Silly Church Fights

I read one time about a father and a son who had had such sharp disagreement and discord that Find them became apparent the son was going to need to leave home He was in his early twenties and they just could not live under the same roof any longer and so One night just before the son was to leave He couldn't sleep and so he walked down to the kitchen to fix himself a sandwich and lo and behold there was his dad He couldn't sleep either and his dad was fixing himself a sandwich as well and They began to reminisce just began to talk about fishing trips and hunting trips and Camping trips and little league baseball and all of those things and as Some much needed healing was taking place the father said or the son said to the father said dad Do you remember that time we were out on the lake in the green boat? The father said the son it was a blue boat and And the son said no no dad. It was a green boat Father said son you're wrong. It was a blue boat green blue green blue The next morning the son left home Never to return You say how silly to fight over things like that In 1976 Leslie Flynn who was a pastor in New York at that time wrote a book called great church fights I understand the reasoning for the titling of the book. I think it was to intrigue people as to what kind of Church fights as he going to describe but I've always thought it was a misnomer Can there be anything great about a church fight? I? Think it would have been better to call it silly church fights Because most church fights are over just as silly issues as that father and son were arguing over They're over issues that the Bible says we made disagree over but we should not separate over should not fight over Should not judge one another over they are issues of Christian liberty of Christian freedom and we've been talking about those kinds of issues the last Couple of weeks or last couple of times that we have been in the book of Romans So I invite your attention again to Romans 14 this morning Lord willing we will finish Romans chapter 14 today I want to make clear once again that we are talking about issues where there is no clear command of scripture no specific Directive in the word of God It's an area where we have these are areas where we have freedom to choose our own convictions to form our own convictions Have our own preferences and we may differ from one another as to what we believe is right or wrong for us to do in these issues And the Bible says that's okay in these kinds of issues debatable issues issues of liberty or freedom It's okay to disagree with one another and it's okay to give your brother or sister freedom to disagree with you on these kinds of issues I want to make clear again. We're not talking about doctrinal issues We're not talking about issues the Bible clearly teaches that we should believe we're also not talking about issues of Clear command of scripture thou shalt not steal thou shalt not kill thou shalt not commit adultery thou shalt not covet by neighbor's Possessions and on and on the Bible does get does give clear Direction about things that are wrong and says this is sin and in those areas We're not talking about those areas, okay? We're not talking about children who are still under the authority of their parents as I made clear last week That's a needed clarification because it's you know easy for a 13-year-old child to go home and say okay, mom and dad Preacher said I can form my own convictions on where I should go and what I should do now remember what I said last week as long as you're a Child under your parents authority you have no freedom. You have no liberty. You are under their convictions Okay, and till you are old enough to form your own and hopefully in the late teen years parents will teach their children how to become Independent in that way and begin making choices in these areas, but we're not talking about that in Romans chapter 14 Paul gives us four principles for dealing with these areas of Christian liberty We've already looked at the first two and introduced the third the first principle is guard your attitude And remember that Paul says in these issues We are not to reject one another. We're not to look down on each other. We're not to judge one another We're to accept each other and allow each other differences of conviction So guard your attitude Second principle is remember to whom you answer both in this life and in the next life we answer ultimately to Christ Now we have responsibilities to each other, but we answer for what our choices are going to be and how we're going to live in these areas We answer ultimately to Christ not to someone else When I stand before God to give an account for my life He will not judge me based upon you. He'll judge me based upon my relationship with him. I give account to him Third principle that we introduced last week and that is restrain your liberty when necessary Paul deals with that in verses 13 through 21 Just want to remind you of the principle of restraint in verses 13 and 14 Look at it with me if you will please Verse 13 Paul says therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another Okay, that kind of summarizes the first 12 verses and then he says okay. Here's another principle middle of verse 13 instead Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way Remember we talked last week about the fact that a stumbling block is something that is unintentional Carolus didn't realize you were causing someone else to have difficulty The obstacle is something that's more intentional This is something that I just don't care. I don't care what they think or how they feel I'm going to