[Find sermon audio and link to the Dulin’s Grove Sermon podcast at the bottom of this post.]
Last week we began Romans 14, which teaches us how to relate to each other in the grey areas. Grey areas are important, but disputable matters. These are not essentials like Jesus, the gospel, salvation, sin, etc. These are non-essentials like worship style, church tradition, food, drink, education, politics, etc.
The Romans 14 grey area had to do with diet and days. Some Christians thought it more honoring to the Lord to restrict themselves to Jewish dietary rules and holy days. Other Christians thought it more honoring to the Lord to enjoy their freedom in Christ from such religious restrictions. Both sides were honoring the Lord in their convictions, yet they were judging each other—which brings us to 14:13-19.
Narrow Content and Broad Application
This passage is narrow in content. Paul is writing specifically to the Roman church about their specific issue pertaining to Jewish religious custom. I doubt this is something you’re concerned about.
However, this passage is also broad in application. The principles herein apply to relevant issues of relationships and church unity. So you will benefit from giving time and energy to Romans 14:13-19. I promise.
Though it is a rich passage with many important features, here we’ll note only two commands and one reason they are important.
Don’t Pass Judgment
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer…
Whenever you see the word therefore in the Bible, you need to see what it’s there for. In this case, it’s pointing back to verses 10-12, which say,
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess, to God.”So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Based on the fact that we each have an upcoming court date with the True Judge, we are not to pass judgment on one another. Thankfully, as Christians we don’t have to appear before the Judge on our own record. We get to rely on Jesus’ record instead. But the upcoming judgment does overrule our petty judgments in the meantime.
When we’re judgmental, we put on our puffy robes and powdered wigs, climb atop our makeshift benches and bang our little gavels—having no authority to declare guilt or innocence over each other. One day, the True Judge will return and we’ll realize how ridiculous we look. We don’t want to be found sitting in his seat on that day.
Maybe you’re doing it right now. Maybe you’re reading this sermon recap and thinking, “I sure wish Suchandsuch would read this. They are so judgmental.” When we apply sermons to others more often than ourselves, we’re being judgmental. I must confess, I found myself being judgmental as I planned this sermon! We judge each other all the time, either in the private courts of our minds or the public courts of gossip, criticism, complaint and commiseration.
You might be thinking, “Aren’t we supposed to be ‘fruit inspectors’?” It’s true that we should be sensitive of our brothers’ and sisters’ struggles. But in these things we’re called to face-to-face service, not behind-back judgment. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says,
And we urge you brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
You should admonish, encourage and help your brothers and sisters, which requires a face-to-face interaction. Private judgment is not helpful. So, when you see another church doing things in a way you’re not comfortable with, don’t pass judgment. When you run into church members at a restaurant and they have wine on the table, don’t pass judgment. When other Christians decided to discipline or educate their children in ways contrary to your own parenting decisions, don’t pass judgment.
No, in all these things, “let us not pass judgment any longer but…”
Decide to Serve
…rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”
We’re presented with a clear choice here. We can either judge or serve. We can sit on the bench or serve in the trench. We can wield the gavel of gossip or the shovel of service. Rhymes and alliteration aside, this is an important decision.
Narrow Content
Remember, while the content of this passage is narrow (not hindering a brother in relation to unnecessary religious restrictions versus freedom in Christ), it’s also broad in application. Let’s look first at the narrow content of the next two verses:
I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
Here’s what Paul is saying: In the grey areas between religious restriction and freedom in Christ, it is more important to walk in love than to walk in freedom. Yes we’re free to disregard the Jewish dietary rules and holy days; but not if walking in that freedom grieves or destroys our fellow Christians.
Let’s look at alcohol consumption as an example. There are God honoring Christians who feel religious restriction in regard to alcohol. They feel that it is more honoring to the Lord to abstain because it can lead to drunkenness, it can harm our witness in the world, it is associated with things of bad repute and it is unnecessary. I have a good friend who holds to this position.
There are other God honoring Christians who feel free in Christ in enjoy alcohol in moderation because alcohol consumption is not called sin in the Bible, they aren’t tempted by drunkenness and they find abstinence dangerously close to legalism. I hold this position.
Now, when I go out to eat with my abstaining friend, I do not order a glass of wine. Doing so would grieve him, because he believes it is wrong. And even worse, doing so could destroy him.
How can something as mundane as food or drink destroy a brother? By pressuring him to contradict his conscience before the Lord. Flaunting my freedom in Christ could coerce my friend into taking a sip, even though he believes it is wrong before the Lord. And this is seriously destructive to him.
