Living This Life - Part 4

“Freedom”

Paul has spoken in these last chapters of Romans about a life completely devoted to God, devoted to others, and about a life that is well lived in the eyes of society. He then brings home in the last few chapters the importance of freedom and all that freedom entails, which is room to grow and the ability to love. Paul speaks about this throughout both chapters 14 and 15, and they are well worth the read.

A few things stood out to me in these chapters. One is the distinction that Paul makes between those whose faith is weak or strong and how he makes that distinction. I think most of us think that those who have more regulation and restriction on what they will or will not do would have a stronger faith, but Paul actually says the opposite, that those who have less freedom are the ones who are weak. “One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.” (14:2) Yay for eating everything!

This idea of eating meat or only vegetables may seem a bit out there, but it had huge implications for those in Rome at the time. You see, when you bought meat from one of the shambles (discount meat market of the day) you were buying meat that had most likely been sacrificed in some sort of pagan worship. This thought led some to not buy any meat at all because they did not want to be connected to idol worship or support those businesses. While on the other side of the aisle were those who believed that a false god is really no god at all, and so didn’t give it a second thought (cp. 1 Cor. 8). This also took place with the days a person would consider holy for worship, but it is important to understand that both these things were considered by Paul to be “disputable matters, doubtful things or opinions (14:1),” and that he is not talking about the rudiments of our faith or moral issues.

It’s strange how people feel compelled to impose their standards with these kinds of “disputable matters”. It’s not hard to see the same arguments raised about many similar things today in our places of worship. Drinking beer or wine, the music we like or even tattoos are a few things that come to mind and the compulsion to compare and rank ourselves to others happens all too often. It is worth remembering that the person who has more restrictions may actually be weaker in faith.

Now, it may surprise you to know that Paul never says that one view is right regarding these things and that the other is wrong, he does say that one’s faith is weak, but not that they are wrong. And instead of trying to declare who is right or wrong, Paul encourages both to be fully convinced in their own mind. (14:5)

Wow, imagine that; it’s ok to choose and make up your own mind and it can actually be different than someone else’s. HALLELUJAH! That little nugget can set a lot of people free if they give it some thought and let it sink in.

An important part of living this life of faith is to be persuaded with what we believe and the convictions we hold. For that to happen there needs to be communication between us and the Lord we are living for, the freedom to choose is a necessary part of growth and love in any relationship, including our relationship with God. Paul emphasizes the importance of this personal connection when he says, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (14:4) Powerful! What business do we have telling the Lord’s servant what to do in these disputable matters? This is why Paul spends the majority of these two chapters explaining why it is more important to love others than try and prove ourselves right when it comes to these things and why freedom must bow it’s knee to love, but then that's the point, only freedom can. Oh, that we would learn.

“Let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way .“ (14:13)

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (14:19)

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (15:7)

Amen.

To think some will read this and miss the point, because all they see is the beer.