Doubtful Disputations-Romans 14 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION:  Doubtful disputations?  Just what are doubtful disputations?  The phrase itself clearly indicates that they are arguments about uncertain doctrines.  If we will be honest there are many doubtful disputations that have infiltrated the church over the years.  But, from where did they come?  If they are not addressed in the Bible why have they become an issue?  Should we ignore them?  Can they be sinful though not explicitly mentioned in Scripture?  If they are sinful for one, how can they not be sinful for all?  We will endeavor to answer these questions and more during the course of these studies. In this chapter Paul lists two doubtful disputations that had become heated debates in the first century: the observance of religious days, and dietary restrictions; especially that which had been dedicated to an idol.  His explanation is very thorough; therefore our study will begin with Romans 14.

 

1.  Verses 1-4:  “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. ² For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. ³ Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. ⁴ Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”  First, Paul makes it clear that for the sake of unity we must not become divided over things of which we have no clear mandate in Scripture.  This is not to say that we must embrace practices that Scripture clearly identifies as being sinful:  adultery, fornication, blasphemy, homosexuality, lying, stealing, murder, etc.  A doubtful disputation most often is a practice that may have an appearance of evil in one culture, but not in another; i.e., drinking alcoholic beverages (more about this later).  The point that Paul makes is that God will judge the attitudes and the intents of the heart on those matters of which He chose not to be specific in His Word.  You might wonder why He was not more specific concerning some “doubtful disputations”, knowing that they would become points of heated debate among His children.  Though the Bible doesn’t say this, I believe that the Lord in searching the heart can discover much about our faith in our attitudes about these doubtful disputations; our love for others, our willingness to forego our liberty for the sake of others, the depth of commitment to our faith, and whether we esteem our personal testimonies highly or not.  The fact that we do engage in “heated debate” over so many matters of which the will of God is not specifically detailed in Scripture also reveals the content of our hearts. The point is:  God is the only one capable to truly judge these hidden things of the heart—not our jobs; best left to “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

 

2.  Verses 5-12:  “⁵ One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. ⁶ He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. ⁷ For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. ⁸ For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹ For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. ¹⁰ But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹¹ For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. ¹² So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”  This passage simply says that everything we do will be judged by God.  If we believe, for instance, that worshiping on Saturday, as opposed to Sunday, is the will of God, then we will worship on Saturday in respect of our commitment to God.  If we are convinced in our heart that we should not eat meat, then we will not eat meat.  Being “fully persuaded” we can do no different.  Our dilemma is that we are so convinced in our hearts that our point of view is the will of God that even without concrete scriptural support we can hardly help judging others on these matters.  Thus, denominations are born.  But, let’s not let denominationalism become disunity.  Agree to disagree, and unite in spiritual warfare against the enemy to rescue souls from his grasp.  We will all find when we come to the end of life that we were not on the mark in some matters, and that what really matters is that we did not fall short in love for God and our brethren.

 

3.  Verses 13-18:  “¹³ Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. ¹⁴ I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵ But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Let not then your good be evil spoken of: ¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸ For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”  Whether we are weak in the faith (serving with less liberty than our brethren), or are strong in the faith (as Paul; knowing that “there is nothing unclean of itself”) we do our fellow believers wrong by judging them, or by despising them for their liberty, or lack thereof (vs. 3).  So, shall we just throw out all standards?  First, we must be careful that our “standards” are not arbitrary impositions based upon handed down traditions that find no clear basis in Scripture.  On one hand we do not want to offend our weaker brethren by flaunting our liberty, and on the other to judge those with more liberty than we for their seemingly lesser standards.  Both are wrong.  However, there are some things, though not specifically mentioned in Scripture that we do embrace within the structure of the Assemblies of God.  We believe that a person should abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages, gambling, remarriage after a divorce on unscriptural grounds, and joining any organization that requires the taking of secret vows that binds one’s soul.  On the other hand, within the Assemblies of God it is permissible for women to hold the office of pastor, or bishop.  Yet, some denominations are sure that women must not hold these positions within the church.  Though others may be in doubt as to the position that we hold, there must be no disputation amongst us over these issues.  Though we may differ with other denominations, again, for the sake of unity, we must agree to disagree, and preserve unity by refusing to dispute these points.  However, within our own fellowship the specific work that Cross Road has been given will be severely restricted if we are not on the same page concerning our stated beliefs.   When one attends an Assemblies of God church there are certain common beliefs that they should be able to trust will be upheld from fellowship to fellowship.   The day of worship has been accepted among most Christian churches to be Sunday.  Should someone come to visit us on Saturday they would find that we are not holding services.  As a congregation in “the holiness movement” we do have standards that are not in harmony with other denominations.  People attending an Assemblies of God church expects, and desires to find these standards being upheld.  For the sake of people of like faith we will uphold a common standard, yet at the same time not judge other denominations that do not hold to these same convictions.  On a personal note, I have an aversion to marking one’s body with piercings and tattoos; however, though there is a prohibition of the pagan practice of marking and cutting the body in ritual service to idols (Lev. 19:28, “²⁸ Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”) it is doubtful that today’s “tats” and “body metal” is a sin against God.  I believe, though, that excessive body art will tend to diminish one’s ability to minister to all comers.  Why do something that does not edify?

 

4.  Verses 19-23:  “¹⁹ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.²⁰ For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. ²¹ It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. ²² Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. ²³ And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  If we are seeking to strengthen our brethren in their faith, we will be sensitive to the things that might cause them to stumble.  Let’s not try to convince our weaker brethren of the error of their way, but rather encourage them in their convictions.  Paul addressed the issue of eating meats that had been offered to idols in 1 Corinthians 10:25-33, “²⁵ Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: ²⁶ for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.²⁷ If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. ²⁸ But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: ²⁹ conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? ³⁰ For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? ³¹ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: ³³ even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”  The “shambles” was the open market where the tradesmen offered their wares.  In cities in which idolatry was the common religion it was not unusual for meat to be dedicated and branded with the sign of the pagan idol before being put out for sale.  Some Christians knowing that there is only the one true God, Jehovah (1 Co. 8:4), felt no conviction about buying, preparing and setting such fare on the table before their families and guests.  But, others felt very strongly that Christians should not eat meat that had been dedicated to idols.  Though he felt free to eat anything that was set before him, with thanksgiving, Paul settled it in his own mind that he would not use his liberty if it offended another brother.  This issue must have been a very hot topic at that time because Paul addressed eating meat on several occasions.  In the final analysis Paul determined that before he would offend the conscience of one of his brothers that he would refrain from eating meat altogether:  1 Co. 8:8-13, “⁸ But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. ⁹ But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. ¹⁰ For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; ¹¹ and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? ¹² But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. ¹³ Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”  Paul understood that if his weak brother did anything that violated his own conscience that he would be committing sin.  So, Paul said that before he caused his brother to sin he would restrict his own liberty.

Paul commanded that we accept weaker brethren, but that we must not engage in arguments over unclear doctrines.  This does not mean, however, that we cannot hold civil discussions wherein all parties are sincerely seeking truth, and edification.  Thus, this series on Doubtful Disputations.