Dealing With Fellow Christians, Part II – Romans 14:13-23
Dealing With Fellow Christians, Part II – Romans 14:13-23
By Pastor Lee Hemen
April 22, 2007 AM
It has always amazed me that those who are usually in sin are the first to scream, “Do not judge me! Judge not, least ye be judged!” In doing so they miss the context of the verse (Matthew 7:1) they quote. Jesus was referring His audience to the fact that too many in His day and age were quick to weigh other people’s faults without first looking closely at their own (v. 2). The main thrust here is not that you can never judge someone else’s sins, which in fact Christ indeed does say a righteous person can do (v. 6), but rather make sure that you inspect yourself first before doing so. Most Jews in His day were more than willing to judge not only one another but especially the non-believing “goyim” around them. Can Christians judge one another? Paul deals with this issue for us here this morning and gives us a foundation for dealing with fellow Christians.
Of course we understand that when someone is in sin they do not want their sin exposed for what it is. Paul saw in the lives of some of his fellow believers the propensity to quickly pass judgment on the lives of others because those doing the judging tried to set the standard for their Christian living. Many had come out of Judaism and were trying to force their legalism on the lives of others. Paul was not necessarily dealing with Christians simply picking on one another. However, in Paul’s teaching we find out how to deal with one another in a way that is both godly and just. Let’s discover for ourselves what Paul teaches us in dealing with fellow Christians.
READ: Romans 14:13-23
We last learned that the spiritual freedom God has given to Christians comes with the price tag of responsibility and accountability. As our sovereign Lord and the Creator of the world and all its people, God is also the Judge before whom we all must stand. Every person must give account to God. In a sense, judgment comes daily as God interacts with our lives, and we also face a final judgment that none of us will escape. In the light of these truths, Paul reminds us that in dealing with fellow Christians…
I. Christians need to stop passing picayune judgment on one another! (vv. 13-18)
1. Fellowship should be a fundamental concern for all Christians! “Instead,” Paul relates, “make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” It is an individual choice for each believer to encourage rather than discourage each other in Christ! It goes back to the basic teaching of Jesus for us to look at the “splinter” in our own eye instead of the timber in our fellow Christian’s. Paul was “convinced” that “no food” was “unclean in itself.” The obstacle was when someone else saw it as a stumbling block for their fellowship with another. Paul would admonish, “If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.” It was then an act of defiance, stubbornness, and pride: “I am going to eat what I want to eat and who cares what you think!” When this occurred the one who was hurt began to speak “evil” about their fellow Christians! A person’s spiritual focus has to be on what the truth truly is: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking (picayune things), but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit!” Throughout the New Testament we read over and over that Christians are to “love one another.” Jesus, John, Peter, and Paul all voice this in their teaching to Christians, “because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” Paul reminds us that in dealing with fellow Christians, Christians need to stop passing picayune judgment on one another!
EXAMPLE: “Stop teasing your sister!” my father demanded from Ed and me. Of course we wanted to know “why?” His reasons were simple: “She is your sister, you are part of this family, and your mother and I have asked you to do so.” Interestingly, herein is found exactly what Paul is teaching us today! The world falsely thinks that Jesus and the other writers encouraged Christians to look the other way when they commit sin. Nothing could be further from the truth. While God does love the whole world and sent His Son to die for it, Christians are to condemn sin wherever they see it and whenever they experience it in their lives. While Christians are called to be “fruit” inspectors of their own lives and the lives of fellow Christians, they are to be careful not to break their fellowship with one another. Remember Paul taught us that “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:9-11) Why is this so relevant to the Christian? It is what my father tried to teach us about our family: Because “in Christ we (Christians) who are many form one body (family), and each member belongs to all the others!” (Romans 12:5) Christians are first and foremost God’s children and we also belong to one another in Christ! Paul reminds us that in dealing with fellow Christians, Christians need to stop passing picayune judgment on one another!