Another benefit of walking in love over walking in freedom is that it silences the suspicion that Christian freedom is evil. Look at verse 16:
So [or therefore]do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.
Broad Application
Now let’s look at the broader application of turning from judgment to service. Think of all the wasted energy you’ve spent wishing other people were perfect. They aren’t! So redirect that energy toward helping them move forward. Rather than bullying people into your way, decide to help them on their way toward maturity in Christ.
Picture the Christian life as a great hiking expedition across a vast wilderness. We’re all at different points on the journey, moving forward with varying degrees of agility and speed. There are two ways that we can hinder one another along the way according to this passage.
First, we can barge forward with insensitivity to the less mature walking behind us. This is like pulling a low-hanging branch out of your way only to let is loose to face-slap the person behind you. Second, we can stop walking altogether and build make-shift benches from which to judge our fellow hikers. Paul is saying, rather than making either of these mistakes, apply yourself to helping your brothers and sisters move forward.
You might think, “I’m not mature enough to help anyone in their walk with Christ.” That’s probably not true. There are almost always less mature Christians behind us. But if it is true, then do something about it! Grow up and get moving, because we’re all on this path together and we need each other.
Decide
So God, Paul and I urge you to make this decision. Flip this mental switch. Permanently step down from the judge’s bench into the paths of those around you. You can’t sit on the bench while serving in the path; and you can’t serve in the path while sitting on the bench. So turn in your robe for work gloves, your powdered wig for a hard hat, and your gavel for a shovel. Let’s get to work.
Who is it that you’re most often tempted to judge? Picture their face. Perhaps you’re good at seeing this person’s shortcomings because God is calling you to help them. There is nothing evil about noticing shortcomings in each other. It’s our response that makes all the difference.
Every time the gavel whispers to you, turn aggressively toward service. Let judgmental temptations trigger service instead. Do something practical for that person’s benefit immediately. Pray for them. Talk with them. Send them a card. Defend them. Encourage them. Forgive them. Do something that helps them move forward.
Don’t pass judgment. Decide to serve. Why?
Because You Influence People
We wield surprising influence over each other. We can destroy one another (verse 15) or we can build one another up (verse 19). The church is like a chaotic construction site in which some are building and others are destroying all the time. Some are building with their nail guns of service, encouragement, example and grace. Others are tearing down with their crowbars of judgment, gossip and criticism. Which crew are you on?
You may think that because you’re involved in ministry leadership or activity in the church that you’re building rather than destroying; but that isn’t necessarily true. Involvement and leadership only make your influence greater, for good or bad. It can exchange the nail gun for a crane or the crowbar for a wrecking ball.
Verses 17 and 18 say,
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
No religious activity makes you acceptable or approved, whether it has to do with eating or drinking or church leadership. Non-Christians can do all those things. Serving Christ in light of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit is the mark of the acceptable and approved one.
You may think that because you’re not causing any specific trouble that you’re building (or at least not destroying). But doing no harm is not the same as doing good. Pew sitting is not virtuous. In fact, one lukewarm person brings down the spiritual temperature of the entire church. So your apathy is indeed destructive.
We must ask these questions of ourselves: Are people better able to move forward as Christians because of their relationship with me? Or are they tripped and hindered? Is my spouse closer to Christ and more Christ-like because she married me? Are my children closer to Christ and more Christ-like because I’m their parent? What about my friends? My coworkers? My fellow church members?
Some of you truly make Dulin’s Grove better by being a part of it. You build your brothers and sisters up through your service, example, encouragement, grace, patience, gifts and love. To you I say THANK YOU! Think of those who have served you in this way, those who have made your path toward maturity in Christ smoother. Thank them sometime this week. Then emulate them.
We all know that we should judge less and serve more. Paul is saying that we MUST. Because it’s not just your life that’s at stake. It’s the lives of your brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s Dulin’s Grove. It’s the Kingdom of God.
Don’t pass judgment. Decide to serve. Because you influence people.
Conclusion
Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Through his service we are declared innocent of our sins. Now, as the recipients of Jesus’ saving service, let us decide never to judge and always to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us decide “to pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
Discussion Starters
- In verse 13, what does “Therefore” refer back to? How does this motivate obedience to the command to stop passing judgment?
- How are passing judgment and deciding not to hinder someone related?
- How does verse 14 apply to modern day grey areas? Think of specific examples.
- In verse 15, how can something as mundane as eating “destroy” a person?
- How does verse 16 fit into this passage?
- Read verse 17. What do modern Christians mistake for Kingdom matters? How are righteousness, peace and joy Kingdom matters?
- What are some practical ways we can obey verse 19?
