This sermon was preached on March 6, 2016 at Friendship Bible Church.)
Read - Romans 14:1–13
Key Verse - Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. (Romans 14:1 NKJV)
Key Thought - Whether or not we agree with one another as Christians, we are to accept each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, for we are all on the same team, and we all answer to the same Master.
Introduction
In Romans 12–13 Paul has been talking a lot about how we interact with others, both believers and unbelievers. Here in chapter 14 his focus narrows to believers. He answers some questions for us here which are quite timely. How should a Christian react toward other Christians who have a different set of standards than they do? What if I think it's perfectly ok for a believer to participate in a particular activity, but you think it's not. How should you react toward me? How should I behave toward you?
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Paul is discussing not just Christians who hold to a different set of standards, but rather Christians who are at different levels of maturity in their Christian walk. If I were to look around the congregation in most any Bible believing church, I would find some who had been saved many years, and some who had been saved only weeks or months. I would find some who were faithful to reading their Bible and had a vibrant prayer life, and some who never opened their Bible. I would find some who are growing in their faith and some who are stagnant in their faith. I would find some who are mature and some who are babies. It is this diversity amongst believers that Paul addresses in this chapter. And he is specifically aiming his comments at those who are the more mature in their faith.
This is the last major issue that Paul addresses in Romans. Once he finishes this section he will talk a bit about his future plans in the last part of chapter 15 and conclude with a long series of personal comments in chapter 16.
He makes two main points here, I think, both of which address the issue - how do I relate to other Christians, especially those who are less mature in the faith than I am? In the first half of the chapter he says the mature believer needs to pay attention to his own game. And then in the second half of the chapter he adds a little tension to that argument by pointing out that the mature believer also needs to be concerned about the others' game. Let's examine the first thought in this study.
Accept Them
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. (Romans 14:1 NKJV)
The ESV puts it like this, As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. (Romans 14:1 ESV) And the NIV like this, Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. (Romans 14:1 NIV)
This opening verse is the theme verse for this entire section, which spans Romans 14:1–15:13. You will recall that Romans* can be divided into two major sections, with chapters 1–11 being primarily doctrinal in nature, and chapters 12–16 being primarily practical in nature. Paul will spend more time on the topic he addresses in our text than on any other topic he's discussed in this practical half of the letter.
Receive one who is weak in the faith…
Accept him.
We are all different. Thank God for that. We are not clones. Look around the room in any church gathering and that becomes clear. We are all different. And with those differences come some marvelous positives. Some can sing and lead us in worship. Some can preach and teach us the truths of God's glorious Word. Some are mechanically apt and keep the heat and air conditioning flowing. Some are fastidious and keep the Lord's house clean. Some are creative and make it beautiful. Some are outwardly evangelistic and help keep the seats full. Some are quietly prayerful and their contribution may only fully be appreciated in eternity. We are all different.
Yet along with all the positive things that accompany such diversity, there are also problems. While we tend to praise God for the gifts others bring, we also have an annoying and sinful tendency to disapprove of things in others with which we disagree. We may accept them, but with conditions. We want them to be like us, to worship like us, to pray like us, to dress like us, to sing like us, to read the same Bible version we do, and to conduct their Christian life just like we do. When they do not, our lips curl and the acceptance becomes strained.
In his commentary on Romans, Boice tells some things about my favorite preacher Charles Spurgeon, and uses those vignettes to remind us that we are all different, yet as believers in the same Savior, all accepted in the beloved:
Charles Spurgeon was the greatest preacher of his age, but he was frequently criticized for being funny. When one woman objected to the humor he inserted into his sermons Spurgeon told her, "Madam, you would think a great deal better of me if you knew the funny things I kept out." Spurgeon was a character. A young man asked what he should do about a box of cigars he had been given. Spurgeon solved his problem. "Give them to me," he said, "and I will smoke them to the glory of God." On another occasion Spurgeon was criticized for traveling to meetings in a first class railway carriage. His antagonist said, "Mr. Spurgeon, what are you doing up here? I am riding back there in the third class carriage taking care of the Lord's money." Spurgeon replied, "And I am up here in the first class carriage taking care of the Lord's servant."^[Boice, James Montgomery, "Romans, Volume 4: The New Humanity (Romans 12–16): An Expositional Commentary"]
Differences. This is the issue Paul addresses in this section. He is talking to two classes of Christians here. One group he refers to as "strong" and the other as "weak" or "weaker". And in describing theses two groups he draws upon two issues that were apparently a concern in the church at Rome.