The value of citizenship in the kingdom of God, His church body, cannot be compared to earthly treasures. God’s kingdom produces the spiritual—and eternal—treasures of righteousness (right living among people), peace (well-being in all relationships), and the intrinsic joy of knowing God intimately. These spiritual treasures should not be traded for earthly riches which soon pass away. Our relationships with other believers should show our love for them and our concentration on spiritual treasures rather than on earthly pleasures. Therefore Paul teaches us that in dealing with fellow Christians…
II. Christians need to lead out in peace and edification! (vv. 19-23)
1. We should not destroy the work of God for our own selfish inclinations! Paul bluntly relates, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to [the things of] peace and [the things of building up one another] to mutual edification.” Picayune little inconsequential things do not matter and should not matter in the life of a Christian! “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of” these kinds of things Paul is literally saying here! In Paul’s day there were those who were deeply offended and spiritually hurt by the uncaring actions of other believers who ate any kind of meat or food without a thought as to whether it had been part of a sacrifice to a pagan god. Paul knew that “All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.” When this kind of distress was caused, for Paul, it was better not “to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall!” Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Everything is permissible—but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23). And “be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9). Both the “offended” and the “offender” should “keep” these things between themselves and “God.” What would occur if they did not would cause someone to either justify themselves or to doubt their own or someone else’s faith walk! Shame on them! This does not come “from faith; and,” Paul writes, “everything that does not come from faith is sin!” In trying to justify our actions to another would require a person to not act in faith but rather self-centeredness. In dealing with fellow Christians, Christians need to lead out in peace and edification!\
EXAMPLE: What Paul is describing here is exactly what many parents face in raising their children. Here is what I mean: When you catch one of your kind, considerate, and loving progeny behaving badly, they will immediately do one of two things: 1) try to justify their own actions or 2) blame someone else -- usually one another! I call it the “sibling survival syndrome.” Good parents do not let it manifest itself, as Paul did not allow it in the early church either. Satan loves to use the blame game within the rank and file of the fellowship. In dealing with fellow Christians, Christians need to lead out in peace and edification!
Conclusion:
Christians need to stop passing picayune judgment on one another! Christians need to lead out in peace and edification!
By Pastor Lee Hemen
April 22, 2007 AM
It has always amazed me that those who are usually in sin are the first to scream, “Do not judge me! Judge not, least ye be judged!” In doing so they miss the context of the verse (Matthew 7:1) they quote. Jesus was referring His audience to the fact that too many in His day and age were quick to weigh other people’s faults without first looking closely at their own (v. 2). The main thrust here is not that you can never judge someone else’s sins, which in fact Christ indeed does say a righteous person can do (v. 6), but rather make sure that you inspect yourself first before doing so. Most Jews in His day were more than willing to judge not only one another but especially the non-believing “goyim” around them. Can Christians judge one another? Paul deals with this issue for us here this morning and gives us a foundation for dealing with fellow Christians.
Of course we understand that when someone is in sin they do not want their sin exposed for what it is. Paul saw in the lives of some of his fellow believers the propensity to quickly pass judgment on the lives of others because those doing the judging tried to set the standard for their Christian living. Many had come out of Judaism and were trying to force their legalism on the lives of others. Paul was not necessarily dealing with Christians simply picking on one another. However, in Paul’s teaching we find out how to deal with one another in a way that is both godly and just. Let’s discover for ourselves what Paul teaches us in dealing with fellow Christians.
