December 31, 2008

Let Each Man Stand before the Lord

Receive one who is weak in the faith, [but] not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats [only] vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems [one] day above another; another esteems every day [alike]. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes [it] to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe [it]. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 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 shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:1-12 NKJV)

Here is an important lesson to learn. God is the judge and we are the subjects. More times than not, we want to make God the subject and ourselves the judge. As the passage says, each man will stand before his Master.

Why are believers so quick to condemn each other? I must admit I am not sure why this is such a big problem, but I will offer a few suggestions.

I think that pride must play a role. As the proverb says, “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised [is] wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10 NKJV) Pride wants to elevate self, and the easiest way to elevate self is to tear down others.

Self-righteousness is another motive that could fuel this sin. The self-righteous love rules because they provide a test by which they can approve themselves. Of course, they miss the big problem that no one is perfect, and therefore their own rules condemn them.

Then there is just old-fashion meanness. Some people like to fight and lord it over others. Whatever the reason, it is wrong to judge each other over doubtful things.

Now, it should be mentioned that the subject matter here is doubtful things. Paul is not talking about obvious sin. He told the Corinthian Church to judge.

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner——not even to eat with such a person. For what [have] I [to do] with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore ‘put away from yourselves the evil person.’” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13 NKJV)

Therefore, the bottom line is this, on doubtful things love demands that you receive those who are weak, and not to judge those who are strong. Amen.