our Christian liberty and love. Neither should be distorted, dismissed, or diminished by the other. The two make up the practical Christian life of faith. Both the weaker and stronger want to glorify Christ. Both must be persuaded of their own convictions, yet they must not condemn the other or condone what God does not condone. Go read Gal. 5 and you’ll see this in a fuller picture. Yes, we have liberty, but our liberty is not a license to live for ourselves. Rather, our Christian liberty is the freedom to exercise the love of Christ for the good of others and glory of God. Ask yourself these questions. Am I hurting or helping my brother’s walk with the Lord? Am I hurting or helping my own? What hinderances are in the way? Am I being a stumblingblock or a stepping stone for others to get closer to Christ? Do I love my liberty more than my brother or sister? May the Lord help us to be enlightened to truly biblical Christian liberty and love so that we may enjoy it without abusing it and that we may encourage others in their Christian walk to draw nearer to Christ.