Sudsy wrote:I'm curious as to how Romans 14 is interpreted by those who stress submitting to the local church in areas of sanctification. To me this says we, in the church, are to accept one another's sanctification practises and try not to be a stumblingblock in another's walk with God ? If correct, then when leadership strays from Romans 14, are we to still submit to that kind of leadership ?
First off, let me say that I agree wholeheartedly with the Apostle Peter, when he says that some things in Paul's epistles are hard to understand. If Romans 14:1-14 is extracted from its context and examined as a policy all on its own will be confusing and lead one into error, potentially including individualism and rebellion. At first glance, these verses to seem to suggest a live-and-let-live mentality, where everybody does their own thing and we all get along famously.
But is that really what it means? I don't think that it does.
Let's take a look at the context. Romans 14 is really a continuation of a thought chain begun in Romans 13. In Romans 13, Paul discusses a variety of practical ways in which godliness manifests itself, such as obedience to the rulers of the land, and paying tribute. Stresses the importance of loving each other, and points out how that the commands of the law are all encapsulated in the command to love our neighbors as ourselves. He exhorts us to walk honestly, not engaging in the worlds practices of pleasing ourselves, but rather "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ."
At this point, Paul moves on to discuss two very sensitive issues, that of eating meat (likely referring to ceremonially unclean meat, or else meat offered to idols, it's not clear) and that of observing the holy days of the Jewish law. These were issues that the Apostles had already made a ruling on. They had been divisive issues ever since the first Gentiles received the Holy Ghost and were brought into the church. The leaders of the church had gathered together and made a decision, discerning that the Lord's will was to not require adherence to these points of the OT law.
Notice how gently Paul instructs the believers to treat each other on this issue. In verse 1, he instructs those holding to the official church position (which provided an allowance for this contentious practice) to accept those who weren't comfortable with this allowance and not to argue with them. He instructs those who aren't comfortable with the official church position not to be argumentative and judgmental of those who aren't as strict as they but are within the limits of the decrees issued by the elders at Jerusalem.
After this, from 14:15 - 15:7, he goes on to exhort the brethren not to insist on what they think are their liberties in Christ. He pleads with the brethren to bear each other's infirmities, to not place stumbling blocks in each others' way, and to ensure that in exercising their liberty in Christ that they don't provide excuse for others to speak evil of the gospel.
I am privileged to have had the opportunity to see this admonition lived out in real life. Christians who come together, binding their hearts one to another, working together to understand how God would have them show love to those about them and live out the faith in such a way that it gives a clear testimony to the world about them. Certain applications which they believe to aid in maintaining godly practice have been reduced to writing, helping to bring clarity to issues as well as providing a fixed reference point to help counter the tendency for practice to drift. Those specific applications which have been reduced to writing only encompass a small percentage of the daily decisions that the members of these groups make. In these other areas, the members draw their personal lines at various places, loving, caring for, and appreciating each other regardless of their differences regarding specific application.
In those areas where there the group has come to an agreement on a minimum standard, many members have drawn their own line somewhat back from that minimum standard, but do not pass judgement on all who don't apply exactly the same line they do. An example might be observance of Good Friday. Some observe it similar to Sunday, taking off from work and going to church services. Others might take a family vacation, others might treat it as a regular work day. Another example might be shopping at a place like Cabella's or Bass Pro Shops. Some would shun such places, not wanting to be seen in a place which traffics so unapologetically in things that appeal to the vanity of man. Others would have no problem stopping in to pick up a needed item, while others might have no problem browsing more extensively. All, however, treat each other as brethren and mutual love and appreciation flows.
There is also recognition that certain applications adopted on a group level don't necessarily reflect right vs. wrong so much as allow a common uniform practice, and within certain boundaries, others from outside that group who might apply the same biblical command with a different application can be accepted as brethren in Christ.
Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
