Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA)
This week the world paused slightly from its daily habits to briefly consider the ongoing infighting of the Republican primary election. At the first of the week, every candidate hastened to evaluate his showing in the Iowa caucus. Later in the week, all eight of the candidates debated the issues in the bell weather state of New Hampshire as they postured for the electorate of that state. Some reporters took one look at the great diversity and wondered out loud in worldly columns at the broadness of any party which could count Keyes, Dole, Forbes, Alexander and the rest as having any unity or purpose.
If you think that republican crowd is odd, there is an even odder bunch ignored by the worldly crowd - all of those who claim the name of Jesus Christ. As you have all probably noticed in the course of your Christian life, not only are the members of Christ's church peculiar people in the fact of their being set aside from the world, we are all absolutely unique in our relationship with our Triune God. It sort of reminds me of a popular film some years ago The Good, the Bad and the Ugly! And when you have composite teams like that going on some particular mission, the tensions within the group can really impact the vitality and the ability of the group as a whole. Well, welcome to Christ's version of the elect, the hypocrite and the godly, if I may paraphrase the worldly wisdom? Here in this portion of Paul's letter, he advises us how to work together within Christ's Church to pursue the gospel call of proclaiming Christ to the World.
Now the leading issue here in this section is food, but the use of the Sabbath is also important, and in other portions of Paul's letters the divisive arguments over days and seasons, circumcision, or ascetism divide the Christian community. Depending on the situation, Paul handles these differences as each case demands. Here, he invites us all to maintain a loving, gracious spirit wherever our idiosyncrasies divide us.
You all know how we have struggled over the years with the issue of millennial theories, and how each family has chosen to school their children in different institutions or homes, so this passage should have more than just a passing interest for us. Paul's first and primary admonition here is that we are all to "Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters." Weakness here might easily be the brother or sister who disagrees with your understanding. So we should not get into arguments about who is weaker or stronger in the faith!
Thankfully, we do not discuss appropriate meats widely, but I do know that there are different tastes in meat within the congregation. I especially know which Navy veteran not to even mention the word "mutton" to. Some prefer pork, others beef and chicken. Perhaps we even have a few who prefer vegetables? At school, I am always given a hard time by one of the other staff members who thinks I should eat more vegetables. So every once in a while I humor her by having potato chips for lunch! She just shakes her head and walks away!
In verse three I do wish some of my maternal family members of two generations had appreciated my inability to eat cooked green vegetables. If they had family dinners in my childhood would have been much more enjoyable! Of course that is at the family level, such considerations ought never to come up within Christ's Church in our day, since we all know that the dietary laws of the Old Testament have been set aside. However, some writers are trying their best to reassert the ancient practices once again at this late date. I do not wish them well, not because my sons grow meat animals, but because of the divisive nature of the issue of food. Perhaps some of you can remember when your Catholic friends only ate fish on Friday and you just hated to savor something more delectable. I remember when I was in the Army, whenever we had a pork dish, I always tried to be in line with my Jewish friends who chose to go without!
Paul admonishes us later in this passage that we really ought not to take advantage of a situation like that and instead eat whatever is common to the dinner group so that we do not offend our hosts. Remember when George Bush went out of his way in Japan to be diplomatic in his culinary habits? At least he tried, how many of us would be willing to eat a bit of Scottish hagus, or Arabic camel? Remember a few years ago, when we had a church dinner and Rev Kuhn joked about the mystery meat he and Wava would bring? We had all known that he was stalking a pesky groundhog in his garden. Unfortunately some must have taken his joke seriously, because Wava took most of that dish home! And that is unusual for her wonderful cooking! Enough is enough, I'm glad we don't have a congregational meeting this week to postpone your dinner any longer since I have raised the issue of food an hour early!
In verse four Paul lays it on the line, "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." So we are to understand that each of us is accountable in these disputable matters to Christ alone. Of a more serious nature is the use of sacred time, the Sabbath which has been set aside since creation. Early on in this century, within American Presbyterianism we accepted some essential freedoms concerning the use of the Lord's Day. For those who absolutely have to work to keep their family supported, there is no censure, unless they are able to manage their own business. And then, the nature of that business must be considered for particular emergencies that we may all be engaged in solving.
Paul's focus is on the conviction of each individual's mind in verse five. However, we celebrate the Lord's Day and whatever we eat, we do so before the Lord, our God. It is before His judgment throne that we will all stand, and it is He who will judge the focus of our hearts and our day to day activities which we very often fail to bring under His regulation. In light of this, Paul urges us in verse thirteen to stop passing judgments on one another and instead to try our darndest not to put any stumbling blocks or obstacles in the way of our brothers and sisters in the faith.
According to verse fourteen, those who regard something as unclean ought to abstain from that activity or food. Personally, I have never ever had a drink of alcohol, but there are many of you who are free to partake as long as you do not embarrass Christ or Church by becoming drunk. I remember once being invited to a wedding reception where the hosts neglected the common courtesy of providing an unspiked beverage. Sherry warned me, but by the time we turned to warn another in our party it was too late. He was very embarrassed at the effect that one small drink had upon his system and we left early as a result. It has been twenty-five years and I can well understand the distress mentioned in verse fifteen.
Now, verse sixteen does allow us some freedom to speak up when intent to harm something good is accomplished. I remember once in the Army and again in Seminary when light was made of our Lord's Supper. One night some drunks tried to upset both Chaplain's assistants in our barracks by using crackers and wine in a mock communion ceremony. I simply left the building, but my friend went off the deep end. The next day, when the crew had sobered up, I used my stripes to bring up the subject and suggested that a very earnest apology be submitted to the Chaplain and the offended party. They agreed and the matter was settled. However, in Seminary, a group who celebrated communion with beer and pizza couldn't understand what they had done wrong at their "bible study"! After all they were merely being contemporary in their understanding of the sacrament!
Certainly we know as Paul points out in verses seventeen and eighteen that the kingdom is more than eating and drinking. And may we by his instruction better appreciate the spiritual blessings of righteousness, peace and joy as we serve one another. Finally, in our becoming one body of believers let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. Let our congregation be free from rushing to judgment in these disputable matters. Now, I generally don't get too awfully specific in applying these scriptural lessons to our group. But let me assure you all that I believe the admonition here should apply to our singing and the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs which we are choosing to use to praise our God. As you well know, we are using all three. And several years ago when the subject of spiritual songs was brought up, I insisted that within a year of using them we would also take a step back in time and invest in some psalters as well. And I know that many of you prefer one of the three over all the rest. As you look at the ordering of our preparation and praise and our word and worship services you see that we have all three on our menu! May we please the Lord our God with a hearty enjoyment of all three so that any visitors may well appreciate the diversity and love amongst the saints at Christ Covenant.
Resources Used: The Holy Bible, New International Version
Places Preached:Murray, John. New International Commentary: Epistle to Romans.
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America) Post Office Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213-7926
Rom14a.htm 18 February 96
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