I’ve been thinking about Romans 14:1-4 lately. Why? This passage deals with “disputable matters”—things God doesn’t explicitly condemn which are found within the spacious confines of Christian liberty. My “strong” faith has caused some “weaker”-faith friends (v.1) to experience fear and anger. So what should I do—press the issue? Flaunt my Christian liberty? Deny or dismiss my friends’ views?
A wise brother-in-Jesus pointed out that Christian liberty is much like the top of a table. The whole expanse may be acceptable in God’s sight, but we as individual believers in Jesus may feel strongly that this corner of the table is where I must stay, while another believes, No, no, this corner is acceptable too.
So here I stand in a corner of the “table” where my friends fear to tread. But I’m also reaching out to my “weaker”-faith friends in love. For Paul taught that I’m to “accept other believers” who don’t hold my same view of disputable matters. And in Romans 14:6-8, he states that the common goal of weak-faith and strong-faith believers is to “honor the Lord.” To live out our faith in a way that brings God glory.
In the days ahead, I look forward to humbly discussing the previously mentioned disputable matter with my “weaker-faith friends. Perhaps they’ll find greater Christian liberty and move a bit toward my corner of the tabletop. Perhaps I’ll move closer to where they stand. Either way, my prayer is that we will all “honor the Lord.”
So, what disputable matters have you been wrestling with? How have you addressed them with Christian friends who have a “weaker” or “stronger” faith?
cvallarino on July 22, 2009 at 10:15 am
I am fairly new to walking what I would term as being a real walk, so I am in a really aggressively learning mode. Help me to know the general sense of what we are talking about here, in terms of liberty. Are we talking wine, or other alcoholic intake — or whether joining myspace to meet women? Without crossing any privacy boundaries – I am curious but don’t want to be nosey. In general, I thought the comparative of stronger or weaker sounds, well, judgemental, and I thought that wasn’t our job to do?? However, there is that job of helping to brothers and sisters to be be Christ-like in their everyday walk. So how what is the right way to handle this scenario?
tom felten on July 22, 2009 at 1:28 pm
cavallarino, it’s great to read of your growing faith in Jesus. Welcome to the ODJ community! Regarding Christian liberty, there are many matters that are disputable, including what we eat and drink, entertainment choices, and so on.
In 1 Corinthians 5:3 Paul judges the actions of a sexually immoral person. He does so, because the man’s actions are clearly sinful and unrepentant. In 1 Corinthians 8:7-13, in a disputable matter over eating meat sacrificed to idols, he encourages the people with stronger faith (meaning that they feel free to eat the meat) not to be a stumbling block to those who feel it’s wrong.
So we must, in love, confront a believer in Jesus who is sinning. And we must also, in love, be careful how we use our Christian liberty to eat or drink or view what we think is okay—for it may not be okay for another believer and this may result in them being negatively affected in their spiritual walk.
The term “weaker” faith simply means that the person has convictions that will not allow them to engage in the disputed acitivity, while the person with “stronger” faith feels it is acceptable to engage in the disputed activity. Is this helpful? What are your thoughts?
pluvialis sitio on July 23, 2009 at 11:52 am
Wow, I’m not sure where to start on this one.
The large number of “weaker” christians who constantly leaned on the crutches of legalism almost drove me from the church. For me it seemed easy to see through their pettyness and small thinking, and I almost threw the baby out with the bathwater. The strangest thing was that i never thought of myself as strong. In fact I was looking to many of thesed Sr. Saints for guidance and direction. I could never understand how these mature christains could have such great insights into so many spiritual things and then turn around and say “if you really love God you would not play with face cards”. Huh? Where did that come from?
Today I am so grateful for the friends that I have that are less legalistic and more relational. I have also had to do some growing up myself to get to the point where I can love and accept my legalistic brothers. I have had to let go of my cynacism and remeber that the church is the bride of christ (ie. don’t diss his fiancee”).
So why do some people draw battle lines around issues like cards or drinking? I’m not sure. Maybe it is just upbringing. Maybe life is easier for some people if there are solid boundaries instead of queastionable areas. I also know that, for me, there are some things that I need to avoid because of my own personal weakness. This is where the relational part of christianity comes in. You have to know the person in the pew next to you very well to know what their weakness is. Only then will you be able to consistantly avoid waiving temptation in there face. I think legalism attempts this without the relationship part, but I think it is impossible (just my opinion).
I’m not sure if this actually helps or just makes the water muddier.
tom felten on July 23, 2009 at 12:37 pm
pluvialis sitio, I so appreciate the thoughts you’ve brought to the table top! 🙂 Both legalism and flaunted/selfish Christian liberty are extremes to be avoided as we deal with disputable matters. You brought out a key thought in the idea of knowing and loving fellow believers. As we take off our masks and let others know our strengths and weaknesses, we are able to approach disputable matters in a way that will not cause another believer to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:9) and that reveals our love in Christ. As Paul wrote, “It is love that strengthens the church” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
mstigall on July 25, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I think it is important that we realize that our activity, irregardless of what it is, should point others to Chirst.
Christlikeness is the key to living fruitful christian lives. I believe that American Christianity blends in way too well with the rest of the world,
(i.e. people are not seeing a difference between those who say they are Christians and those who are not)
So while I agree that we are afforded much in our “Christian Liberty” I also feel it has to be played out with great caution or we lose releveance to the world around us.
elisau on August 15, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I also have struggled with opposing viewpoints within the body of the church. Expecting a non-Christian to act like one is foolsih, but when you see your fellow brother’s and sister’s living in deception it can be hard to overlook. Passing judgment on them is one thing, but helping them to be sancitified by God’s Word is another.
1 Corinthians 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
1 Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
God does reveal things to each of us in His own time and it is up to His followers to first of all lead by example in our own lives and secondly pray for those who have strayed from the path.