The first issue is seen in vss. 2–3 and has to do with variations in diet that were apparently a concern to some. Apparently some believed they needed a vegetarian lifestyle as Christians. Now I'm not sure why, and Paul doesn't explain it here. it's possible that the scruples some felt in this matter related to the "meat offered to idols" issue described in 1 Corinthians 8, but we can't say for sure. It doesn't really matter why some had this concern though. Paul's point was not to discuss the merit of the issue, but rather to simply point out that it existed. Some struggled with scruples related to diet.
And his command was clear - regardless where you fall on this issue, Christian, accept those other Christians who might fall on the other side of it. If you are the "strong" Christian who knows that our faith has nothing to do with food and drink, don't look down on the scruples of the "weaker" ones who do. And if you are the "weaker" Christian who has not yet come to grips with the grace of God in areas such as this, don't judge the "stronger" Christian who has.
Another example Paul gives is the observance or lack of observing certain days. He turns his attention to that issue in vss. 5–8. As with the eating of meat - it is merely an example of Paul's larger point, and he doesn't go into detail explaining it. There were those who were the "stronger" believers, understanding that our faith is not determined by rigid observance of feasts and holy day observances which were hold overs from Old Testament Judaism. And there were "weaker" believers who still felt the pull of those religious requirements.
These were two examples Paul shared. You can probably think of many that are more relevant to us today. But here's the thing - regardless of the issue, and regardless of whether you fall on the "strong" side or the "weak" side of it, you are to receive and accept those whose understanding of it differs from your own. Romans 14:1 is an imperative… a command. It is the theme of the rest of chapter 14 and half of chapter 15, and it applies to all of us regardless of whether we think ourselves "weak" or "strong".
Now let me point out a couple reasons Paul gives for this instruction.
Accept Them Because God Has Accepted Them
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:3–4 NKJV)
You probably ought to circle that phrase God has received him in your Bible.
One reason for receiving others, even if they have different scruples about things than us, is because God has received them. Who are we to not receive one whom God has received?
I suppose one of the hardest things for us to get our minds around as we consider another Christian is this - they don't work for you. They don't work for me. We all answer to the same King, and to Him alone. Other Christians are not my servants, and they are not your servants. They, like you, serve the one King and Savior. Walvoord put it like this, "One Christian is not above another as his judge; all are equally under Christ, the Judge."^[Walvoord, John F., Zuck, Roy B., "The Bible Knowledge Commentary"]
So we are not to judge somebody whom God has already accepted, and who belongs to Him. Neither are we to think less of such because they have a differing set of scruples about things than we do. None of us answer to anybody else except God. If we all concentrated on pleasing Him and Him alone, every problem would cease!
In the Disney movie, "Miracle", about the 1980 Olympic hockey team, there is a scene where one of the players is concerned about the performance of a teammate. Coach Herb Brooks fixes a stern gaze on the complainant and barks, "You worry about your own game. There's plenty there to keep you busy."
This could be the theme of this first part of chapter 14. Christian, you worry about your own game. Don't waste time judging or looking down on another whose game you think inferior to your own. Why? Because the same God who put you on the team put that person on the team. So we are to accept them, because God has accepted them.
We are all on the same team. I recently picked up a copy of Erwin Lutzer's book entitled "One Minute After You Die" and I can't wait to read it. Jesus gave us a glimpse into that minute in Luke 16 with the the story of the rich man (who was in hell one minute after he died) and Lazarus (who was in paradise one minute after he died.) In that story Jesus described the "great gulf" that exists between the lost and the saved in eternity. That's the divide… that's the gulf. It exists between the lost and the saved. There is no gulf between the saved and the saved, but sadly we want to put it there sometimes, don't we? But we are all on the same team.
Now an important distinction needs made here, and if we don't see it we could go far astray in interpreting this passage. Paul is talking here to people who ARE on the same team - Christians striving wholeheartedly to serve the King. He is not concerned here with unbelievers, nor is he concerned with unrepentant or nominal Christians wrestling with sin. The assumption that ties everything together in this section is that all concerned are genuine Christians serious about their walk with Christ.
