4th November 2023

4th November 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 14v20-22)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


It is a tragedy when a local church is ripped asunder by petty rivalry and Paul saw a looming tragedy developing in Rome. The fellowship was in danger of splitting over the issues of food, drink and days which caused Paul to offer the warning "do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God." (v20). It is possible for each one of us to damage our local fellowship with immaturity, arrogance and a "me-first" attitude. The Apostle was clear - the work of the Gospel is too precious to be trampled by such foolishness.


Regarding the issue of food, Paul was sure that everything was permissible for the Christian to eat (v20b). It is true that the Old Testament offered certain dietary restrictions for God's people but those were no longer binding by the time of Paul's letter to Rome. In Acts 10 Peter famously received a vision from God which addressed the food issue with the declaration "what God has made clean, do not call common." Furthermore, Christ was equally clear when He said "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." (Matthew 15v10-11)


But even though all food is "clean" in God's sight, it is wrong for one Christian to cause another to stumble. If you know that your brother has a tender conscience around certain issues, the loving thing is not to do anything that causes your brother to stumble (v21). This doesn't mean that the Christian with the tender conscience can become a dictator - perish the thought! Paul's whole appeal is for maturity on all sides. The stronger Christian should be willing to set his freedoms aside for a time while the weaker Christian should relax and not constantly seek to be annoyed.


Paul finishes his argument with an appeal to both sides of the debate. The stronger Christian is to humbly keep his faith between him and God (v22a). This doesn't prohibit him from sharing the Gospel or explaining his theology. Paul's point is that if you are confident about how you exercise your Christian liberty, you don't need to shout it from the rooftops. It is a blessing to have a settled mind about your position and not to be constantly judging your decisions (v22b).   


On the other hand, the weaker brother is not to eat disputed food if he has any doubts (v23). Isn't this a contradiction? Paul has stated that no food is unclean - so how is the weaker brother sinning? Because he is eating against his conscience. The weaker brother is eating not because he is convinced by God's Word but perhaps because of peer pressure or some other dubious reason. The eating itself isn't sinful but the heart of the weaker brother isn't convinced and therefore for him he has stumbled and fallen into sin. He has not acted from faith and as Paul says "whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." (v23b).


Life in church would be much more straight forward without the people - but then it wouldn't be church at all. Christ died for a multitude from every corner of this world. We look different, sound different and share different opinions. As we manage this diversity it isn't a reason for pettiness and dispute but another reason to seek the maturity offered by the Lord. As Paul would elsewhere say "I...urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4v1-3)
  
Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q88 What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption? The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, Sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
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