Consideration – Romans 14:4-19

By David Woods

Today, as we continue to study about identifying marks of the Christian, our topic is consideration.  Truly, having a considerate attitude toward others should be true of all Christians.

Unfortunately, too often Christians have been divided by the smallest of opinions concerning matters not even spelled out in God’s Word.

The story is told that one of Oliver Cromwell’s officers suspended a lesser officer from the army for having a wrong opinion about religion.  Cromwell was very displeased with the suspension and let his displeasure be known in the following letter: “Take heed of being sharp, or too easily sharpened by others, against those to whom you can object little but that they square not with you in every opinion concerning matters of religion.[a]

I think we all have watched Christians being divided by differences concerning personal convictions or interpretation of Scripture.  Maybe you have even experienced this firsthand.

This inability to find common ground is truly tragic.  Many have been hurt and many have been disillusioned because of Christians fighting with one another over truly minute differences.

The apostle Paul offers us hope in our scripture text, however.  Paul teaches us in these verses that:

Big Idea: Christians can find common ground despite differing personal convictions.

1. God's Role is the Christian's Judge, Romans 14:3-4, 10-12.

Discussion: The lesson comments on verse four state, “It is a mark of Christian maturity to be able to leave others in God’s hands.”[b]  Do you agree or disagree?  What does it mean to “leave others in God’s hands”? Why do Christians often fail to do this?

Discussion: Consider the Christian who knows he is right about a certain issue.  Either he feels like others are sinning because they do not abide by his legalism or he feels like others are stunted spiritually because of their legalistic living.  What is the temptation that entices such a person to usurp God’s role as the Christian’s judge?

2. God's Word is the Christian's standard for living, Romans 14:5, 10-12.

Discussion: What does it mean for every man to be fully persuaded in his own mind?  Doesn’t this leave it open for abuse to “do what is right in one’s own eyes”?

Discussion: How can remembering that we will be judged by God keep us on track spiritually, whether we come from a more “conservative” or “liberal” stance?

Discussion: The lesson comments on verse five note: “We are to know what we believe and why we believe it?”[c]  Do you know hat you believe and why you believe it?

3. God's Joy is in the Christian's obedience, Romans 14:6-9.

Discussion: How can God be honored by that Christian who is doing that which I consider to be sin? 

Discussion: How is God honored by Christians who live, in my opinion, chained by legalism?

Discussion: What is Paul’s point in that we neither live nor die to ourselves?

(While it is true that we all have influence on others, I think the key to understanding verse seven is verse eight.  I think Paul is referring more to us living to God than he is talking about us living to others.)

4. God's Honor is the Christian's aim, Romans 14:13-15:7.

Discussion: Do we truly dishonor God when we argue and fight with other Christians about issues on which scripture is not specific?

Discussion: Is it more important to us that others agree with us or that God is not dishonored through out conflict?

Discussion: What does it mean to put a stumblingblock in front of someone?  What does it not mean?

Discussion: How do we typically get into trouble demanding of others more than they believe necessary or offending others because of our laxity in a certain area?

Discussion: Can we really trust God with others who are mistaken about issues important to us?

The problem with all that we have said so far is that regardless of our intentions and theories, it is hard to find common ground with someone you consider less spiritual.

It doesn’t matter if you are a “stronger” brother (a more liberal person) or a “weaker” brother (a more conservative person).  The tendency is to regard the other guy as less spiritual.

“But, David, look at all the worldly things he does!  How can you say he is not less spiritual?”  Or, “But David, he is trying to earn his salvation by works!  How can you truly be a Christian by working for your salvation?”

I would not suggest that is easy to find common ground with those who have different personal convictions.  But I would suggest that it is possible.  Why?  Because the Bible says so.

You see, the common ground of Christians who have differing personal convictions is not an area of compromise on those personal convictions.  No, we need to stop staring at those issues so hard so that we can see our true common ground.

     Christ has provided us common ground at the foot of the Cross.  General Robert E. Lee was a devout follower of Jesus Christ. It is said that soon after the end of the American Civil War, he visited a church in Washington, D.C.

During the communion service he knelt beside a black man. An onlooker said to him later, "How could you do that?" Lee replied, "My friend, all ground is level beneath the cross."[d]

Despite our many differences, we can know certain things for sure.  We can know God loves us and God loves the person with whom we disagree.  We can know God has forgiven us our sins.  We can know God has forgiven the sins of our brother or sister with whom we disagree.

We can feel God’s pleasure in our obedience.  And we can know God is pleased with our brother or sister.  “But, but but?”  The time is past for objections.  It is time that we rejoice in the common ground we share with those of differing personal convictions.  It is time that we thank God that the ground at the foot of the Cross is level.