Today's readings are Zechariah 1.1-21 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Zech.+1.1-21 ) and Romans 14.1-23 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Rom.+14.1-23 ).
We have a fine line to walk as we consider Romans 14. Has the Lord given us freedoms? Yes he has. We are free, as Paul puts it, to eat and drink. Righteousness is not a matter of the law but a matter of being a partaker of God's grace. So how do we conduct ourselves in front of others? We surely should help others realize that they are free in Christ to eat and drink and do all good things. But at the same time, there are some people who will be made to stumble in their faith. Paul points to them as those who are weak in their faith, though in much of American evangelicalism they would be considered people who are strong in their faith. What do we do with the person who self-righteously says that alcoholic drinks will never cross his lips, even in celebration of the Lord's supper? The answer is actually quite clear. If the person is being self-righteous about it we should point out the Scriptural freedom that we have to partake of good things the Lord has provided but not to be mastered by them. What do we do with the person who fears alcoholic drinks because of his weak conscience? If he partakes of alcohol, even in the Lord's supper, it may be a violation of his conscience and lead him to decide he has sinned and is maybe not even a believer. This is a weaker brother and we dare not make him stumble. We can gently remind him of the liberty which is in Christ to partake of good tings and not be bound by them or sin through them. But we should leave him free to avoid the alcohol. He is a weak brother and we are to guard him. The real difficulty is telling the difference between the self-righteous and the weak. They don't go around wearing signs. Best to treat all like weaker brothers and yet exercise our liberty in Christ, gently but not flagrantly.
No comments:
Post a Comment