Pleasing others
Context: After explaining how freedom in Christ guides believers to comply with the laws of their governments (Ro 13), Ro 14 addresses how it submits in love to other believers who may not yet experience the same freedom.
Warm-up: Under what conditions are you ready to relinquish what you consider to be one of your rights, e.g. related to traffic, queuing, household chores, your “ministry” and other practical situations?
Read: Romans 14
1) v1: What characterizes the faith of some as ‘weak’ compared to others, and how are the ‘strong’ supposed to treat them? cf 1Cor 8:1-2
- ESV translates “Welcome…. but not to quarrel” (lit.: “Accept him… without passing judgment on his opinions”): What kind of differences call for such tolerance? cf Col 2:16
- What might correspond nowadays to such food laws and holy days unworthy of any disputes?
- v2: Can intolerance on such matters go unspoken?
- vv3-4: Why and on what basis does Christianity prohibit even unspoken intolerance?
- How does such tolerance differ from the concept that “anything goes”?
- vv5-6: What can make the observing of special days unacceptable? cf Col 2:16
2) vv7-10: On what basis are Christians free to tolerate one another? Is it because they believe we are all free now to live the way it suits ourselves? Why not?
- v8: Are they not even free to die as they see fit? => What could this mean to “die to the Lord”? =>
- Elsewhere, Paul calls death the last enemy (1Cor 15:26). How then can even your death glorify Christ?
- How does that concept differ from Islam’s so-called “martyrs” who die waging jihad?
3) vv11-12: By quoting Isa 45:23, how does v11 prove Paul’s point of v12? =>
- vv13-14: Why should it be easier for Christians than for non-Christians to not pass judgement on one another?
- Hint: What reasons does v13 provide for tolerance that the world cannot offer? =>
- If proper awareness of our accountability before God promotes tolerance, why was there any intolerance at all among the recipients of Paul’s letter?
- Whom did he ask to be more tolerant: The ones who felt free from rules, or those who insisted that rules must be respected? =>
- vv15: What caused the free ones to be intolerant of those questioning such freedom?
- v16: What did their intolerance accomplish? cf 1Cor 8:1-2
- How did it bring on their freedom such a bad reputation?
4) vv17-20 give once more a reason why disputes over food laws are not becoming to believers. Which one? =>
- v17: What are believers called to pursue instead of abstinence from certain food? cf Mt 15:10
- v18, “whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable…”: Is Paul now saying that our acceptance by God at the end of the day still depends on our own works?
- Read Eph 2:10 => What is the difference between producing works of love or walking in them?
- v20: What then is ‘the work of God’ that believers must not destroy (lit. tear down)?
5) vv21-23: What does it mean “to keep the faith that you have between yourself and God” (v22)?
- How/when is it consistent with Christian love to not ‘share your faith’?
- v22b: Your faith about what exactly? Only in matters of conscience where personal differences must be tolerated?
6) Personal & application
- An area where some Christians pass judgement on each other concerns alcohol.
- What are your own views about this?
- Who are the ‘strong in faith’: The ones who take liberty to drink, or those who practice or even demand abstinence? Why?
- What then could it mean for the ‘strong’ to not give offense to the ‘weak’?
- What do you think of assisted suicide?
- Do you approve that it is in many countries no longer illegal? Why or why not?
- What if professing Christians will choose to die in this way: Would you pass judgement? Why or why not?
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