Romans Fourteen, Love, Fighting, Opinion
Romans, chapter fourteen, is specifically written to address how stronger Christians should love and accept their weaker brethren, but not for the purpose of wrangling or fighting with them over doubtful and disputable matters of opinion (in other words, those things which God has not specifically addressed one way or the other). Verse 1 says:
- “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations”(KJV).
- “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things”(NKJV)
- “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions” (ESV).
- “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions” (NASB 1977).
After establishing exactly what he is addressing, Paul then goes on in verses 2-9 to explain how some brethren regard certain days and foods to be off-limits, while others are of the belief that all such days and foods are acceptable on the same level. However, the main thrust of these verses is not the days or the foods, but that both Christian brethren, fully convinced in their own minds of what they have come to believe regarding these matters of opinion, are deeply loved and completely accepted by God, and therefore should be by each other – even when they areof the exact opposite opinion on those very same matters:
“For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
The application of this text’s truths to the mask issue within our belovedbrotherhoodis obvious: Brother “A” strongly believes that he must live a markedly different life from the non-Christians around him;that he must not fear(or even appear to fear) what they fear (Isa. 8:12-13KJV) – including fearing either getting, giving, or even dying of Covid as so many outside of Christ do (Ps. 23:4, 46:1-11; 2 Tim. 1:7; Heb. 2:14-15).Brother “A” fully believes that he should live His faith in such a way as to show other Christians by his example, what a life lived in total trust in God should look like no matter the risk (Acts 20:22-24). Thus, because of those beliefs,he is convinced thatit is acomplete compromise of his Christian faith and convictions for him to wear a mask for those reasons.To him, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phil. 1:19-21).
On the other hand, you have brother/sister “Z,” who is just as completely convinced and convicted, that due to either personal pre-existing health conditions;perhaps because they fear either getting, giving, dying of,or even contributing to another’s death due to Covid; or maybe even in order to just simply make others around them feel more comfortable and at ease, that they should wear a mask at all times in public.
The Scripture says “Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (vs. 5). Because the fact is,that just as we see in that same text, God loves and accepts them both – exactly right where they are; and hence so should we – no matter where within thatA-Z spectrum of opinions on masks we maypersonally fall. For each one of us will have to give account to God for our own personal behavior during this pandemic as well as on many other matters; a point which the Lord then goes on, through the divinely-inspired pen of the Apostle Paul, to make even more emphatic:
“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Vss. 10-12).
Then, there is the latter part of verse 13 (the entirety of which states, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”), whichhas been referencedby someseeking to compeltheir brethren -whose convictions run completely contrary to theirs – to have to comply with their convictions by wearinga maskcontinually in services. The implication is,that those like brother “A”,who are of the opinion that to wear a maskis a compromise of his own personally-held faith, convictions, and conclusions,are unloving, uncaring, and putting a stumbling block before thoselike brother or sister “Z”, who,because of their own personally-held faith, convictions, and conclusions, are of the opinion that a mask should be worn at all times in public. Some things that need to be taken into consideration though…
- First off, as we all know, we cannot get the complete picture on any given Biblical topicby taking only a small portion of the verses regarding it into account. And so, as we consider some of the other Bibleverses regarding stumbling blocks, we discover something quiteimportant: Stumbling blocks are not always removed – nor should they be – not even by some of the most faithful, devoted, and God-fearing that ever lived. Take for example Jesus; His coming was a stumbling-block(stumbling stone, or stone of stumbling) to many (Isa. 8:14; Rom. 9:32-33; 1 Ptr. 2:7-8) … and yet, He still came. God still sent Him, even though He knew that His coming would be a huge stumbling-block to millions.
PreachingJesus and His gospel has always has been a stumbling-block as well(1 Cor. 1:23) … and yet, the same Apostle Paul who wrote both Romans 14and1 Corinthians 8 (wherein he stated that he would never eat meat again if it caused his brother to stumble –vs. 13), still did not stop preaching the gospel – even though his continuing to do so wasa major stumbling-block tomany; just as he, himself, readily knew, acknowledged, and even admitted in the Scriptures (1 Cor. 1:23; Acts 20:22-24).
