Romans_14
ScriptureRomans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.Observation - What does it say?God’s plan of redemption includes both Jewish and Gentile believers alike. The same righteousness that set apart the Jew for God’s eternal purpose was setting apart Gentile believers – a righteousness from God by grace through faith and not of works, (i.e., status, nationality, accomplishments etc.). Prior to his arrival the in Rome the church had not received the teaching of an apostle. Paul addresses growing tensions between Jewish Christians who were being rejected by the larger Gentile group in the church. His appeal is to those mature in the faith. Understanding - What does it mean?For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 4:17.for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34.What one believes has consequences; our faith is not lived out in a vacuum. Discipleship is more of a journey than an event as the new believer learns both the theological and practical aspects of the faith. People are messy (My translation of Romans 3:23). Amidst the growing tension in Rome the apostle Paul masterfully introduces the scriptural principal of deference. Imagine you are newly married and taking unwanted decorating advice from your mother-n-law. Well, my wife was faced with that very unpleasant task. After returning from our honeymoon my bride and I moved into a duplex that housed my Mother in the back unit. While we would be away during the day my mother would leave little notes taped throughout the house with decorating suggestions. I didn’t think much of it, “What’s the big deal anyway?” I would come home from work only to witness what looked like steam coming out of my wife’s ears. On a number of occasions I was given the opportunity to go live with “you know who”. Eventually our heated interaction was distilled down to “an appeal of courteous respect, expressing high regard due an elder,” that is, in deference to . . . Mom. Paul is addressing those stronger in the faith in how to conduct themselves in the company of weaker Christians. There were a number of issues causing division in the fellowship; dietary laws, clean and unclean guidelines, religious observances and possibly decorating ideas, to name a few.
Without minimizing sin many areas of disagreement can co-exist in the fellowship of believers. A person of stronger faith might well lord his freedom over others and so enter into judgment which is clearly sinful. The principle of deference says, “Conduct yourselves in such a way so as not to cause another believer to stumble. Yield your rights to the greater good. In this way we elevate the Kingdom of God out of trivial disputes and secure it in “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” FYI - My mother has apologized profusely on a number of occasions for her lack of tact and my wife and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary in November.
Life ApplicationIt is so easy to be dragged into the mud over trivial matters. The apostle Paul exhorts us, “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Father, help me to recognize those times when the better way is to surrender my rights for the greater good. Bring conviction to any area of my life that might be an obstacle to the fellowship and so hinder your gospel from going forward. In Jesus Name.-Warren To check out the discussion or to join in click here.