Agree To Disagree

Scripture Verse: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

Materials Needed: None.

Notes to the Leader: There is a temptation to think that your denomination, your church, your view of religion is the only correct one. This is human nature. When we believe in something, we should defend it. However, Paul will point out that disagreement on the non-essentials (things that do not affect our salvation) should never get in the way of getting along.

Introduction

What is the purpose of Christian fellowship?

It is not to make us fee warm and comfortable. It is to cause us to grow.

If you agree that the purpose of Christian fellowship is aimed toward growth, what would you expect to find among a group of Christians? What would you not expect to find?

Peace is not necessarily an attribute commonly found among Christians. We are called to constantly examine our faith, to put it to the test of unity while at the same time, we are all to retain our uniqueness. Controversy, questions, relationships under stress are all a common part of Christ's church. Without them, there can be no growth. The ideal church would be a melting pot of different ideas, backgrounds, and needs.

When can differences become destructive?

When pride and fear begin to express themselves in anger and rejection.

Section One: Your Church

Have someone in your group read Romans 13:11-14.

While it is easy to relate these verses to the world around us today, how relevant is Paul's message to the members of your church?

Debauchery is an interesting word. While it has been primarily used to describe extreme indulgence in sensuality, it cares another meaning. Debauchery is also seduction from virtue or duty. If we were to look at a typical church:
- Twenty five percent of members typically pledge an average of two to three percent of their income.
- Only one half of the members of most churches participate in worship.
- Less than ten percent of church members participate in the life of the church outside of worship.
Therefore, one must conclude that no one holds up to the scrutiny of Paul's words. We are a people that have been seduced by the world.

Have someone in your group read Romans 13:12-14.

Why might Paul use the analogy of clothing and dressing to describe one's attitudes and actions?

There have always been appropriate and inappropriate clothing depending upon the occasion. Paul uses the Greek word apotithemai three times in this passage. It means to put off as in cast off a garment, to lay down, put off, renounce. It is how we are to treat anything in our lives that takes its shave from the desires of a Christless world. The word enduo means to enter, put on clothe, invest. To clothe yourself with Christ is to put on a comfortable, protective garment.

How would you describe someone who is clothed in Christ?

Someone with a transformed mind, captivated by Christ, with a changed way of thinking, such that one sees one's life wrapped up in Jesus Christ (see John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Have someone in your group read Romans 13:12-14 again.

What are the characteristics of the clothes that Paul talks about?

Light - Light represents the nature of God, in Whom is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Skotas (darkness) represents falsehood, deceit, dishonesty, hypocrisy, denial. When we put on the armor of LIGHT, we come into the light with God and our true nature is disclosed. As we live in honesty and self-disclosure before God, we are cleansed and allow Him to remake our very character.
Protection - We need armor to do battle in the world, the armor of light. The armor is Christ.

Section Two: The "Weak" and the "Strong"

Have someone in your group read Romans 14:1-12.

Now you should re-read Romans 14:1.

How would you define a weak Christian?

Someone of weak faith who has not yet discovered the meaning of Christian liberty.
Someone still bound to the law as a principle of relating to God and others.

What does it mean to be weak in faith?

To fail to trust God completely and without qualification.

What might you expect to find in a church that was made up of people primarily weak in their faith?

As Paul is about to tell us, those of weak faith need the crutches of custom and tradition. We will read this in Romans 14:2-3. The weakness of the "weak" in Romans 14 is legalistic elevation of religious preferences and prejudices to the status of spiritual essentials.

Do those Christians who hold on to customs and tradition consider their actions a strength or weakness?

So also, Paul will tell us that the weak Christian may frequently see the weakness as a strength.

Section Three: Being Non-Judgmental on Non-Essentials

Read Romans 14:1 again.

How does Paul direct us to respond to those who are weak?

Accept them and do not judge. We are to accept one another with our differences of convictions, opinions, preferences and practices, without mental reservations. This does not necessarily pass over to the acceptance of sinful behavior but Paul directs his comments to issues of legalism. We are not to tolerate false teaching (1 Timothy 1:3) and we are to instruct those who oppose the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Paul is not suggesting that spiritual oneness can be achieved between believers and unbelievers. The challenge here is for Christians to accept one another.

Why should we, both the strong of faith and the weak of faith respond to each other in this way?

God has accepted us both (v. 14:3)
Both worship the Lord (14:6)
In life or death both belong to the Lord (14:8)
Both are the beneficiaries of the death and resurrection of Christ (14:9)
Both will give account of themselves before God (14:10-12)
Christ died for both (14:5)
Both are the "work of God" (14:20)

Have someone in your group read Romans 14:2-6.

Can you recall from your knowledge about the differences between the Jews and the Gentiles, why Paul would discuss what to eat and what days of observe?

Gentiles were accustomed to eating anything and all foods. The Jews, however, had been taught by their law that some animals were ceremonially clean and others not. (see Acts 10, Paul's vision from God freeing him of this concern).
Jewish Christians had been raised with a strict tradition of Sabbath-keeping. Christ freed us from concerns of this type. What is important is not the tradition but how we resolve our differences.

Have someone in your group read Romans 14:5-8.

What is Paul calling each Christian, regardless of beliefs, to do?

To be fully convinced in their own minds.

Why should we tolerate these differences?

Christian conviction is developed as a believer's conscience interacts with the Word of God. Human conscience, even with the Holy Spirit's illumination, is not perfect. The real issue at heart is whether the act in question comes out of a grateful heart toward God, or is it an expression of spiritual arrogance.

Have someone in your group read Romans 14:7-12.

Why do we, the Christian community, need each other?

We are all of the same body, Christ's body, and both the weak and strong need each other. Some to gain guidance and strength and some to gain humility. When we are divisive, you will find Satan close by.

Section Four: In Pursuit of Liberty

Have someone in your group read Romans 14:13-23.

If you think something is wrong and it may not actually be wrong, but your conscience tells you so, do you commit a sin if you ignore your conscience?

Paul says yes. We must follow our conscience in all matters of faith. (see verse 15)

Re-read Romans 14:13-23 to your group.

The major burden of acceptance lies on the shoulders of the strong who understand God's grace. It is up to the strong in faith to offer grace and the outstretched (not condescending) hand of fellowship to the weak. If we are strong in our faith, how should we act?

Stop judging (v. 13)
Don't put stumbling blocks in the way of others (13)
Deny yourself if your freedom causes your brother distress (15)
Deny yourself if your exercise of freedom may influence your brother and destroy him spiritually (15)
Don't do anything that will give Christian liberty a bad name (16)

What are Paul's methods for keeping the peace?

Pursue peace as a goal among all believers (v. 19)
Do nothing except that which serves to build one another up (19)
Avoid anything that causes spiritual damage to another (20)
Refuse to do what your conscience tells you is wrong (22, 23)
Deny one's self for the sake of another (20, 21, 22)
Have someone in your group read Romans 14:17-18.

How would you sum up Paul's advice?

Keep things in perspective. Don't sweat the small stuff. It has everything to do with holiness of thought, motive, and action
Peace with God and with each other
Enjoy one another
All of these attributes are visible effects of the Holy Spirit's work among believers

Bible Truth Being Taught: Christians, "clothed" in Christ and wearing "the armor of light" often differ in opinion and practice, and must learn to accept one another without demanding total agreement on issues that are not essential to saving faith.

Our Response: To learn to accept other believers whose ideas about nonessential practices related to the Christian faith differ from ours.