So why would Paul stop doing one thing that was causing people to stumble (eating meat), but not the other (preaching Jesus)? What’s the difference?The answer is simple. When we are discussing something that truly doesn’t matter to God (like whether or not we as Christians eat certain foods or not{1 Cor. 8:8}, or celebrate or abstain from publicly celebrating certain holidays {like birthdays, Flag Day, Memorial Day and etc.}), we should easily be willing to acquiesce to any truly legitimate concern from our weaker brethren in such matters of opinion. However, when our own understanding and convictions arefirmly rooted and grounded in Scripture, then that is an altogether different story, and as Scripture clearly reveals, should not be compromised – stumbling block or not. For example, just because Jesus’ coming would be a stumbling block to many did not mean He would change His plans and refuse to come(Rom. 9:32-33; 1 Ptr. 2:7-8 as previously noted). Just because the preaching of the gospel was a stumbling block to many did not mean that Paul and the other apostles would cease doing that (1 Cor. 1:23; Acts 20:22-24 as already noted as well).
Similarly, although the wearing or not wearing of masks is not specifically addressed in the Scriptures, when one’s Biblical faith, understanding, conscience,and convictions are the foundation upon which their conclusionis built, that becomes anentirely different matter altogether. After all, although the apostle Paul would apparently not eat meat or celebrate certain days above others if it caused his weaker brethren to stumble, certainlythat was not the case when it came to his Biblical understanding of why he needed to continue to celebrate the Lord’s Day – whether it caused his weaker brethren who thought it was time to stop meeting together due to the risks involved to stumble or not (Acts 20:7; see Hebs. 10:19-25).
- Secondly, any of those good brethren (such as brother/sister “Z” as noted above) who might wish to seek to force their other good brethren (such as brother/sister “A” as noted above) to constantly have to wear a mask in services by staking out their demand on the latter phrase of Romans 14:13, must also understand the terribly precarious position that such an all-out insistence ultimately puts them in.
You see, the latter part of Romans 14:13 could just as easily be used by those like brother “A,” to say that, due to his understanding and convictions, all of those who wear a mask are a stumbling-block to him, because they are not willing to show their faith and trust in God by taking off their masks and being different from the world around them, as he has personally concluded that all Christians should do.
And so, we can easily see how those of either opinion might possibly be tempted to (somewhat selfishly – Phil. 2:3-4) seek to misuse the whole “stumbling-block” Scripture on the other, only in order to get their own way. But to what end – except to possibly create more confusion, division, and destruction? So what is the answer then? Paul unfolds it for us in the followingten verses…
Verse 14 states: “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” The Apostle Paul fully understood that in all such matters of personal opinion, that while neither way was necessarily wrong (unclean/unacceptable to God) in and of itself; that if one (either brother/sister “A” or “Z”) truly felt that the other way was wrong, then for him/her to be compelled to have to act in that way – completely contrary to their own personal conscience, convictions, and conclusions on the matter – then for them, thataction would definitelybe wrong (unclean/sinful).
Therefore, we must not thus grieve them by seeking to force them to do that which they have decided in their own minds is wrong (unclean) for them to be doing; for when we do so, we are no longer walking in love (Vs. 15): “Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.”
The answer? Avoid doing that. Don’t let that happen. Don’t let that which you have decided is the good and right thing for you to do in this situation, to become something evil and destructive like that to another, by seeking to force your brethren of the opposite opinion, into compliance with your convictions. For the kingdom (church) is about much better, and much moregodly and rewarding pursuits, than anyone’s personal opinions on something God has not specifically addressed(vss. 16 + 17): “Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
“For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense”(vss. 18-20). Once again, in verse 20, he repeats essentially the same warning that he stated in verse 14: That while either way on these matters of opinion that one has chosen to go is fine (“pure” or ‘clean’) for them, if another brother or sister sees it just the opposite, then for them it would be “unclean,” “evil,” and “offensive,” to be forced or compelled to have to do that which they are not convicted is the right thing for them to do. Seeking to force brethren to compromise their faith, conscience, and convictions on any matter of opinion, just in order to comply with someone else’s of the opposite opinion, certainly does not make for peace and edification, but only evil, offense, division, and destruction, according to God. And matters of opinion are just not worth that.