do this that's that's the obstacle Paul says whether intentional or unintentional whether careless or purposeful We are not to cause another brother to stumble and please remember This brother that stumbles is a true weaker brother Let me just remind you of some of the issues we're talking about so that you you will not misunderstand whether or not to eat Interest rent that serves alcohol Christians differ on issues like that Whether or not to attend the movie theater what kind or styles of music are appropriate for believers What translations of the Bible are appropriate is the is the NIV or the new American standard of the devil is the king James The only translation believers differ on what translation they prefer and that is an issue of Christian liberty It's not an issue that is taught in the word of God What you should do on Sunday or should not do on Sunday? So okay to move my yard is it okay to Watch a ballgame I had someone remind me this morning that some will have personal convictions that it is wrong to cook on Sunday And so if your wife has that conviction I'll see some hands already going up to affirm that If your wife has that conviction don't cause her to stumble now, you know, you need honor that conviction men and and go out to eat on Sunday Um, by the way, that's a whole other issue. I've had Christians tell me you should never go to a restaurant Sunday because you're paying someone to work on Sunday Give me a break I just you know those kinds of issues the Bible does does not touch on and their issues of liberty and freedom So those are the kind of issues we're talking about Paul says if you're dealing with a genuine weaker brother Then don't cause him to stumble now. We need to understand clearly this principle of restraint and what he's talking about Remember that he's not talking about the legalist He's not talking about someone who thinks you are unspiritual if you go to a restaurant that serves alcohol I'm more spiritual because I don't go to a place like that God will condemn you and judge you because you do that's a legalist That's someone who is elevating either tradition or personal preference or conviction to the level of scripture and that's legalism So you don't you don't have to restrain your liberty for that kind of person If it is a person who just just has a different Conviction than you do but you love each other accept each other you're not going to judge each other You don't have to restrain your liberty for that person either but if it's a genuine weaker brother And remember a weaker brother may be weaker in knowledge of the Bible He may not yet understand these issues clearly from the Bible's teaching He may be weaker or she may be weaker in conscience Because maybe of a lack of understanding of liberty their conscience may be persuaded or they may be persuaded to go against their conscience in something And so they've not really formed personal convictions they've just gone by tradition they may they may be willing to go against their own conscience we can conscience We can fade Paul describes these people as in Romans 14 so they their faith in Christ is not strong enough for them to understand that these are issues of liberty If it's a genuine weaker brother maybe he or she is a new convert just doesn't grasp these issues yet If you would cause them to go against their conscience and condemn themselves in their own heart Paul says that's wrong for them if they do that and if you cause them to do that by your example then pull back from your liberty Not the legalist not a brother who just differs from you But a genuine weaker brother who could be caused to sin against his own conscience By following your example then restrain your liberty now That's the principle Paul gives us three reasons for this kind of restraint Okay, in verses 15 through 21 he gives us three reasons for this kind of restraint Number one to show love verse 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat you are no longer acting in love Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died Okay, if you're causing a weaker brother to actually stumble to actually fall to actually sin against his or her own conscience by your example then you're not loving that brother So Paul says here in the case of a genuine weaker brother you're not to have the attitude I don't care what you think I know what's right. I know what liberties are in the Bible I don't care what you think yes, you should care what your brother thinks and So to to to cause him not to stumble you should restrain your liberty because you love that person You do not want to harm him and the Bible says you could do in great harm He talks very strong terms here about destroying your brother for whom Christ died I don't think that means he would lose his salvation or eventually go to hell If he say the Bible teaches salvation is eternal eternal life is eternal life once you get that it doesn't end But you can destroy that person in the sense That if they begin to go against their conscience in those areas They'll go against their conscience in areas where the scriptures clearly teach right and wrong And end up really messing up their lives or just forgetting about the Christian faith altogether We're saying why if that person can do why even try why even live for the Lord and you'll end up doing them irreparable harm So if you love your brother there are gonna be times when you're gonna restrain your liberty Remember what John 1335 says remember what Jesus said about how the world will recognize his disciples this versus on the screen for you John 1335 It was by this everyone will know that you're my disciples