Why Do You Pass Judgment?

Scripture Texts: Romans 14:5-12

Introduction.

e continue under Paul’s instruction on how to show genuine love toward one another, how to outdo one another in showing honor and how to not think too highly of ourselves.

Romans 14 is about loving each other through our differences.  Every church is a house divided over opinions and preferences and principles, our likes and dislikes and favorites.

It is staggering what people can find on the internet to become champions of, forming opinions that become dogmas.  Vitamins, food allergies, what poisons you are consuming, what causes cancer, the benefits of aroma therapy or going green, or the dangers of plastic or fluoride in water or fossil fuels or conspiracy theories .  And let’s not even start on politics, local, state or national.

We all know how small things have become big things, and led to bitter feelings, broken relationships, split churches and have brought terrible disrepute on the name of Christ.

Paul has an interesting way of dealing with this problem.  He says the opposite of what I would say.  And in fact, I have said the opposite.

When dealing with non-essentials, with disputable issues and personal opinions, my tendency is to say chill out or as one of my sons likes to say chillax.  Lighten up, dude.  Don’t get wrapped around the axle.  A daughter-in-law is often saying to her kids, take a breath, breathe, relax.

But Paul doesn’t say that and what he does say seems like it could make the problem worse.

Instead of saying, “Lighten up, these things are minor and don’t merit strong convictions,” he says, “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”  Instead of saying don’t be so intense, he says have firm convictions about minor matters.  How will this help?

We need to understand what having firm convictions means.  In means first I am fully convinced it is not sinful, immoral, unethical, contrary to God’s Word and will.  Second, it means that I am able to honor Christ with gratitude and glorify God in my conviction.  Third, that my conscience is clean and clear on this matter, that this is the best thing for me.  Fourth, I understand this is not an essential matter, it is not something over which I will judge or look down on others over.  And fifth, my highest priority is love.  I don’t want to break fellowship with family and friends and church members over this.  Be fully convinced in your own mind in this way.

Last week we heard Paul say those who have greater maturity and faith are to accommodate themselves and make allowances for those less experienced or weaker in the faith or more tender in conscience.  Even if they are wrong.

The strength, faith and maturity God gives us are gifts that ought not to be used to oppress or abuse or hurt others.  Rather we are under a greater obligation to love and help our neighbor.

This week we hear more of how Paul would have us deal with disputable things.  He does it by giving us much bigger things to focus on.  Instead of majoring on the minors, he wants us to major on the majors.

Last week’s major was we don’t pass judgment because God has already welcomed them and if God has, then who are we to not welcome them as well.  They are our brothers and sisters.

This week Paul brings up a new minor issue and gives us some new major things to remember.

Let each one be fully convinced in their own minds, honoring Jesus as Lord and God as Judge.