By L. Joseph Rosas III
Romans 14:1-12
As
a student at a small non-denominational Bible college I recall a rather animated
debate between two classmates on the issue of a Christian shopping at a grocery
store that sold beer. One colleague argued that to frequent such an establishment
was an implicit endorsement of the sale and consumption of beer. Indeed, it
might be an occasion to cause a weaker brother to stumble. The other argued
that it was impossible to find a store that didn’t sell something objectionable.
And, besides, even good things can be used for evil purposes.
The
2004 Presidential campaign exposed a divide among people of faith. On the one
hand social conservatives assumed that an anti-abortion stance, support for
school prayer, government support for faith based initiatives and sanctity of
marriage issues were enough to sway Christian conscience toward those politicians
who shared their concerns. While more liberal social activists indicated that
opposition to the war and capital punishment were also pro-life issues. The
need for a social safety net was seen as essential to a just society. And
these issues warranted Christian conscience supporting those candidates who
shared their concerns.
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Paul
deals with the problem of the weaker believer and meat that has been offered
to idols — hardly a significant issue in the culture wars of our day. But the
principles he enunciates are timeless and have their foundation in our focal
passage today.
There
are some basic assumptions which are developed in the larger context of Romans
14. Paul suggests that we learn to distinguish between matters of command and
matters of freedom. (14: 14, 20) Obviously, no Christian would think it permissible
for a believer to directly disobey a direct command or prohibition of Scripture
such as “don’t commit murder.” But the biblical witness is more ambivalent regarding
a Christian’s duty in a time of war.
Paul
encourages believers to “let all be convicted in their own mind.” (14:5) In
other words, each should develop their own convictions on debatable issues.
What may be right for one Christian in a given context may be the occasion for
stumbling by a different believer facing a different set of circumstances.
The
primary point of the discussion of meat offered to idols (meat that was used
in pagan worship and then sold on the open market) seems to be that one is to
allow fellow believers the right to determine their own convictions — even when
their convictions differ from one’s own. In the end, Paul reminds us that “each
of us will be accountable to God.” (14: 12)
There
are several principles outlined in Romans 14 that are instructive for caring
for the weaker brother — a Christian who is of uncertain conviction on a given
issue who might use the liberty of another as an occasion for sin in his own
life.