I have a personal history of being pretty dogmatic and opinionated. I can give firsthand testimony it can hurt a lot of the people I care a lot about – just like happened between friends in the church in Rome (Romans 14). They had strong personal convictions about what we tend to call “gray” areas.

For the church members in Rome, it was can I eat meat or must I do as you say and only eat vegetables. Is the way you apply sabbath principles the only right way? And what about the freedom to drink wine? Is that right or wrong? Is there a possibility it could be both? These were the issues dividing the church in Rome and which made it a very unsafe place. You were sure to be judged on something.

If you are just joining this blog, you will want to look at the last four posts where we have looked at each of these issues and how the gospel can make a place of differing opinions a very welcoming and safe place.

Because of my propensity to be like the believers in the Roman church, I  have written these  five guidelines in the margin of my Bible next to Romans 14. I want the gospel to make me a safe and welcoming person.

1. Is the other person fully convinced in their mind they are honoring Christ and submitting to his Lordship? (Romans 14:5,9) Then I will affirm and honor their heart to follow Jesus.
2. My love never disregards those with a weak conscience. (Romans 15:1)
3. My love limits my own freedom. (Romans 15:1)
4. My question cannot be “How can I enjoy my freedom,” but rather “what makes for the growth of my brother/sister?” (Romans 14:19)
5. Love creates a difference between my private convictions and my public behavior…but both must be aligned with the gospel. (Romans 15:1-3)

I’m curious. What do you think?

COMING SOON: I have just received permission from Baker Publishing House to pass on to all of you who have subscribed to this blog by joining the Laying it Down community, an awesome whole chapter excerpt from a great book by an incredible author. I am committed to not passing on anything that I consider does not rank a nine or a ten. You won’t be disappointed and I’m positive it will minister to you. Because the truth in this chapter is so significant, it is why I went to the effort to get written permission from the publisher.

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Yikes! More relational conflict. I wonder if the church in Rome was named “The Church of Broken Relationships and Grumpy People?” First, acceptance of one another came to a halt over the issue of eating meat or vegetables only (Romans 14:1-3). Then there were two more conflicting and judgemental camps in the church over the issue of is one day holier than another or are they all pretty much the same (Romans 14:5-12)?

But there were still more accusatory factions. What other divisive and opinionated issue could make the church such a warm and welcoming place (sarcasm)?  One practice – drinking wine (Romans 14:15,21).

So how did Paul, writing by the Spirit of God address this issue? The same way he did with the first two divisive opinions and practices; he reminded them of the gospel and how God had welcomed each of them into His family. Their welcome was not based on their doings or not doings, but on their faith. “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). And Paul adds that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy,” where we “pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding” (Romans 14:17,19).

So what is the main point?

Just this – we don’t resolve our relational splits simply by pragmatics, convincing arguments, deciding to be tolerant, attaching labels, or doing what is right in our own eyes. The Roman church tried all of these. And so do we, getting the same results – critical spirits, unattractive divisions, wounded people and a very unsafe community.

We pursue peace and upbuilding by living out the gospel we have experienced. The solution is always the gospel. Anything less than a gospel based solution simply buries the issues alive. When we don’t go to the gospel, could it be that we have not experienced the gospel being the solution in our lives? When there is only one solution to something and we find it, we’ll use it over and over. And we will tell others.

The gospel always makes a safe community.  A place where I am loved just as I am. And a place where I can grow and mature.

Back with you next Thursday.

 

 

I wonder if the tag line for the church in Rome might have been, “If you are prickly and critical, there is a place for you here.” Their reputation evidently reflected their membership; it was a church struggling with divisive opinions.

In my last posts we looked at the first set of disruptive opinions that unleashed reciprocal judgement and mutual rejection – the conflict between those who were free to eat anything and those who ate only vegetables (Romans 14:1-3). How did Paul restore the relationships? Not by proving one was right and the other wrong, but reminding them of the gospel, that God did not accept and welcome them based on their opinions. And so our love and acceptance of people with different opinions should reflect God’s acceptance of us. That’s the first principle.

Now a second disagreement was dividing church friends – were some days to be treated differently because they were of more value, or were all days the same (Romans 14:5). The believing Jews in the church no doubt made observing the special days of their tradition important. The Gentile believers in the church had no such traditions and no compulsion to observe them. So who was right?

Paul, by the Spirit of God, provides a surprising, and for some, a disturbing answer. Both could be acceptable (Romans 14:6 – “The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord…the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God”). Paul eliminates tradition, opinions, and preferences as the basis for deciding what practice is right. Rather he takes them to the Lordship of Christ, “Christ died and lived again that he might be Lord…” (Romans 14:9). The issue is this, in my heart am I following and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus in determining what I do?

Eugene Peterson in The Message captures it well, “That’s why Jesus died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty opinions of each other.”

The Second Principle:  What made people with two different practices both acceptable? Commitment to following Jesus as Lord and Master. That’s what he wants – he wants us to be following him. And when we do and don’t follow ourselves, he will guide and lead us, mold us and shape us according to his unique and perfect plan for us…all with his perfect timing.  He will do that for me and I need to trust he is doing that with you.

Next week: A 3rd Gospel principle for dealing with differing opinions and practices.

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