Gray Areas (4-18-12)

Romans 14:13 - "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way."

In Romans chapter 14 Paul is dealing with the subject of gray areas, that is, things to which the Bible does not explicitly speak. In the first half of the chapter we're told that in regard to these areas we each need to be fully convinced in our own minds as to what is right and what is wrong. We're also told that we cannot judge one another or hold our brothers and sisters in Christ to the standards which we feel the Lord would have us live by. "Who are you to judge the servant of another?" So the first half of the chapter teaches us that in regard to gray areas we have no right to judge others.

But in the second half of this chapter we're introduced to another factor that we need to consider in regard to gray areas. And that factor is the effect that our decision are going to have on our brothers and sisters in Christ. In the early church there was a conflict, a gray area in regards to meat that was sacrificed to idols. What would happen is there were certain groups of people who would sell meat in the market, but before they brought it to the market to sell, they would first take it to their pagan temples and offer it as a sacrifice to their pagan gods, their idols. After this ceremony they would take it down to the market and sell it, and there were some people in the church that were like "You can't eat anything sacrificed to an idol, that's like participating in pagan worship!" And then there were others who were like "An idol is just a piece of stone, it doesn't mean anything that it was sacrificed to one. And on top of that, it was on sale!" So there was this major division in the Corinthian church about this gray area, and so Paul address this issue in 1 Corinthians 8:4-13 where he says - "Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble."

Paul recognized that he had every right to eat something sacrificed to an idol, because what is an idol anyway but a lifeless piece of wood or stone? So he says in essence, "I have the right, or the liberty to do this. However, if doing this causes a weaker brother to stumble, then I will never eat meat again." In other words Paul is willing to give up a right that he has for the sake of someone else.

Now wait a minute. These are gray areas we're talking about, and I may be fully convinced in my own mind that doing this certain thing, or attending that sort of event, or watching that kind of movie, or listening to this sort of music is not wrong. I have every right to do this, it's not a sin for me. But now your telling me that I need to give up my right, I need to give up my freedom because someone else is too weak to handle it? That's exactly what he's saying. If something that I have a right to do causes my brother to stumble, even if it's not wrong, I need to give it up for the sake of my weaker brother. Paul deals with this in his discussion about gray areas in Romans chapter 14.
He says in verses 13-23 - "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin."
If our liberties cause other Christians to stumble we are obligated for loves sake to give up our rights. We're told in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 - "Abstain from every appearance of evil." That's taking it a little far, don't you think? I mean, all of this is starting to sound like a bunch of legalism. I thought we were free in Christ. We are, it's not about legalism, it's not about a set of rules that we need to follow, it's better than that. It's not about what I can and can't do, it's about finding out what is pleasing to God, and God likes it when His children get along, when we don't trip each other. In fact, in verse 18 of Romans 14 it says - "For he who in this way (What way? by giving up his own rights so as to not trip up his brother.) serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men." My giving up my freedoms for the sake of my brothers and sisters is a service to Christ. And not only that but the one who does this is acceptable to God. This isn't talking about redemption, this is talking about sanctification. We know that God has already accepted us in Christ Jesus, but that isn't what this is talking about. Did you know it's possible to be a Christian and to displease God? But when we give up our own rights in regards to these gray areas it pleases God. He smiles at that because we're reflecting His love. And not only is this acceptable to God, but the verse goes on to say that the one who gives up his own rights is approved by men. When we give up our liberties for other Christians we will find their approval.
This sounds like a lot of sacrifice, and it is. But verse 15 says - "For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died." No sacrifice that we make for our fellow believers is as great as the sacrifice that God made for them. Christ died for them, and yet I'm not going to give up a certain right that I have for their sake? Something is really wrong with that picture. If Christ was willing to die for them and I'm not even willing to give up my rights for them, then I'm not walking in love. Love is characterized by sacrifice. John 3:16, the most well known verse in all the Bible says this - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..." God demonstrated His love toward us by giving Jesus, by sacrificing His only begotten Son. And we're told in 1 John 3:16 - "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." We should be willing to sacrifice our very lives for those for whom Christ died, and yet so often I'm not even willing to sacrifice some stupid little thing that is causing my brother in Christ to stumble. And what's my excuse? "Well I have the right to do this, it's not wrong. He just needs to grow up!" That's not love. Love sacrifices it's rights.

This isn't a passage that's often associated with gray areas, but look at Philippians chapter two. Why should I give up my rights just because someone else is too weak to handle it? Because that's what Jesus did for us. Philippians 2:1-11 - "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

We're to have the mind of Christ toward our family in Christ. Talk about giving up your rights, look at verses 6 and 7 - "who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant," Jesus was and is God, and yet He took on a body, He emptied Himself, and what's more He took the form of a servant. But it doesn't end there, He humbled Himself even more by becoming obedient unto death, even the horrible, shameful, humiliating death on the cross. He had every right not to die, but He didn't hold onto His rights. The Lord Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped, but He emptied Himself taking the form of a bond-servant and coming in human flesh. By right He was eternally on high. He was on the throne and He was there by right. But in looking out for the interests of others He laid aside His rights and took the low place, being obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. We talked about the acceptance of God and the approval of men, look at verses 9-11. You want to talk about the acceptance of God? - "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name..." You want to talk about the approval of men? - "...so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

I need to put what others think of my life ahead of what I think of my life. I need to be determined not to put a stumbling block in my brothers way. The church would be in a lot better shape if we would stop putting our own interests first and put other peoples interests first. If we cared and had the mind that Christ had, and were willing to lay down our lives, and throw away our rights and our liberties for our brothers and sisters for whom Christ died. This may mean giving up something that I enjoy doing. This may mean sacrificing something that I have every right to be involved in, but it's worth it. And what's more, it's what we're called to do. Paul said "It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles." and again, "if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble." That's spiritual maturity. This isn't for babies and it isn't easy, but I need to grow up in Christ and realize that there are more important things than my rights.

Romans 14:19 - "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another."