“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” (Rom 14:1-5)
What is the Christian hot topic?!? Music – alcoholic drinking – “Sunday dress” – going to movies – eating meat? Wait…eating meat!? Some look at meat and say, “What’s the big deal? It tastes good.” To the believing Jews this was huge! They only knew that it was wrong! How could all of life have been changed in one day??? In one sense, everything did change in one day. Christ fulfilled laws. He accomplished what we in the flesh could not do. This would be in regards to the moral law laid out in the OT and also the ceremonial laws. He was the great lamb! He came humbly, lived holy, and died willingly to do what we could not do. At that time, ceremonial laws became void. So did this all change in one day? Yes and no. He completely fulfilled the law on the cross but it was not all in one day that the change took place in the believers’ lives. That slow change still takes place today in believers’ lives. The difference is that the things that the Jews struggled with were things that God had set down as laws. Many things that we struggle with today are laws that we or our ancestors have set down as laws to keep us from evil or to set us aside as holy. This issue is different in different cultures. These cultures extend to other believers in your terrestrial region or even in your family through generations. Let’s face it – people are all different. People have different ways of seeing things. Some people have been told their whole lives that one thing may be wrong while another person may have never seen that thing to be wrong at all.
What is the solution??? Faith and love. “But that does not really solve anything” one may be saying. This is the solution that Scripture gives us.
Faith comes in at the end of the prefacing passage. “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” Later in this passage Paul writes, “The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Rom 14:22-23) Many times we confuse God’s absolute moral truths with good moral boundaries that we have set up for ourselves. While not going to the movies may be a very good guideline to help us not be tempted to be given in our lusts before marriage and make-out, there is nothing wrong with going to see a movie on a huge screen. However, you could ask Christians who were around a quarter of a century ago whether it was right and a lot would tell you that it was not good to put yourself in that kind of temptation. Nowadays, to say such thing to a much younger generation would cause confusion and maybe a sense of laughter. They may respond, “Well, everyone goes to the movies.” For those who know it to be wrong, Scripture says that it is wrong. For those who do not see it as wrong and do not see how Scripture would condemn it, it is not wrong. Paul even says that if you are doubting and participate, that it is wrong. His focus is on what Christ has done and what He says in His Word. Can both be right?!? Paul resounds, “Yes!” Do as God has shown you to do. For some it takes a long time to not doubt your participation in a certain activity that you once deemed evil. Christ is not concerned with that. He is concerned with your service to Him with a pure conscience.
The second part of the solution to this dilemma is love. What does love have to do those who see things from different angles? Paul mentions in the afore mentioned passage, “For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.” So we are to neither condemn the one who does not see the same as you nor do anything that might be called evil. Paul goes on to write, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Our focus far too many times tends to be what I can and cannot do. Paul is telling us here that our focus is wrong. It is not about this but rather what is righteous before God. If we are to encourage others who do not see the same, we must help promote peace as well. This may mean not doing something or wearing something around those who would see it as wrong so as to not make an offense to those who would call it offensive. Verse 21 of the same passage goes on to say, “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” This is the love part. If you know that they may stumble by your actions or participation, do not do it.
These things that I am talking about are hard things for me to deal with. I struggle with them as being a member of the “Buckle of the Bible Belt”. Having been part of a very conservative sect in my past, I still have some ties that may deem many things that I see to be good as evil. So, yes, I struggle a lot with this. God has taught me many things and is continuing to show me that my focus needs to not be on what I can and cannot do but what it right and holy – what is helpful to those around me.
At times, I offend. OK, let’s be realistic. I offend a lot. With the help of the internet and the vast amount of surfers who have access to my blog and Facebook page, I tend to offend even more. God gives strength though. I must rely on His strength when it comes to matters of faith. We cannot do it on our own.
What do we do when we do offend those around us or maybe even those who we have never met who find the way that we live out the gospel to be offensive? As God allows us, make it right. Our guide for reconciliation is clearly outlined in Matthew 18:15-20. Our responsibility to each other is to reconcile to each other. For those whom I have wronged, please to not linger in darkness while holding grudges and gossiping. Come and talk to me. I beg you! Let us take it to the wonderful cross and talk about how our great God has worked in our lives. Let us humbly share together of how God has worked in our lives and changed us. Let us build each other up as God desires for us to do. How we live the gospel out may be completely different, but help point me to the cross and I will do my best to help you. For those who may have an offense against another brother or sister in Christ, show them Christ. Help and encourage them in Christ. Do not carry the baggage of grudges and gossip on your shoulders. Take it to the cross and talk it out so that Christ is magnified! God is great! Do not let the world see anything other than that.
I hope this has helped anyone who may be struggling through things like this. This can be a very daunting task. Just remember, “The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”
Forgive me for being so long-winded. There is at least one out there that I am praying will read this and come to me. Talking over lunch or coffee are always cool with me. God is not glorified by random jabs at other believers. I think what I have said is something that we all deal with also. It is good to be reminded of this once again. May we glorify and honor Christ in all we do.
Humbled by the cross,
Josh Blaha
BTW: For those who wish to contact me, my contact page works wonders!