if you love one another Notice he does not say by this will all men know you're my disciples by your freedom by your liberty But by your love and Part of love is understanding that I will not harm my brother Who may be weaker in faith or conscience or knowledge of the word But I'm not going deliberately hurt him Caused him to stumble and fall into sin I will love that person I will do what's best for them not what's best for me So we may restrain our liberty at times because of love second reason is to put emphasis on the right things verse 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil in other words what you what you know is okay for you It's good for you in other words your convictions allow you the liberty in that particular area I can mow my yard on Sunday afternoon. I'm not breaking any commands of scripture But don't allow that to be something that is used for evil That is spoken of as evil by a weaker brother Who will follow your example maybe because they don't understand issues of Christian liberty yet Don't allow that which is liberty to be turned into something that harms someone is used for evil What he means there in verse 16 now his thrust what he's really getting at is in verse 17 Four here's the reason four because 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 approved by men now what Paul is saying is that The important things in God's kingdom The important things in knowing Christ and living for him are not These kinds of issues and what stand you take on them See some people think that the kingdom of God really revolves around what you eat or don't eat what you drink or don't drink What you wear or don't wear places you go or don't go and so they have all these rules as to what you can or cannot do Many of which are never referenced in the Bible and don't come from the Bible But all these rules about what you can or cannot do where you can or cannot go what you should or shouldn't listen to and all these rules To guide your life and what Paul is saying the kingdom of God is not made up of stuff like that The kingdom of God is not about externals. It's about internals and eternals It's about heart relationship with God and what really counts for eternity And he lists three examples of those kinds of internal realities righteousness A person who really wants to live for Christ who wants holiness Who has a passion that desire to know him better and to reflect his character that's what the kingdom of God is about Peace he gives us another example Someone who deeply understands that God is in control and I can be comfortable that I can rest with that I have Peace of God in my heart and I can commit my anxieties to him and also I desire peace with others Not Contention not seeing what I can separate over and just find something I can criticize my brother over I'm working toward peace with one another That's what the kingdom of God is about and then joy in the holy spirit Kind of deep inner satisfaction that is spiritually produced with the confidence in the holy spirit and leads to a joyful outlook on life Those that's the stuff of the kingdom of God that those are the things that really count That's what the kingdom of God is built on and around those are the important things Not whether or not I'm Mo. May yard on Sunday afternoon Not whether or not I have the freedom to go to pizza hut And we'll get back to that one later Creating hundred pains I can tell already Now those are not the important issues Important issues or do you have a longing for Christ and a desire to live a holy life Are you seeking peace with others within the confines of the Bible are you exhibiting the joy the fruit of the spirit? Okay, the inner external eternal qualities. That's what the kingdom of God is is centered on so it's built around And the Bible says whoever verse 18 anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God I had to learn that the hard way on some of these issues I will tell you that in 1970s early in my ministry I preached as hard against you know these issues of liberty as anyone I remember preaching sermons. I've still got them in my files. I haven't burned them yet But I still remember preaching sermons against contemporary christian music and in the 70s contemporary christian music was you know Larry Norman and Bill Gatherer And that was about it, but I preached against that stuff strongly against that stuff When I went to grace seminary I got out of my comfort zone I got into an area where I was expanded a little bit and saw some people from other backgrounds Who broke the molds of things I had been taught And what I realized is a lot of those people who did not have all the same convictions I had on those kinds of issues were people who genuinely Fervently loved christ and their lives were passionately holy every bit as much if not more than mine And they were not fighting over everything they were working toward peace and they had joy and the fruit of the spirit exhibited in their lives And I got to thinking wait a second Is there more to this than just taking the right what I thought the right stand was on styles of music and other issues like that? Then I'll never forget my first contemporary christian concert in 1984 When I went to hear Michael card And some of you will think him contemporary well he was in 1984 one of the leaders of contemporary christian music He had just produced what is still my favorite album of his I have all of his albums Since his first release in 8081 But I this one was known by the scars and it was It was Bible teaching on the suffering and death of christ And each song focused on some element of christ's suffering and