Romans 14
I’ve
always thought of myself as non-judgmental. I’m good at letting people believe
what they believe. I have no problems with tattoos or piercings or crazy hair
colors. I honestly do not care if you root for Auburn or Alabama. That’s just
how I roll.
So
imagine my shock when on the ride home from church last Sunday Z (my 9 year old daughter) asks, in
all seriousness “Momma, what’s wrong with Baptists?” My first response was
nothing honey, where did you get an idea like that? But before those words
could get out of my mouth I heard my internal monologue start listing all of
the things that I disagree with the Baptist church on and all those little
snide comments I’ve made in jest or in pain came flooding back to me. And I
realized then and there that I needed to hear from the 14th chapter
of Romans this week, so I guess the rest of you are going to be dragged along
with me!
Paul
was not one to shy away from an argument, any argument. In fact the scripture
is replete with the words of Paul laying out quite plainly where he stood on
various thoughts, theologies and practices of the day. He makes no bones about
seeing himself as the “first of the Apostles” even though he did not know the
flesh and blood Jesus. His knowledge came from the resurrected Christ and
therefore, in his mind, was more pure. So it’s really interesting here to see
his words calling for believers to coexist, even with those who may not follow
their exact practices of faith.
Paul
begins with a discussion of the strong in faith and the weak in faith. The
strong in faith eating meat and the weak being vegetarians. Really Paul? Being
vegetarian means your faith is weak? Honestly most people I know who are strict
vegetarians do so with an amazing amount of strength of character and faith. So
why would Paul, in a discussion about not judging use the words weak and
strong?
The
easy answer is that he was suffering from the plank syndrome himself. You know
“Before you point out the splinter in your neighbor’s eye you need to get the 2
by 4 out of yours!” He obviously believed himself to be among the strong. He
has written time and time again that all foods are clean, that even eating meat
sacrificed to other Gods is not entirely evil in and of itself.
But
in truth I think Paul just knew his audience. He was speaking to a group of
Christians in Rome who were significantly gentile not Jewish. He’s speaking to a people who had not grown
up in the kosher lifestyle, who had always been able to enjoy any food they
wished and who apparently did not understand that someone would want to abstain
from anything, let alone a good steak!
He
also calls them strong to point out that in this situation they are the ones in
power, the ones who can and apparently are using their influence to exclude
rather than include others. Paul tells them that these issues of diet are not
big enough to cause real dissention or separation. Let them go, don’t worry
about them, they are not essential.
Then
in verse 5 he speaks about people who keep one day more sacred than another and
others who treat each day alike. Is he talking about special feast days or
celebrations? Possibly. Is he speaking about keeping the Sabbath day? More
likely. But either one steps way too much on my toes. Paul has gone from good
advice to plain ol meddling. Because now he hits me, and most of us, where our
heart is. Now he’s talking about worship.
Don’t let the
different ways you worship divide you. What? There are so many different
churches precisely because we don’t all worship the same way! Those who like
quiet and prayerful meetings go to church a, those who want loud music and
flashing lights attend church b, those who like things decently and in order
attend a Presbyterian church. That’s just the way it is Paul. And while we on
the surface say “That’s okay for them, I just prefer things another way.” Our
actions and words often point out the real judgment that lies on our hearts, on
my heart, that leads children to ask “just what’s wrong with those other
Christians anyway
Momma?” We cover it with language like "they are not
Spirit-filled", "they don't have the full gospel", "they
are not Word-centered", "they are liturgical", "they are
catholic", "they are high church", "they are low
church", "dear me, they use candles there!" We so easily judge
the spiritual qualifications of others simply because they are different to us.
Their style of worship, churchmanship..... is used to condemn them. Paul clearly
denounces such behavior and reminds each one of us that we should be concerned
for our own standing before God, for each of us will have to answer for
ourselves.
There
is a story about Ruth Graham, wife of the famous evangelist, illustrates how
differences can threaten our unity. Mrs. Graham, dressed and made up as would
seem fitting for any American woman in the 1970s, attended a luncheon with
wives of conservative pastors in Germany. These German Christians had more
conservative ideas regarding how women should look. They did not believe that
married Christian women should wear makeup or clothing that made them look too
much like the world. As a result, a German pastor's wife, sitting across from
Ruth Graham, became very upset. She thought it was shameful that the wife of
this famous evangelist looked so worldly. Why, Ruth Graham was even wearing
mascara! The German pastor's wife became so angry that she started crying right
into her beer. Meanwhile Ruth Graham couldn't understand why the woman was crying,
although it bothered her that a self-respecting pastor's wife was drinking beer
at a meeting to prepare for an evangelistic crusade where Christians come
together as the unified body of Christ.
Verses
6-10 say:
6 Whoever regards one day as special
does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give
thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to
God. 7 For
none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.
8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die,
we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life
so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
If what they do, and what we do, come
out of a desire to live to the Lord, then that’s what matters!
We
need not spend time on the things that can serve to separate us. We need not
waste our time effort to try to make everyone believe and behave exactly like
us. No, we need to look at the commonality, the love and faith in Jesus and
trust that God can work it out from there.
Paul
continues in this chapter saying don’t put up stumbling blocks before one
another, artificial road bumps that distract and detract from the message of Christ.
These don’t serve God’s purpose at all; they only serve to lift ourselves up.
Verse 17-18 say “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of
eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is
pleasing to God and receives human approval.”
We are all called to live out our faith, both privately
and publicly. But how do we do that when our private convictions don’t match
up? How do we do that when one feels that a Christian would never drink alcohol
and anther lives by the adage, have a little wine for your stomach? How do we
do that when one quotes Paul saying “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is
no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are
one in Christ Jesus.” And another quotes Paul saying “I permit no woman to
preach or have authority over a man?”
As the saying goes “Don’t major in the minors,” We waste
valuable time and resources on things that don’t do anything to build up the
body of Christ. Be aware of one another, so as not to cause distraction from
Christ by your actions, but try also to not be offended by the actions of
others who are serving God with their hearts as well. Judge not, lest you too
be judged. Hard words, but true words nonetheless.
Perhaps the best instructions on this can be found in
another of Paul’s letters, this one to the Colossians, ch 3 v 12-17
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and
beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against
another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[f] has forgiven you, so you also must
forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds
everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.
And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ[g] dwell in you richly; teach and
admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing
psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.[h] 17 And whatever you
do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him.
No comments:
Post a Comment