One of my favorite shows was Perry Mason. He was a
lawyer that would try and solve a crime. The funny part about it was that in
most of these episodes, there would be 2-3 people that the possible criminals;
but at the end of the show Perry would be cross examining one of the people we
all suspected as the real criminal, suddenly some guy that was hardly a part of
the story stands up in court screaming “Ok I admit it, I did it!!!” it was fun
to watch but not realistic. In a real investigation there are some basic
questions that must be answered. Who, what, when, where, why and how?
So it is with discovering what your personal liberties are. If
you are serious about being a good steward of your liberties you will be
willing to investigate the questions God will bring to you that He desires you
to answer.
? Questions that need to be asked ?
Paul writes the text that covers this to the church at Rome.
Romans 14:1-23 Now accept the one who is weak in faith,
but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One man has faith that he may eat all things,
but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Let not him who eats regard with
contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who
eats, for God has accepted him. Who are
you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and
stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man regards one day above another, another
regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He
who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for
the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does
not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not
one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we
die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to
this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead
and of the living. But you, why do you
judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt?
For we shall 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 GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." So then each
one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine
this-- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus
that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean,
to him it is unclean. For if because of
food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not
destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing
be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of
God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved
by men. So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building
up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All
things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives
offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which
your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction
before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But
he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith;
and whatever is not from faith is sin.
1. Who am I in danger of offending?
Romans 14:1-3 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but
not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One man has faith that
he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Let not him who eats regard with contempt him
who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God
has accepted him.
1 Cor. 8:7-9 However not all men have this knowledge; but
some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed
to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are
neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. [9] But take care lest this liberty of yours
somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
This requires us to examine the society we live in. Every
society is different, so our ability to flex is essential. What may be very
acceptable in one society may be taboo in another. For example, in the
depressed areas of the Philippines eating dog is a way of life. They cannot
afford other meats. So for my first four years I had dog served from very
polite hosts that were trying serve me. However, when I returned to the USA,
the only dog I ate was a “hot” dog with mustard and onions! “Lassie come home”
can mean various things depending on geography.
2. Do I have clearance from the Lord on this matter?
Romans 14:5-6 One man regards one day above another,
another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own
mind. [6] He who observes the day,
observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks
to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to
God.
Romans 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus
that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be
unclean, to him it is unclean.
This is simple – is
there anything in scripture where this issue is forbidden? If not, then has the
Lord given me a personal conviction that I should not participate.
For example, when I came to know Christ I had a clear
conscience about still having a beer with my meal. Drunkenness is condemned
clearly, but drinking is a liberty issue. After several months I decided to
only drink non-alcoholic beer. When I moved to the “Bible-belt” where even the
smell of beer will offend, the Holy Spirit brought to my heart the conviction
that I should not even drink non-alcoholic beer. It did not matter what others could do – the
Lord wanted me to make sure I offended no one over such a little issue. It was
no big deal.
3. Why am I doing this?
Romans 14:6 He who observes the day, observes it for the
Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he
who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.
Romans 14:18 For he who in this way serves Christ is
acceptable to God and approved by men.
Our motive is very important. If we do what we do only for our
own appetites we are misusing our liberties. Whatever we do should always
glorify the Lord. We can do that even when it is a very private liberty. God
gave us our taste buds, so even if we are enjoying chocolate it can glorify
God. He enjoys that we appreciate the ability He has given us to experience
different flavors. However, when we glutton out on chocolate we have ceased
doing it with Him, but have moved to selfish appetites.
4. Who am I affecting by this?
Romans 14:7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not
one dies for himself;
Romans 14:15 For if because of food your brother is hurt,
you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him
for whom Christ died.
This is more
focused than our first question. Here we move from the society we live in to
the very close circle of friends and family in our life. For example I may have
general liberty to listen to Christian rock, but is it offends my grandmother I
will choose not to listen to it when I am with her. This is not hypocrisy; it
would be if I denied I listened to it. What I am showing is sensitivity to my
grandmother because of my liberty.
5. What is the final affect of this?
Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue the things which make
for peace and the building up of one another.
At the end of the day this question must be answered. Liberty
was given by God to allow diversity in the Body of Christ and should lead to unity
and peace. Believers respecting each other’s
convictions in issues that God leaves up to each individual’s conscience. This produces a spirit of grace, which
is the opposite of legalism, and in the end brings spiritual maturity.
6. What is really important to me?
Romans 14:20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake
of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats
and gives offense.
Here is the gage for where we are in our commitment to the big
picture. When we have decided that it is more important helping others to know
Christ, than our rights, we bring the real balance of liberties into our
life.
7. Is this of any profit?
1 Cor 12:6 All things are lawful for me, but not all
things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered
by anything.
How does this glorify God, edify others and mature me?
8. How will it affect me if I do not do it?
1 Cor 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all
things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered
by anything.
A helpful question to ask ourselves is; what will happen to me
if I don’t enjoy this liberty? This puts the issue in perspective, which we
all need. How much different will my life be if I don’t;
watch this movie; listen to this music; eat or drink a certain thing? Most
times our flesh makes a much bigger deal out of a liberty issue then it is
reality.
Meditation Questions: Are you willing to ask the
tough questions? Which ones have you asked? When you know that God gives you
the freedom to do what you want with so many issues in life, how do you treat
that? Why? Name three liberties you have, how did you arrive at the conviction
you have and why have you chosen to participate or not participate in that
area? How important are other’s liberties to you? Why?