I'll never forget that concert the music was for that time a little bit out of my comfort zones But he if you ever been to a Michael card concert, you know, he teaches as much as he sings He's got a doctorate in theology and he loves the word of god He's passionate about the word of god And and he was teaching and as I saw his passion for christ I thought wait a second Is musical style the real issue here? Here's a man who quite clearly loves christ with all of his heart And I began to see that verse 18 was was really true anyone who serves christ in this way is pleasing to god And it began me re-evaluating a lot of things that I had become very legalistic about You see the bible says the kingdom of god is not built on those external issues It is on internals eternals And yes, there are clear issues of sin and unrighteousness But it's not these things. It's not Romans 14 kinds of christian liberty things Those are not the issues that we should be Taking stands on and and separating from others about Put the emphasis on the right things and then Paul says third reason for restraint and by the way Notice it's a reason for restraint It's not just a reason to take christian liberty. It's also a reason for restraining There will be times there will be occasions where I will back off of my liberty because I don't want to put the emphasis on the wrong things either You see it would be easy for me to say well You just got to buck up and learn to accept all contemporary christian music If you don't like jazz like I like jazz if you don't like classical music like I like classical music Then you're out go lunch too and there are times when I need to restrain my liberty Because if if I'm I call it reverse legalism Sometimes people who take Clear stand on christian liberty and so I have liberty to listen christian music contemporary christian music Think everybody ought to have that same liberty and if you don't then you're somehow unspiritual That's reverse legalism I shouldn't put my standards on anybody else either If someone loves the old hymns and the classics great As long as they realize it's not an issue of Command of scripture They accept one who loves contemporary christian music That's fine. I shouldn't be guilty of reverse legalism either Example in point when I was teaching at ABC ABC has pretty strong and conservative standards on music I love contemporary christian music. I never played it in my car on campus or in in My office I a lot of times play music in my office. I'm thankful. I love classical music too So I just plugged in Bach and Beethoven and you know, Ravel and Pacabel and all that and just play all that kind of stuff Did I give up my liberty? No, I kept my liberty But I didn't flaunt it before people to whom it would be a stumbling block Why do that why calls why create controversy? You see this goes both ways there are times when we need to restrain from liberty So that we do not put the emphasis on the wrong things For me to say you've got to accept my convictions on this or you're not right then I'm doing the same thing as the legalist It's just reverse legalism You see that you understand that I hope so hope so Because there are a lot of people who really flaunt their liberty in ways that really become reverse legalism That's wrong too false as there are times to restrain times to refrain From your liberty Third reason for refraining from liberty is in verses 19 to 21 to build others off That's what we ought to be focusing on not not disagree with one another criticizing one another over personal convictions But building each other up verse 19 says Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace And a mutual edification you say okay you legalists you people who don't believe in Christian liberty you need to get this This is being addressed to people who do understand liberty Okay, it's the other side of the issue that that sometimes we need to understand Notice what he says in verse 20 do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food all food is clean Paul says get that straight. I believe in liberty here But it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble If in the exercise of my liberty, I am actually going to affect a weaker brother negatively or create tension or problem for that person that is unhealthy for them and does not build them up then it is wrong It is wrong for me Paul says to just flaunt my liberty and say I don't care what you think I'm going to do what I think is right anyway That is a wrong unbiblical unspiritual attitude Paul says restrain your liberty so that you don't call someone else to stumble and in verse 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to fall Now please remember again. This is not just talking about someone who disagrees with you There are three categories of people here. I've already mentioned them Someone who disagrees with you takes a differing conviction but understands it as an area of personal liberty And you can respect each other's convictions go ahead with your liberty. You don't need to restrain for that person You don't need to restrain for the legalist The person who is going to think he is more superior, more spiritual, you are ungodly, you are wicked because you don't have the same conviction I do you don't need to restrain for that person But for a genuinely weaker brother For someone who may be weak in knowledge of the word weak in conscience Could be could be influenced to go against what he thinks or feels for him is right or wrong Sometimes you need to back off and say okay I'm not going to I'm not going to exercise my liberty so I don't hurt that person So don't cause them