READ: Romans 14:13-23
We last learned that the spiritual freedom God has given to Christians comes with the price tag of responsibility and accountability. As our sovereign Lord and the Creator of the world and all its people, God is also the Judge before whom we all must stand. Every person must give account to God. In a sense, judgment comes daily as God interacts with our lives, and we also face a final judgment that none of us will escape. In the light of these truths, Paul reminds us that in dealing with fellow Christians…
I. Christians need to stop passing picayune judgment on one another! (vv. 13-18)
1. Fellowship should be a fundamental concern for all Christians! “Instead,” Paul relates, “make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” It is an individual choice for each believer to encourage rather than discourage each other in Christ! It goes back to the basic teaching of Jesus for us to look at the “splinter” in our own eye instead of the timber in our fellow Christian’s. Paul was “convinced” that “no food” was “unclean in itself.” The obstacle was when someone else saw it as a stumbling block for their fellowship with another. Paul would admonish, “If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.” It was then an act of defiance, stubbornness, and pride: “I am going to eat what I want to eat and who cares what you think!” When this occurred the one who was hurt began to speak “evil” about their fellow Christians! A person’s spiritual focus has to be on what the truth truly is: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking (picayune things), but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit!” Throughout the New Testament we read over and over that Christians are to “love one another.” Jesus, John, Peter, and Paul all voice this in their teaching to Christians, “because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” Paul reminds us that in dealing with fellow Christians, Christians need to stop passing picayune judgment on one another!
EXAMPLE: “Stop teasing your sister!” my father demanded from Ed and me. Of course we wanted to know “why?” His reasons were simple: “She is your sister, you are part of this family, and your mother and I have asked you to do so.” Interestingly, herein is found exactly what Paul is teaching us today! The world falsely thinks that Jesus and the other writers encouraged Christians to look the other way when they commit sin. Nothing could be further from the truth. While God does love the whole world and sent His Son to die for it, Christians are to condemn sin wherever they see it and whenever they experience it in their lives. While Christians are called to be “fruit” inspectors of their own lives and the lives of fellow Christians, they are to be careful not to break their fellowship with one another. Remember Paul taught us that “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:9-11) Why is this so relevant to the Christian? It is what my father tried to teach us about our family: Because “in Christ we (Christians) who are many form one body (family), and each member belongs to all the others!” (Romans 12:5) Christians are first and foremost God’s children and we also belong to one another in Christ! Paul reminds us that in dealing with fellow Christians, Christians need to stop passing picayune judgment on one another!
The value of citizenship in the kingdom of God, His church body, cannot be compared to earthly treasures. God’s kingdom produces the spiritual—and eternal—treasures of righteousness (right living among people), peace (well-being in all relationships), and the intrinsic joy of knowing God intimately. These spiritual treasures should not be traded for earthly riches which soon pass away. Our relationships with other believers should show our love for them and our concentration on spiritual treasures rather than on earthly pleasures. Therefore Paul teaches us that in dealing with fellow Christians…
II. Christians need to lead out in peace and edification! (vv. 19-23)
1. We should not destroy the work of God for our own selfish inclinations! Paul bluntly relates, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to [the things of] peace and [the things of building up one another] to mutual edification.” Picayune little inconsequential things do not matter and should not matter in the life of a Christian! “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of” these kinds of things Paul is literally saying here! In Paul’s day there were those who were deeply offended and spiritually hurt by the uncaring actions of other believers who ate any kind of meat or food without a thought as to whether it had been part of a sacrifice to a pagan god. Paul knew that “All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.” When this kind of distress was caused, for Paul, it was better not “to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall!” Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Everything is permissible—but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23). And “be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9). Both the “offended” and the “offender” should “keep” these things between themselves and “God.” What would occur if they did not would cause someone to either justify themselves or to doubt their own or someone else’s faith walk! Shame on them! This does not come “from faith; and,” Paul writes, “everything that does not come from faith is sin!” In trying to justify our actions to another would require a person to not act in faith but rather self-centeredness. In dealing with fellow Christians, Christians need to lead out in peace and edification!\
EXAMPLE: What Paul is describing here is exactly what many parents face in raising their children. Here is what I mean: When you catch one of your kind, considerate, and loving progeny behaving badly, they will immediately do one of two things: 1) try to justify their own actions or 2) blame someone else -- usually one another! I call it the “sibling survival syndrome.” Good parents do not let it manifest itself, as Paul did not allow it in the early church either. Satan loves to use the blame game within the rank and file of the fellowship. In dealing with fellow Christians, Christians need to lead out in peace and edification!
Conclusion:
Christians need to stop passing picayune judgment on one another! Christians need to lead out in peace and edification!
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