Romans 14 reminds me of the exact moment I stopped drinking alcohol. I had been mowing the lawn on a hot August day. I remember pausing with a cold beer and praising God for the changes happening in my life. After finishing the yard, my soon to be mother in-law came in. She looked at the empty beer bottles, shook her head and said, “I thought you were supposed to be some kind of a Christian”. In fairness, her husband was battling cancer, and I was taking away her daughter at a difficult time. I told myself that I will never again allow a beer to obscure the work of Christ in me. Today’s lesson is about yielding. I could have lectured Mom on the freedom we have in Christ, but Paul says to, “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters”. Paul offers some examples. He says one “eats only vegetables” another “considers one day more sacred than another” another “eats meat”. Paul instructs that when it comes to the non-fundamental doctrines, we “must not treat with contempt” those that hold them as important. His reason is simple, “for God has accepted them”. In other words, when it comes to the non-essentials, I am to willingly yield my freedom, in order to avoid violating someone else’s conviction. Paul is quick to point out there are a few absolute essentials of the faith, “Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living”. The death and resurrection of the Messiah is our singular source of hope for eternity. Our faith in the finished work of Christ is what makes brothers and sisters.
Paul asks followers of Christ, “why do you judge your brother or sister… why do you treat them with contempt?” He is addressing those who have received forgiveness through faith in the risen Christ. His point is, salvation does not make us perfect people, but it should create a desire to freely forgive others. God alone will judge the heart of every soul with perfect knowledge. Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah about judgement day, “every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will acknowledge God”. In other words, “each of us will give an account of ourselves to God”. Satan is called the accuser; my job is to point to Christ.
The chapter closes with ways to represent God’s holiness. Paul tells us, do not “put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister”. I have the freedom to willingly put aside beer if that is an obstacle for my friend. Paul is unambivalent, “nothing is unclean in itself”. That is, beer is not evil. But he is equally clear that we need to honor those that may be tripped up. “If anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean”. Paul offers a stinging rebuke to those of us that will not yield, “you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died”. I am diminishing the blood of Christ by judging a brother over petty differences. Paul adds, “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. My personal convictions became simple; I do not knowingly do anything that might undermine a friend, and I avoid things that separate me from the Holy Spirit. Paul urges each of us to “do what leads to peace and to mutual edification”. Jesus taught us that He lifted the burdens of the Law by fulfilling them. We cannot lift up anyone by looking down on them. Paul issues a command for those who have experienced God’s mercy, “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food… or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall”. Many more people have asked me why I do not drink than have asked me why I go to church. “Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves”. I continue to praise God for the changes He is making in me. Care to join me?