to fall or stumble Send against their own conscience Now here's something I haven't said yet, but needs to be said And that is that I have a corresponding Responsibility to help that weaker brother get stronger If he's weak in his knowledge of the word of God and that's why I can't understand Christian liberty I have a responsibility to help him understand the issues of what the Bible teaches on this It's part of why I'm preaching this it's part of why Paul spends a whole chapter on this We have a responsibility to get the weaker brother stronger so that he doesn't stay weak in his knowledge We have a responsibility to get him stronger in conscience So that whatever he believes whatever his convictions are he will not be persuaded to go against those by watching what someone else does he will realize their legitimate differences But I have a responsibility to teach the weaker brother help him get stronger But in that process I'm not going to exercise my liberty in areas that will cause him to stumble And just hope and pray grows up real quick and gets you know get strong real quick It's a little facetious come on Principle number four Versus 22 and 23 be settled in your own conviction Be settled in your own conviction on these issues of liberty make sure you are settled in your own conviction See that's what will keep you from violating your conscience in these areas you'll realize I have a conviction may not be Well, my brother does but I'm not going to violate my own personal conviction in this area Now here's here's what he means by that first of all verse 22 if you have liberty Here's what he says about you verse 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves That's the person who has liberty Who is not who is not doing something that all the while his conscience is condemning him and saying you know You really shouldn't be doing that no He has the liberty has freedom. He's fully convinced in his own mind back to verse six fully convinced in his own mind I can mow my yard on sunday. I can watch a ballgame on sunday I'm not violating any biblical command have perfect freedom to do that He's not inwardly condemning himself over what he's approving what he's saying is okay That's the person who has liberty two things Paul says about that person in verse 22 If you have liberty first of all retain it Retain it you notice he did he does say Whatever you believe about these things Keep in other words if you have liberty keep it Keep it retain it You are not to think of your liberty as sinful You are you are not to feel pressured to take on the convictions of the weaker brother You should not feel pressured to take on the convictions of the legalists Keep your liberty don't give that up But he also says don't parade it Don't parade it don't throw it in the face of the weaker brother. He says keep between yourself and God Don't flaunt your liberty in the face of the weaker brother say come on grow up Now don't do that you're not loving if you do that you're putting the emphasis on the wrong things if you do that Patiently work with that weaker brother to help them gain knowledge of the word of God The ability to form their own convictions and stick by them Rather than maybe just going by tradition, but but keep it between you and God don't try to impress Anyone with your liberty don't try to press your liberty on anyone else use it in a loving and considerate way That's what Paul saying so if you have liberty Be settled in your own conviction Just don't flaunt it in front of the weaker brother That's why it's important sometimes to back off your liberty Verse 23 if you do not have liberty in a certain area Okay, if you're the weaker brother. This is for you verse 23 But the man who has doubts Stop right there. This is a person who is who could be Uh Influenced to do something, but inwardly has doubts that it's right for him to do Okay, he's going against his conscience right his conscience is telling him no you really shouldn't I don't think this is right I doubt that you But he goes ahead anyway, okay? Now notice what he says if you don't have liberty and you do that You go against your conscience. You're condemned if you eat is that mean you're going to go to hell no In the context he's talking about your conscience condemning you And and because of that you've gone against you violated what your conscience tells you is right or wrong You have sinned you see that in verse 23 He says You're condemned if you eat because his eating is not from faith and everything that is not come from faith is sin In other words, you have to be fully convinced in your own mind You have to be settled in your own conviction you have to have the confidence the faith that you have the liberty to do this if you don't have that confidence If you don't have that conviction then by all means don't just follow the example of someone else Continue to study the word Form your convictions as you feel God would have you to But don't go against your conscience. It's been my experience that the longer I study the word God has a tendency to shape my conscience to be more in conform with his word But if I violate my conscience in an area of Christian liberty, I'll also tend to violate it in an area of clear command of scripture That's why it's dangerous to be condemning yourself inwardly about something you're doing Okay, so it's important not to do that Make sure you're not violating your own conviction Now let me try to wrap all this up. I I will admit that finding a balance in these issues of Christian liberty is very difficult It's a tension that we all constantly live with Where's the balance? I was interested