God wants unity among his people, and this requires sensitivity. Little if any good is ever served when God’s people divide over issues that are not doctrinal. We must respect those who disagree with us, especially in matters the Bible is not clear on. Perhaps an old adage is pertinent: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in everything, love.”
Remembering We Will Stand Before God Fosters Sensitivity (vv. 12-16)
In the middle of his discussion about eating meat sacrificed to idols, Paul gives a quote and makes a statement concerning our bowing before God and our personal responsibility to him. It may seem out of place, but bear in mind our personal responsibility and accountability to God helps us see things in a different light. What is most important? For me to force my opinion that is only an opinion on other believers, or for me to work together in unity to fulfill God’s Kingdom work?
In the final account, there is more believers agree on than differ over, and what we differ about is not pertinent to salvation or eternity. There may be an earthly need for denominations, but they will disappear in heaven. Thus we should not condemn others or put obstacles in their path since we know we are not perfect either.
While believers are no longer under condemnation and will not face God’s judgment as it relates to salvation, our works will be judged. Jesus reminds us of a similar saying when he tells us to quit worrying about the speck in our brother’s eye when we have a beam in our own (Matthew 7:3). We must take personal responsibility for our failures before pointing out the same to others.
It is not only the mature believer who can cause the immature believer to stumble as they live out their freedom in Christ. Mature believers, if not careful, can become insensitive to issues immature believers are dealing with and thereby offend them. It is much better to give God time to deal with these matters than it is to be insensitive. On the other hand, the immature or scrupulous believers can try to hem the mature believer in by petty rules and regulations. Both of the above scenarios cause division and dissension in the church.
This is not to say more mature believers have to sacrifice their liberty to pacify immature believers. Rather our focus should be on following Christ as closely as we can, letting others do so also in the way they understand while remembering our fight is against the forces of evil not each other.
Paul’s conclusion is that all food is permissible. But if a person believes it is wrong to eat certain foods or food under certain conditions, it is wrong for them. Sometimes our convictions come from personal struggles we’ve had and validate what Paul is teaching.
Such as the person who has his wife screen all his emails and refuses to use the Internet. It’s not because he believes the Internet or email is wrong but because he once had a struggle with pornography and knows it’s in his best interest not to create a circumstance for Satan to tempt him. In turn, he should not force his beliefs on others because the Internet in itself is not an issue or morally right or wrong. Nor should he be informed by a mature believer that he is being overly sensitive and needs to get in the groove by using the Internet.
Paul says we should not let our eating (or anything else) ruin someone for whom Christ died. He is an example. He was at the Jerusalem Council where the Jewish church in Jerusalem determined what responsibility if any the Gentile church had to the Old Testament law. They asked the Gentile church in Antioch not to eat meat sacrificed to idols. Paul accepted this, even though he admits eating any meat is acceptable. But why? He didn’t want Gentile believers to offend Jewish believers. He, like Christ, desired unity in the church.
Our actions and sensitivity must be governed by love. If a particular action is distressing another Christian and we continue to flaunt the action or opinion, we are not acting in love. It therefore seems possible to sin against others, cause them to sin against their consciences, and even to sin against God because we are sinning against a fellow believer—even though the thing we are doing is actually not a sin.
Remembering What Defines the Kingdom Fosters Sensitivity (vv. 17-23)
God’s Kingdom is not defined by religious scruples believers have differed over. It is not a matter of what we eat or drink or what we should or should not do on the Lord’s Day. It is not an issue of whether the regulations of the Jewish Sabbath should be transferred to the Lord’s Day or whether it’s acceptable to sell in the church. It’s not even about what music is acceptable.
Life in God’s Kingdom is about a life of goodness, peace, and joy in the Spirit. We are instructed to walk by the Spirit so we don’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Life in the Spirit results in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we serve God and others with these attitudes, we won’t divide over miniscule issues of little importance. We will keep the larger matters in mind. Kingdom living is about harmony and building each other up.
The early church’s difference of opinion over what should or should not be eaten carried the potential of tearing apart God’s work. Our personal agendas can do the same. As long as doctrine is not involved, we should seriously consider whether making a rigid stand on a matter is worth the consequences. Sin leads people to be disagreeable, not God. Unity is one goal. Avoiding causing a fellow believer to stumble by our actions is a further goal.
Paul gives some good advice in verse 22. If you feel a certain action is acceptable, keep it between yourself and God. Don’t flaunt it before the immature believer who has a problem with it. Some battles are not worth fighting. The fallout would be greater than the dividends.
If God’s Word is not clear but your conscience bothers you, leave it alone. It’s better to be safe than sorry or miserable. We sin against our conscience when we do something our conscience bothers us about. Sin is a private and public matter. Our actions do have a bearing on others, and love should guide them. When it does, we will avoid those things that bring division in God’s church, and we will strive for unity even when it means we have to agree to disagree.
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