Reflections — Pastor’s Blog

Although the focus of Paul’s teaching in Rom. 14 is on how the church is to treat the weaker brother, the apostle’s concerns go both directions: “Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him” Rom. 14:3.

If, as we have seen, God has given wine to man for his use but never for its abuse, if sin lies not in the thing itself but in the heart and actions of people, then the focus of our concern ought not to be on the thing itself, but on how what we do affects our relationship with God, our impact on and attitude towards others, and Continue reading “Christian liberty, what does God require?”

Paul’s teaching in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 has sometimes been distorted to encourage or even require believers to take a position of total abstinence.  In “The Weak and the Strong” (see the link here) John Murray writes:

In our modern context this passage is often applied to the situation that arises from excess in the use of certain kinds of food or drink. It is particularly in connection with intemperance in the matter of fermented beverages Continue reading “The teaching of Christian liberty abused”

As those who belong to Christ our goal is to be well-pleasing to him.  That includes being careful not to cause those who may be weaker in the faith to sin.

In Romans 14:14 Paul makes clear that what we eat or drink is not sinful in itself: “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean” (ESV).  Nevertheless, for a Christian to do something he believes is wrong is a grievous sin.  Thus he warns, “Do not, for the sake of food, Continue reading “Christian liberty includes concern for others”