to remember that Martin Luther the great German theologian of the 1500s When he wrote his landmark book on the freedom of a Christian man talking about Issues of Christian liberty when he when he wrote that book he started it this way a Christian man is a most free Lord of all Subject to none Very next statement a Christian man is a most beautiful servant And subject to all Servant to all Is he contradicting himself? No He's saying there's a tension here that you live by There is a sense in which I am not a servant to any of you In other words, I don't have to form my convictions based on what your convictions are on these issues of freedom and liberty I answer only to God in that But there's another sense in which I am a servant to every one of you And if my actions would cause another person to violate his or her own conscience and go against what they believe is wrong I need to restrain my liberty You say wait a second. I'm not getting this. Okay, let me let me close with this illustration some of you are saying Please just close just just get done just land this thing Okay, but let me give you what I hope will be an illustration of how to work through an issue like this And it's an issue that I've worked through on my own and come to a conclusion about you may not come to the same conclusion That's the beauty of these issues, but I want to show you how to work through the The making of a decision in these issues. I'm going to use as a test case Whether or not it is right for me personally Okay, I'm talking about how I form would form my own conviction in this issue whether it is right for me personally to eat at pizza Hut Okay, now pizza Hut serves alcohol is it right for me as a believer to eat in a restaurant that serves outcome When you use pizza Hut as an example, and I'm just using pizza because I like pizza You know, I could use applebee because I like apples You know I could use chilies because I like chili, but I'm using pizza because I like pizza. Okay, is it right for me to do that? How do I make that decision? Well the first thing I had to do was to say is there any command in scripture? That's the first question to ask Because if there is a command in scripture about any activity of our lives We are duty bound to be obedient to God and obey that command. Is there any command in scripture about whether or not I should eat at pizza Hut? I checked every concordance. I never found any reference to pizza Hut in the scriptures just not there Okay, that's a little silly. I understand, but is there any reference or command in the Bible about eating in a restaurant that serves alcohol? No There's no command in scripture about that. Is there any principle of scripture that touches on that? And I know the first one some of you are going to think of is first that's known as 522 Avoid all appearance of evil and I am so unfortunate that the King James translators Translated that word appearance the word literally means form every form of evil every kind of evil Okay, I can't I cannot none of you can avoid every appearance of evil Somebody is going to think you're doing something just because they misinterpret something they see you can't avoid every appearance of you You can't avoid every form of evil But is there any principle in scripture that deals with this? I can't think of one unless it would be that Jesus ate in settings where alcohol was served and was highly criticized for it by the Pharisees So that if it is a principle would lead me to believe this is an area of freedom and liberty It's not an area of direct command of scripture. So it's an area of freedom Which means that believers have the freedom to make up their own mind and do what they believe would best please the Lord Now the next step is are there other personal convictions that I would have that would affect the decision as to whether or not I go there My own personal conviction is to abstain from all alcohol And again, I make clear that's my own personal conviction Uh, I recognize that some believers you know Uh, enjoy a glass of wine with their dinner and have perfect freedom to do that and I would not argue that point But I have come to my personal conviction that I just don't want to take any alcohol I know enough about my makeup and personality and temperament to know that I'm a little obsessive-compulsive And obsessive-compulsive people can latch onto something that is addictive and go with it and and I could be in danger I understand that so I'm just not going to I'm not going to touch alcohol. I'm just not going to do that Um, I also have so so what I what I'm saying there is basically to go into a place like pizza hut is no temptation to me I've never Touched alcohol. I've never had a drop of alcohol and I'm thankful for that, you know I I appreciate the testimonies of people who can give the glowing testimonies of a terrible background I'm just thankful. I never went there that I had godly parents who brought me up and in the ways of the Lord and I never so that's not a temptation to me I can go into a place like pizza hut and never be tempted by seeing alcohol on someone else's table And I'm not going to order it from myself. So that's that's not a problem. That's a non-issue I also have a personal conviction that I will not go to an establishment that is primarily known for serving alcohol Simply for my personal testimony. I'm just inviting um misunderstanding and and possibly creating a stumbling block for a weaker believer So I'm not going to go to a bar. I'm just not going to do that. I mean I can get a sandwich somewhere else I'm not saying it would be wrong for everyone, but that's my own personal