I think this point comes out clearly in vss. 5–8. Notice Paul's use of the phrase to the Lord. He uses it six times in this section. He is not talking about worldly believers here who just ignore the demands of Scripture and live a worldly lifestyle. He's not talking about those who refuse to repent of their sin and live separated lives for Christ. He's talking about Christians who are genuinely trying to the best of their ability to live for Christ. And we are to receive such, for we are all striving in the same way to serve the same Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8 NKJV)
That point is key to understanding vs. 5 - Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. Paul is not in the slightest agreeing with the "everything is relative" mindset that permeates our own age. He is not saying that truth is what you want it to be. He is not freeing you up to design your own God or fabricate your own method of getting to heaven. He is applying that phrase narrowly and only to those who are striving genuinely to serve Christ. Moule puts it like this, "The individualism of Rom. 14… is the holy and healthful thing it is because it is Christian. It is developed not by the assertion of self, but by individual communion with Christ."^[Moule, H.C.G., "The Epistle To The Romans"]
And so another reason for receiving others, even if they have different scruples about things than us, is because they are striving to serve Christ just as we are. He has accepted them on the team. We are all on the same team.
Another illustration from the movie "Miracle" is helpful here. The 1980 Olympic hockey team was comprised of members from various elite college hockey teams from around the country. When the men assembled for the first time as a team, they found themselves suddenly teammates with men that were opponents in college. Throughout the early days of their preparation for the olympics, these old rivalries were a problem, constantly surfacing and contributing to a general disunity in the team. Coach Herb Brooks solved it in a particularly memorable way. After they had lost a scrimmage precisely because they weren't playing as a team, Brooks refused to let the worn out men head to the locker room, but instead made them line up and race back and forth between the baselines. Over and over he would say "again" and force the exhausted men to race from one end of the court to the other. Periodically he would stop them and ask one of them, "Who do you play for?" And the answer would come back from each man, naming his college. "I play for Boston University" or "Minnesota" or "Bowling Green." Brooks would hear these responses and the whistle would blow and he would yell "again" sending the men once again from end to end of the court. This went on for what seemed hours. The men were barely able to stand and were to the end of their rope when finally, in response to the repeated question "who do you play for", Mike Eruzione of Boston U said, "I play for the United States of America." And, satisfied that somebody finally got the answer right, Brooks let them crawl to the locker room.
Brothers and Sisters, we may have differences, and we may be at different levels of maturity in our walk with Christ, but we are all striving to serve the same King. He has accepted us, and we are all on the same team.
Accept Them Because We All Will Answer To The Same Judge
Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4 NKJV)
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: " As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10–12 NKJV)
There are a couple more phrases you might want to circle in your Bible - who are you and we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.
It is not our responsibility to judge other Christians. That is reserved for the Judgement Seat of Christ, where every Christian will give a reckoning.
There are several judgements mentioned in Scripture. One is the great white throne judgement mentioned in Revelation 20:11–15. It is a judgement not for Christians, but rather only for those who never became Christians. If you are in that number, and keep putting off believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, refusing to call on Him and receive the gift of salvation He offers you, then you will experience the great white throne judgement. The only verdict that will be pronounced there is "guilty", and the only sentence will be hell, forever. If that is the judgement you face, then you will be without hope, forever.
But the judgement mentioned in our text is different. Paul refers here to the Judgement seat of Christ, a judgement that is not for the lost, but only for the saved. This event is also mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:9–11, 1 Corinthians 3:12–15, 4:4–5. This judgement is not about salvation (If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15 NKJV)), for as Christians our sin was judged on the cross. We learned in Romans 8:1 that there is no further judgment regarding sin. But that doesn't change the reality that we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and give an account of how we have lived for Him. Believers who have trifled away their walk with Christ on this earth will experience loss. I don't know what that means but I don't want to find out either. Paul said knowledge of this event motivated him greatly. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. (2 Corinthians 5:11). I've heard people preach that there will only be rewards at the judgement seat of Christ. Nothing negative will happen there, and everyone will walk away rewarded in some way. But I don't get how they reconcile that teaching with some of Paul's words about it… words like terror and loss.