“It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak” (vs. 21).That’s right. By implication and application of Paul’s words: It is good to wear a mask (if you can), and yournot wearing one will cause brethren like brother “Z” to stumble. Conversely however, it is also good not to wear a mask, if your wearing one might make brethren like brother “A” stumble. The problem though, is that each congregation likely has good brethren all over the spectrum on this particular matter of opinion, so no matter which way you go,you are more than likelyto be a problem or stumbling block to someone. So, what do you do?
Paul says that each onemust form their own convictions and conclusions on all such matters of opinion– in other words, they must work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, without grumbling and disputing (Phil. 2:12-15) – and simply go with that (Vs. 22): Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.And as he has already thoroughly addressedthroughout the rest of Romans 14, each one must do so without seeking to force everyone else of the directly opposite opinion,into compliance with their convictions and conclusions… and here’s why: Paul says that if you force another brother or sister to compromise their faith and convictionsby going along with you and yours just to get along with you, then they are condemned and sinning because their actions are no longer based on their faith in God, but on your force on them (vs. 23): “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
Chapter 15 then begins thus: “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me” (vss. 1-3). We who are strong in our faith and convictions on such matters of opinion had surely ought to be patient and “bear with” those who are not so strong, seeking to please and edify them whenever and wherever possible.None of us should be living to please ourselves, but always someone else. For even Jesus did not please Himself as verse three makes very clear. And just who did He live toultimately please and always put first and foremost? God (Jn. 5:30, 6:38; Mt. 26:39-44) – just as we should. Yes, Jesus lived to teach, edify, and strengthen others who were weak in their faith, by teaching them orally, and then showing them practically, how to trust God completely. He did so by both His words and His example – but never at the expense of His putting and pleasing God first. For example: Instead of pleasingand giving in to Peter in his weakness, Jesus pleased God and put His will first – and He did so more than once (Mt. 16:21-23; Jn. 13:6-8). Instead of pleasing and giving in to the people in their weakness at the cross, Jesus pleased God and put His will first (Mt. 27:39-44).
This is exactly the Biblical example that those who would follow in His footsteps must also maintain (vs. 4). We, too, must always seek to please, edify, and encourage others, but never at the expense of doing and putting the will of God first (1 Sam. 15:10-24). Or, seeing as how we are talking about matters of opinion instead of something that God has specifically addressed – We must always seek to please and edify others, but never at the expense of what we have personally come to the conclusion is the will of God for us individually in these matters, as based on our own personal study, understanding, and application of Scripture. In other words, if brother “A” is firmly convicted, based on his Scriptural study and understanding as outlined on page one of this study, that it is God’s will that He not wear a mask, then He must put that ahead of pleasing those people whose faith and convictions arenot what his is on the issue. On the other hand, if brother/sister “Z” is firmly convicted, based on their Scriptural study and understanding as outlined on page two, that it is God’s will that they shouldwear a mask, then they must put that ahead of pleasing those whose faith and convictions are not what theirs are on the issue as well.
Romans 14 is all about loving and accepting one another to the glory of God, no matter where or how far apart we may stand on such matters of opinion,and without seeking to force everyone else to have to comply with whatever our personal opinion, conviction, or conclusion might happen to be on thesesame matters. The kingdom of God/church of Christ is about exactly that: Loving and accepting one another – just the same as God loves and accepts each one of us no matter where we may stand on such matters; and then moving beyond them to work and serve the Lord together in complete unity:“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God” (vss. 5-7).
Let’s get to it brethren. Time’s a wasting.
And our mission to seek and save the lost is suffering – terribly.