conviction I'm just not going to compromise or run the risk of compromising my testimony by you seeing me go into whatever bar Might be down the road. That's my own personal conviction But pizza hut is not an establishment known primarily for serving alcohol. It's primarily known for serving pizza And that's why I'm going. I'm not going to be tempted by the person who on the next table over might Order alcohol. That's not going to bother me a bit doesn't attract me a bit because I've never tasted the stuff don't care to So in my own personal case, I have the freedom and liberty to go that's not an issue with me at all I have complete liberty to eat and any restaurant that serves alcohol You know that is primarily known for other types of service But let's say I have a friend Who has a differing conviction and believes it's wrong for him or her to go to pizza hut Maybe he has an alcoholic background Maybe he would be tempted when he sees that it would bring longings and thirst and cravings back that He struggled with for years or maybe because of his own background He doesn't want to expose his children to that and so he just feels like it's best for me if I don't go to a restaurant like that Now what do I do about that person? Do I restrain my liberty or do I go ahead and go regardless? Here's how I make that decision. I have to figure out which category they fit in Are they a legalist? In other words, are they the kind of person who says you know you could not possibly be spiritual and go to pizza hut I can't believe as a Christian you would do something like I can't believe you would go into a restaurant that serves any alcohol Now I'm spiritual. I don't do that. That's legalism That's legalism defining holiness by things that the Bible does not define holiness by is legalism I have no No reason to restrain my liberty for that person no matter what I do the legalist is going to find something to criticize Because a legalist by nature is just looking for some reason to separate from you and criticize you and and make himself more spiritual looking That's just the nature of legalist So I don't need to restrain my liberty for him If my friend is a brother who just has a different conviction But he understands my conviction has no problem with it understands an issue of Christian liberty Says it's fine for you to go to pizza. John is no problem for you. It would be a problem for me I'm not going to go, but I love you and respect you and don't have an issue with it I don't need to restrict my liberty for that brother either But I'm not going to take him with me if we're going out to eat together We'll go to cracker-barrel because we both like crackers too You know I don't need to put him I would be putting a stumbling block in his way I would be possibly putting him in a position where he might be tempted and even though he's a brother that is not a weaker brother Necessarily, I don't want to do that to him. I love him and so I'm not going to take him with me even though we both agree It's fine for me to go Okay, if he's the third kind of person if he's a genuinely weaker brother Maybe he's a new believer and he doesn't understand the issues of liberty yet Maybe from his background or his training or his own background and out He just got a real conviction no Christians ever do that But he's not a legalist. He just doesn't understand scripture well enough yet or or maybe Would be tempted to violate his own conscience? If he saw me going there then I'd better stop going to pizza hut And thank God they have delivery service But at the same time I need to be working with him to increase his knowledge of the Bible and his understanding of issues of Christian liberty Because if he doesn't grow in that area remember Paul never says a weaker brother should stay a weaker brother He should be coming stronger and his understanding of the word and understanding of Christian liberty issues If he stays a weaker brother two things are going to happen or may happen One he may just decide well, that's just my own personal conviction Understand the issue better now. I'm just going to keep my own conviction and then really he moves into that category of just a differing brother Or he may run the risk of becoming a legalist So while I don't need to restrain My liberty for the legalist or just for the differing brother I do need to restrain it for the weaker brother, but at the same time Helping to address that weak understanding or that weak conscience and become stronger That's how you deal with these kinds of issues if I understand the principles of Romans 14 correctly That's how you deal with these kind of issues May God help us not to erupt in silly church fights On either side Because I'm pushing my conviction on you May God help us to realize there are issues that we shouldn't fight over Doesn't matter whether the boats blue or green Doesn't matter whether the carpet is blue or orange Doesn't matter doesn't matter Let's pray Father, thank you for The teaching of your word teaching of Paul Which helps us to understand these issues that we struggle with sometimes And we have difficulty finding balance in help us lord to be good brothers and sisters in Christ Help us to grow in our understanding of your word our understanding and strength of our faith to grasp these kinds of issues as issues of liberty And not issues of doctrine Help us also to help one another grow But also lord help us to be willing to restrain our liberty When it would truly cause difficulty for another brother And might hurt them and harm them Helps to be gracious in Christ like in our spirit toward one another In Jesus name we pray amen