Can I Do That?

Posted on March 25, 2007

 

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Romans 14:1-23

I have some negative tendencies that I try to keep watch on:

• I develop strong opinions…
• I confuse opinions with absolute truths…
• I speak a little too strongly on behalf of mere opinions…
• I sometimes judge others who disagree. 

We’re an opinionated society. We love to take polls and surveys. We love to talk politics, sports, and religion. Sometimes it gets in the way of loving others, even in the church.

Paul was writing to a church that had some obvious divisions over secondary issues such as holy days, diets, and drinking or not drinking. So instead of answering all of their questions, he gives them some guiding principles to go by when making decisions. 

The Bible is our guide for living, but what about those matters on which the Bible gives no clear and certain word? There are issues where there may be some implicit principles For example:

Movies; Interracial Marriage; Hairstyles; Seeker Services; Eating out on Sunday; Who to vote for; Smoking; Ecumenical Movement; Borrowing Money; Fishing on Sunday; Divorce & Remarriage; Women Ushers; Pipe Organs; Rush Limbaugh; Men Wearing Beards; Drinking Wine; Predestination; Women Wearing Jewelry; Raising Children; Best Christian colleges; Faith-Promise Giving; Dating Standards; Signing pledge cards; Instrumental music; Liberal Churches; Christian Psychology; Timing of the Rapture; Emerging Churches; Public invitations; School Choice; Age of the Earth; Birth Control; Bible translations; Women wearing head coverings in church; Picketing abortion clinics; Using credit cards; Divorced men serving as ushers; Mixed swimming; Video services; Women wearing pants to church; Women wearing pants at all; Rock music; Christian rock music; Long hair on men; Short hair on women; 40 Days of Purpose; Women working outside the home; Guitars in a church service; Support for Israel; Proper amusements; Church size; Church names; Church affiliation; Working in a restaurant where liquor is served; Eating at a restaurant where liquor is served; Christian schools versus public schools; Home schooling; Speaking in tongues; R-rated movies; Christian-sponsored boycotts; Sex education; Playing the saxophone in church; Halloween; Christians in politics; Sunday night services; Death penalty; Standards for church leaders; The Lord’s Supper; Christian counseling; Twelve-step programs; Mode of baptism; Faith-Promise Giving; Women wearing makeup; Clapping in church; Raising hands in church; Traditional versus contemporary worship

ONE GREAT TRUTH:

I need to be careful how my decisions on questionable issues are going to affect my conscience, other people, and my standing before God, the ultimate Judge, and I need to seek His glory above all else.

THREE SUMMARY QUESTIONS TO ASK…

Can I do this and be right with God? (vs. 3, 4, 8, 10-12) 

Paul’s overarching theme is that God is the ultimate Judge of all men, our thoughts and opinions, and ultimately our eternal destinies. His concern and His will ought to be our first consideration.

• Has God spoken clearly?
• Is there a principle to apply?
• Can I withstand God’s scrutiny?
• Will God be glorified?

Can I do this and be right with myself? (vs. 5, 14, 22-23) 

We normally avoid this question because we realize we are not our own boss. Nevertheless, Paul points to the conscience without using the word.

• Am I convinced that this is right?
• Do I consider this “clean” or “unclean?”
• Will I condemn myself?
• Can I do this in faith toward God?
  

Can I do this and be right with others? (vs. 4, 15-21)

• Will I cause others to judge me?
• Will I cause others to sin?
• Will I cause division with other believers?
• Will I be loving others?
• Will this build others up in the faith?

The fact is, we will never all agree on the “secondary” issues, and there are some secondary issues over which we may need to separate ourselves from others around us. But for the most part, our decisions ought to be governed by the laws of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, love toward others, and worship toward God.