Now I don't think for a minute that we as believers should dread standing before Christ. I can't wait for the day.
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see.
When I look upon His face, the One Who saved me by His grace.
When He takes me by the hand, and leads me through the promised land.
What a day! Glorious day! That will be!
No, I don't want to give you the impression, Christian, that you need to fear it. There can be nothing more worth looking forward to than that moment when we meet the King. But you also need to remember that there will be a moment there when He looks at you good and hard and demands an accounting of you. Are you ready for that? What will you have to say for yourself when you stand before the judgement seat of Christ?
I think Moule's words are helpful in contemplating the judgement seat of Christ:
They have been justified by faith. They have been united to their glorious Head. They "shall be saved" (1 Cor. 3:15), whatever be the fate of their "work." But what will their Lord say of their work? What have they done for Him, in labour, in witness, and above all in character? He will tell them what He thinks. He will be infinitely kind; but He will not flatter. And somehow, surely,—"it doth not yet appear" how, but somehow—eternity, even the eternity of salvation, will bear the impress of that award, the impress of the past of service, estimated by the King. "What shall the harvest be?" And all this shall take place (this is the special emphasis of the prospect here) with a solemn individuality of enquiry. "Every one of us—for himself—shall give account."^[Moule, H.C.G., "The Epistle To The Romans"]
That judgement seat of Christ should certainly motivate us toward a life dedicated to servng Christ, but should also motivate us to receive and accept other Christians, even when they serve Him differently than we do. We need not worry about that. We can accept them because they, like us, will give an account on that soon coming day. And then, with them as with us, the Savior will make everything right.
Conclusion
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. (Romans 14:1 NKJV)
Are there other Christians that live according to a different set of scruples than you do, Brother? Sister? if so, Paul's word for you is clear. Receive them. Accept them. And do it because God has accepted them, and will one day soon judge both them and you.
I attended the Men's Conference yesterday with brothers Don and Tim. It was great, and I wish more men in our church would make a priority of such things.
The preaching was phenomenal.
But then there was the music.
I'm a firm believer in blended worship. We sing a mix of old hymns and new hymns and choruses. We have a praise team and a praise band, but their role is never to perform, but rather to assist you in worshipping God through song. Some musicians forget this, or simply reject it. They consider themselves performers and the song service becomes a concert. Many churches today have chosen to have a concert rather than congregational singing. They still call it worship, but I struggle with that.
Yesterday's music fell into this latter category. The percussion and band were so loud that you could barely hear the words. The choice of songs seemed more about showcasing the worship leader than encouraging group singing. As a matter of fact, as I looked around the room during several of the songs, nearly everyone was standing and not singing… as you would at a concert rather than a worship service.
Now I have to confess that I didn't like it at all. Actually, I hated it. To me it was ugly, and gaudy and anything but worship. I stood there with my arms folded, steaming about it. I remember the thought going through my mind, if Amy or Beth or Larry or Alaina or Josh or Jeff ever try to turn our worship service into this, they will be looking for a new gig. If they ever confuse worship with performance, we will have a problem. If they ever think for a minute the song service is somehow about them… about showcasing their talents, then fur is gonna fly. (Let me hasten to add here that I know their hearts and that will never happen. God has blessed us with godly and talented musicians who have it right.)
But yeah… That's what I was thinking as I stood there listening to that music.
And then the Lord reminded me what I was preaching today. Receive them. I watched the intensifying gyrations and struggled with that. God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? (Romans 14:3–4 NKJV) I looked again at the faces of the performers. And whatever else I saw there I saw people who love the same Lord I do. They are on the same team I play for. It didn't make me love their music,and it didn't make me accept the performance style of leading worship. But it helped me accept THEM. My brothers, and my sisters. The rest can be left to their master to sort out.
"Let's stop dumping on one another, and let's allow God to deal with each of his servants how, when, and as kindly as he will. And while we are at it, let's be thankful that he has dealt as kindly as he has with us. If he had not, we would all be in deep trouble."^[Boice, James Montgomery, "Romans, Volume 4: The New Humanity (Romans 12–16): An Expositional Commentary"]
What about you, Christian? Do you struggle to accept those whose scruples and level of maturity differs from your own? Some need to kneel here and pray for forgiveness for that unaccepting heart, and ask for help to live out Romans 14:1.
