MORNING MESSAGE: Ken Bender
Text: Romans 14
UNITY FROM A TRANSFORMED MIND Romans 14
Rom 12 – 16 shows us what “transformation by the renewing of our minds” (12:2) will look like in real life situations, today specially unity
Our world or culture (sourced from human resources) often defines unity as uniformity
But God’s view of unity is very different because it is from divine resources.
14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
DIFFERENCES AMONG BELIEVERS IN NON-ESSENTIAL MATTERS
These are all believers (1, 2, 10)
They have differences of convictions about two areas: food and holy days
Weak believe – no meat
– one day more holy
Strong believe – any food is OK
– any day can be holy
What is God’s directive?
MOTIVES OF BOTH GROUPS IS GOD HONORING (14:6)
Neither group, the weak or the strong is corrected for being wrong.
Both want God to be honored (6)
The weak are more limited in their freedom probably because of religious or cultural backgrounds
The strong have more freedom in Christ because of different backgrounds
HOW DO WE TREAT EACH OTHER WHEN THERE ARE DIFFERENCES?
Accept others (14:1)
Don’t argue with them (14:1)
Don’t look down on them (14:3)
Don’t condemn them (14:3)
The reason is that they are God’s servants, not ours, and so are responsible to God, not us in matters that are not specifically commanded or defined in the Scripture (14:4)
APPLICATION
Differences of conviction between believers in non-essential issues is inevitable
Our response is to be one of understanding and acceptance
Not one of condemnation, criticism, or arguing
These issues are between believers and God
The chapter goes on to say that out of love and for the sake of peace and the building up of the body, we may need to limit our freedom so as not to cause our fellow believer to stumble (13-21)
The world largely defines UNITY as unity with uniformity. We must all think and act in similar ways.
“The nail that sticks up gets pounded down”
“Birds of a feather flock together”
However our Christian faith defines UNITY as unity in diversity.
Diversity in the Godhead
Diversity of functions, gifts, etc. in the body (church)
Diversity of beliefs in non-essentials of our faith
