Romans 14 Part 1
Romans 14 - Part One
The fourteenth chapter of Romans has a lot to say to us as we face this tumultuous world. It speaks to us where we are and calls us to the place we deeply want to be. In John 16:32–33 (AV)Jesus said “32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” His words are poignant for us as we endure a pandemic. They are also helpful as we navigate relationships with sisters and brothers in Christ who differ with us about the gospel and our life in Christ. Come along as we unpack together the power of the Gospel
Romans 14:1 (KJV) “1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”
It can be easy to view those who do not believe exactly as we do as weak in the faith. I think that what Paul had in mind here is people who struggle to know they are saved. Those who are unsure how to live their life in Christ. Those for whom the idea of living by faith is difficult to grasp and apply. Those who feel uneasy about their relationship with Father. Paul encourages us to receive such sisters and brothers in Christ.
In that encouragement he includes a caution. The King James calls it “doubtful disputations.” What he is cautioning against is interacting with people who do not believe as we do for the purpose of passing judgement on their opinions. It is easy go into a discussion looking for places we can prove the other person wrong and get them to see things our way. Instead, we should seek to understand their views and love them, gently and with grace building them up in the Lord.
Paul talks about this in the next chapter. In Romans 15:1 (KJV) he wrote, “1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” He tells us to cut people some slack. Treating everyone as being sincere in their beliefs fosters dialog. When we meet people whose faith is less developed it is helpful for us to remember that childlike faith in Jesus is all that is required. We are saved by grace through faith and not by theology and doctrine through knowledge.
In verse seven, we find this idea again. Romans 15:7 (KJV) “7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” Jesus came to earth and died for us while we were His enemies. We need only read of His interactions with tax collectors and prostitutes and the outcasts in the community in which He lived to see how He received us.
In the next installment we will begin to look at a few specific examples Paul uses to clarify his point.
