Romans 13:1-5 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
As we seek to be members of Christ's body, we will hear other voices demanding obedience - sometimes competing, sometimes complimenting one another, and sometimes we're not sure. The starting point must be that God has ordained human government, be it political or religious, and He has done so to maintain order. If our basic approach is to obey, first God, and then earthly leaders, we will be in a position to know when they conflict and act accordingly. We don't just want to avoid being punished for doing the wrong thing; we want to have confidence knowing what we have done in the right thing.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
Looking both ways...
Romans 14:19-23 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
From the earliest age we are told to look both ways before we cross the street. The same is true for any decision we make about our behavior - we need to look inside to the core convictions we have, and we must look outside to the impact our choices have on others. The first is truly the hardest. When we look within, we often take just a glance to see what our conscience says about some act. The conscience is not always right; it has been affected by the fall. So in looking within, we also need to look in the mirror of the Word of God, allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds and the way we think about things, and ask if that action is Christ-like. Even when we do all of the above, and find the "all-clear" sign, we cannot simply do whatever we want with a clear conscience if it is detrimental to a brother or sister in Christ. We must not live selfishly.
From the earliest age we are told to look both ways before we cross the street. The same is true for any decision we make about our behavior - we need to look inside to the core convictions we have, and we must look outside to the impact our choices have on others. The first is truly the hardest. When we look within, we often take just a glance to see what our conscience says about some act. The conscience is not always right; it has been affected by the fall. So in looking within, we also need to look in the mirror of the Word of God, allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds and the way we think about things, and ask if that action is Christ-like. Even when we do all of the above, and find the "all-clear" sign, we cannot simply do whatever we want with a clear conscience if it is detrimental to a brother or sister in Christ. We must not live selfishly.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Two ways to make a mess...
Romans 14:13-18 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. 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. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
In the big picture here, Paul is talking about the transformation process into Christlikeness (beginning in chapter 12). He wants to use each one of us to minister to one another and build up the whole body. But that is not always easy. We all still struggle with our own sins; we all have our own opinions; we all easily fall back into that comparison game. Let us not throw those stumbling blocks in each other's way - by judging others by our extra-biblical convictions, or by living selfishly, doing those things which are in themselves not sinful, but which we know offend a brother or sister in Christ and stunt their growth. Let us live in love to serve one another and become more like Him.
In the big picture here, Paul is talking about the transformation process into Christlikeness (beginning in chapter 12). He wants to use each one of us to minister to one another and build up the whole body. But that is not always easy. We all still struggle with our own sins; we all have our own opinions; we all easily fall back into that comparison game. Let us not throw those stumbling blocks in each other's way - by judging others by our extra-biblical convictions, or by living selfishly, doing those things which are in themselves not sinful, but which we know offend a brother or sister in Christ and stunt their growth. Let us live in love to serve one another and become more like Him.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Caught
Romans 14:10-12 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,‘every knee will bow before me;every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
As Paul is working through the struggles we have balancing our personal convictions with one another's imperfections, he warns us to stop trying to take the place of God. Whereas we have the responsibility to exhort one another to holiness and Christ-like living, it is God alone who has the authority to judge. When we get into a debate with one another and start pointing at one another, we need to pause and look up. While we are judging one another, the One True Judge is watching and listening to every word we say, and He sees deeper still, to the motives of our hearts.
As Paul is working through the struggles we have balancing our personal convictions with one another's imperfections, he warns us to stop trying to take the place of God. Whereas we have the responsibility to exhort one another to holiness and Christ-like living, it is God alone who has the authority to judge. When we get into a debate with one another and start pointing at one another, we need to pause and look up. While we are judging one another, the One True Judge is watching and listening to every word we say, and He sees deeper still, to the motives of our hearts.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Convictions and Community in Christ
Romans 14:5-9 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. 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. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 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. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
So, we live in community with other believers who have differing convictions about certain activities. For these particular people it was things like eating food sacrificed to idols - to eat or not to eat. Or whether to celebrate certain holidays - be they the old Jewish celebrations or the pagan holidays. How do we live as new believers in an old sinful world? We will not always agree. But we must always go back to this: our lives are not our own. We have been bought with a price; we belong to Christ, so whatever decisions and convictions we have must go back to Him, not just to please ourselves. We must not only think about what is best for me, but for His Body, the Church.
So, we live in community with other believers who have differing convictions about certain activities. For these particular people it was things like eating food sacrificed to idols - to eat or not to eat. Or whether to celebrate certain holidays - be they the old Jewish celebrations or the pagan holidays. How do we live as new believers in an old sinful world? We will not always agree. But we must always go back to this: our lives are not our own. We have been bought with a price; we belong to Christ, so whatever decisions and convictions we have must go back to Him, not just to please ourselves. We must not only think about what is best for me, but for His Body, the Church.
Monday, February 23, 2015
The Challenges of Community...
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
(Romans 14:1-4 ESV)
When God brings us together as the Church, each of us seeking to become holy vessels and servants who glorify Him, we will doubtlessly have differing opinions on what that holiness looks like. When your personal convictions and mine come face to face with one another, they will not always agree. What do we do then? We go back to the core issues of community in chapter 12: We are the body. It does no good to beat up other members of our body. We need to trust in the work of the Holy Spirit who indwells both me and the other person to work in both of us to help us see who is seeing things clearly, or if this is just a personal conviction or restraint God has for me and not for everyone. Community is not always easy, but it is the way God has of developing us all in the real world. May we receive the changes He wants to make through the input of others, and may we be loving and gracious instruments who allow Him to use us, even when we are not well-received at first.
(Romans 14:1-4 ESV)
When God brings us together as the Church, each of us seeking to become holy vessels and servants who glorify Him, we will doubtlessly have differing opinions on what that holiness looks like. When your personal convictions and mine come face to face with one another, they will not always agree. What do we do then? We go back to the core issues of community in chapter 12: We are the body. It does no good to beat up other members of our body. We need to trust in the work of the Holy Spirit who indwells both me and the other person to work in both of us to help us see who is seeing things clearly, or if this is just a personal conviction or restraint God has for me and not for everyone. Community is not always easy, but it is the way God has of developing us all in the real world. May we receive the changes He wants to make through the input of others, and may we be loving and gracious instruments who allow Him to use us, even when we are not well-received at first.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Amen and Amen...
Revelation 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
As I read these last two verses of the Bible, the words of the great hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" came to mind: "Strength for today and bright home for tomorrow..." That is what we have in Christ, in His church. We are given the great hope of Christ's return to finalize His salvation, and meanwhile, we are given His grace to help us as we wait. To these two things everyone in the Church, and all true believers in their churches can say: Amen and Amen.
As I read these last two verses of the Bible, the words of the great hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" came to mind: "Strength for today and bright home for tomorrow..." That is what we have in Christ, in His church. We are given the great hope of Christ's return to finalize His salvation, and meanwhile, we are given His grace to help us as we wait. To these two things everyone in the Church, and all true believers in their churches can say: Amen and Amen.
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