Receive one who is
weak in the faith,
but not to disputes
over doubtful things.
Romans 14: 1
The rules
that we must abide by when studying the Word of God, and could be the same for
any other study that we do, we must remember three things; context, context,
context. Furthermore, scripture
interprets scripture. To not abide by
these rules is to be led possibly into it a false understanding of what God has
intended for us to know, to exercise in our life, and to aid others. It is also most important that we apply all
biblical principles from both the Old Testament and the New Testament to aid us
to the truth that God has imparted to us and not led by man's opinions. As a reminder that chapter numbers, and the
first numbers, that are in our Bibles were not there when the writers wrote
their letters, and there he pencils from various churches, in people's. We must not get hung up on the divisions
that were supplied even though in most cases they are great aid for us to
understand God's Word. In Chapter 13 of
the book of Romans and in verse 13, Paul writes: "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and
drunkenness, not in good as in last, not in strife and envy. But put on a Lord Jesus Christ's, and make
no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13: 13 -- 14). Continuing Paul then writes the above
Scripture and reminds us that we are to receive even those who are weak in the
faith, and those who have differing opinions over things that would be matters
of indifference, or doubtful things.
The church at Rome had various differences of opinions and had need for
instruction in regards to what it means to be a Christian and how as a
Christian we are to address these various people and their opinions. We today he needs this same instruction
because there are various opinions among the different denominations within the
Christian religion. We need to come to
understand what Paul was a tempting to tell the Romans, and that telling to the
Romans given to him through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit applies to us
today. Paul never expressed a decision
to put a stop to these various opinions.
Yet, we must understand this, we are not to be compelled or to give
assent to any outward observance, or doctrine that is not scriptural for if we
do then we would be nothing more than hypocritical in our teaching would lead
people away from the truth of God. This
then, requires much study, for as Peter told us in his letter to the church: "But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asked you a
reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good
conscience, that when they define you as evildoers, those who revile your good
conduct in Christ may be ashamed" (1 Peter 3:15 -- 16). As we mature in the Christian faith, we
take on more and more responsibility to ensure that our congregations are free
from unwarranted disputes and in false teachings that may arise from those who
hold opinions above the Word of God.
Sanctification is while we are on this earth a progressive growth. It is not that God has not sanctified us by
the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ for all of his
children. This is true that when we die
we do go to be with the Lord God. Our
sanctification does not have anything to do with our salvation other than we
are to grow in our faith and we do this by studying God's Word. In our growth as in maturity of our faith
and in our sanctification we are to receive those who are weak in the faith
understanding that there is an essential right for private judgment within true
religion and not to allow this to be so is to attempt to produce an absolute
unanimity among true Christians. Many
have attempted this utopian ideology and yet there is no such thing as a
possibility for utopianism among people.
Why? It is because there is one
thing that has never been able to be removed from people because people are
sinners and it is this: greed, and a desire to do things their way. In part there is no harm in having various
opinions on things that are only matters of indifference and yet there is much
harm that can be done when we try to apply in matters of indifference to be
matters of difference. Paul starts to
give us examples: "For one believes
he may eat all thing, but he who is weak eats only vegetable. Let not him who eats despise him who does
not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who needs; for God has
received him" (Romans 14: 2 -- 3). When a person puts this personal
belief as the only way in which to live, whether it be easy and all things, or
just eating vegetables, then this is a problem and if the person is a weak
believer then our disputation will harm him/her. Paul then adds: "Who
are you to judge another's servant? To
his own master stands or falls. Indeed,
he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stay" (Romans 14:
4). As Paul could endure these various opinions so ought we also are to do
the same. Keep this in mind, that if a
person does not profess repentance and has a believing dependence upon God,
knowing that they are a justly condemned sinner, saved on the righteousness and
atonement of Jesus Christ, that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, and
he is relying on the Holy Spirit for teaching and sanctification: he or she
cannot be considered as a believer.
Many would like to say that we are not to judge anyone, but this is not
so for we are to examine all people who claim to be believers to ensure that
they actually are even though they may be weak in the faith and have various
opinions on matters of indifference. We
are to examine all people and to judge them according to God's word and not to
some man-made opinion or doctrine. We
are to receive into our congregation those that are weak in the faith, to help
that one, to encourage him or her, to receive them and not argue about certain
points that will only perplex and shake his or her faith. It is so easy to attempt to defend one's own
beliefs, even those beliefs that are in actuality only matters of indifference
but we are to humble ourselves and not speak evil of those who are truly
Christian and yet weak in the faith: "Humble
your selves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Do not speak evil of one another, rather
in. He who speaks evil of another and
judges his brother speaks evil of the wall and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer
of the law but a judge there is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy. Who are you to judge another" (James 4:
10 -- 12)? Notice here that James
is speaking about judging a brother, not a person who is not a brother. We are to judge sin, and sinfulness, for we
have the responsibility to keep our congregations clean and pure. Once a person has proven that they are truly
converted Christians no matter the level of their faith we are to aid each
other to grow in our faith and in the knowledge of the Lord and not to just
condemn them by judging them for things that are matters of indifference.
As I continue in this chapter 14 of
the book of Romans Paul will explain to us exactly what has been set forth in
this blog. I hope this is very helpful
to you as it is for me to be reminded of our responsibility as a child of God.
To know wisdom and
instruction,
to perceive the words of
understanding,
to receive the
instruction of wisdom,
justice, judgment, and equity;
to give prudence to
the simple,
to the young man knowledge and
discretion––
a wise man will
hear an increased learning,
and a man of understanding will
attain wise counsel.
Proverbs 1: 2 -- 5
Receive God's
instruction
Richard L. Crumb
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