Meditation on Romans 14

This passage (and the commentary that goes with it in The New Bible Commentary) taught me a new word: adiaphora. Adiaphora means things indifferent–in other words, it’s a word used to describe all the things that are not essential Christian doctrine and that we can therefore agree to disagree upon agreeably.

Examples of “things indifferent” that the Roman church was dividing around are food, religious day observances, and alcohol. Paul describes those who practice the freedom in Christ by not adhering to religious rules regarding food, weekly observances, or alcohol as “the strong.”

Lord, you know that something on my heart has been this matter of alcohol. My bride and I enjoy it, but dear friends of ours do not. Some of these dear friends Crystal and I will live with during our first year of marriage. We enjoy an occasional beer or glass of wine, and next year we will likely not be able to do that in our home.

Romans 14 seems to be the definitive passage on this question that’s been in our hearts: do we accept our friends’ “legalism” that will artificially limit our freedom in Christ, or do we try to win them over to the truth that alcohol is not inherently evil? I confess that the thought of this topic does make my blood boil, but Holy Spirit, I ask that You would change my heart today about this matter, and that You would give Crystal that same grace.

vs. 1: “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.” This is where the word adiaphora is used. Christians who are sincere and committed may not agree on all things. In this issue of alcohol, Crystal and I have friends who are quite passionately against it, just as their parents were. Lord, You are practically telling me to abandon my pride and to accept these people (that’s the action) and to not pass judgment on them (that’s the much more difficult attitude). Father, please change our hearts and deeds on this matter, so that we might gladly and with pure heats accept our friends who disdain alcohol and those who drink it. Let us see this living situation as an opportunity for sanctification by Your Holy Spirit.

vs. 2: “One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.” Alcohol is a matter of what our faith allows, as long as it is partaken of in moderation and to the glory of God, I think. I thank You, Lord, for the freedom won by Your Son on the cross. I ask that I would exemplify this freedom in my life and words. Jesus, lead me away from legalism, from putting my faith’s allowances or forbiddings onto others.

One area that I could easily legalize others would be in Bible reading. I love to read my Bible, and for me reading from it morning, day, and night is essential for ongoing freedom from past habitual sins of pornography and self-gratification. My daily schedule allows for this reading habit–but others may not. Though I do ask Holy Spirit that You would encourage all believers to drink deeply from Your Word, may I not glorify myself with the gift You’ve given me. Basically, may I not go around bragging about whatever Bible reading habits or convictions I have.

Another way I could legalize is in having a filter on my computer. Because what Paul here calls “weak faith,” I need a SafeEyes internet filter on my computer. Being free from pornography is worth that to me–I rejoice in that freedom from God, and from His work in my heart to make me rejoice in having my computer filtered by a third party. This internet filter was a big nail in crucifying the pornography habit of my Flesh Operating System (Tim Keller used this illustration last Sunday to describe the flesh).

vs 3: “The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.” This gracefully shuts both parties up in any debate about nonessential matters of the Christian faith. Paul does a beautiful job in this one sentence of bringing unity out of division. Our greatest unity in the Church–that we are accepted by God as children because of Jesus Christ’s perfect and undeserved gift–is great enough to overcome any division over whether or not alcohol should be drank, etc. Paul says, “You know what, focus on what God sees–develop the eyes of God, may the eyes of God “be thy vision” (Dallan Forgail hymn)–and these little matters that currently embitter you to one another will be transformed into adoration for the Father who seeks, draws, and accepts so great a spectrum of believers.

Whether or not I can drink alcohol in my home shrivels into a tiny non-thing when God is central to my life.

I feel as though I could meditate on this chapter for an entire day, but it is time for me to get ready for work. I am sorry, Lord, that I slept in this morning–I think at one point I slept to the sound of my alarm for maybe ten minutes. I hit snooze repeatedly. Father, I want to repent of this sleeping in habit that has developed over the last several weeks and encroached upon my time with You. I ask for You to give me that grace of repentance.

Thank You for Your undeserved favor, Father. Please go before me today and sanctify me according to Your will. Please also be with the Jones’ who I met last night at the Youth For Christ banquet.

Tags: Tim Keller, meditation, Jesus Christ, Flesh Operating System, grace, Romans 14, actions and attitudes, legalism, pornography, self-gratification, Safe Eyes, internet filter, crucifying the flesh, Church unity, Dallan Forgail, By thy vision, Youth for Christ, undeserved favor, snooze button, adiaphora