There are some things that are cut-and-dried for Christians. Commands like “You shall not steal.” We have all things in Christ, so we don’t need to steal anything else. But then there are some parts of everyday life that aren’t spelled out exactly in Scripture. Areas where God wants us to grow up and exercise a little maturity. Decide for ourselves how the gospel applies.
In some areas, we know exactly how to apply the gospel. In other areas, we don’t. And so when we get dropped together with a bunch of other people in God’s family, there will be differences. Disagreement. Debate. Over issues like:
- Spiritual gifts. Some people in our church speak in tongues, and others believe those charismatic gifts aren’t in effect today.
- Politics. Some people feel like Christians should support a certain political party, others feel free to support all kinds of different parties and candidates.
- Child-rearing. Some people think homeschooling is the only biblical option, and others send their kids to public school.
- Money. Some people believe God expects his people to live simply, and think it would be a sin to buy a brand new car. Other people feel free to use their money to enjoy life to the glory of God.
- Food, drink, tobacco, etc. Some people say your body is a temple, so you shouldn’t poison it with alcohol, tobacco, or sugary junk food. Others say “Do not call unclean what God has made clean! God created Pipeline Porter, and God created Oreos, and they are good!”
And so we preach these things to our families, our community groups, our Facebook friends, and Twitter followers. We have freedom of speech, and we intend to take full advantage of it.
But Paul had a different idea. Speaking to the church in Rome, which was divided on issues like food, drink, and holidays to celebrate, he said: “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Rom 14:5). Paul assumes we’ll all have different views, and we’ll keep our views. He doesn’t say, “Well, this is a secondary issue, so it doesn’t really matter who’s right and who’s wrong.” Or, “Hey, if we can’t decide between either/or, let’s just make it both/and. Why can’t everybody be right?” No, he says each one should be “fully convinced” in his own mind. We need to think through our position. Study, meditate, and pray until we’re sure we believe what’s right.
But then he says, “The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God” (Rom 14:22). When we’ve come to a conclusion on an issue that isn’t spelled out exactly in Scripture, an issue where faithful Christians have legitimate disagreements, we need to keep it to ourselves.
Why? Because Paul knows that when we air our opinions, it’s often with a bad motivation. As he says in the next verse, “Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Rom 14:23). We have a tendency to share our views out of arrogance, self-righteousness, and judgmentalism. We seek power, righteousness, and inward peace by elevating our own views and denigrating those of others.
But there’s only one valid place to find power, peace, and righteousness: faith in Jesus Christ. That’s what Paul told us earlier in the book:
- Romans 1: The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.
- Romans 3: The righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
- Romans 5: We have been justified by faith, so we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
When you try to gain power, righteousness, or peace on your own, then it’s sin. So keep your opinions to yourself, and trust that “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” (Rom. 14:17-18).