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Romans 14
“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (v. 10).
Debates over church authority and power were central to the Protestant Reformation. Turning to the Scriptures, the Reformers and their followers strongly affirmed that ecclesiastical authority is ministerial and declarative. This means that the church has the authority only to declare what Scripture teaches, not to make rules that are not found in God’s Word by direct statement or deduced from direct statements by good and necessary consequence. The church cannot “go beyond what is written” (1 Cor. 4:6).
Issues of church authority and power also relate to Christian liberty. Westminster Confession of Faith 20.2 summarizes our liberty in Christ well in stating that “God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are, in anything, contrary to his Word; or beside it, if matters of faith, or worship.” Here we see an application of the principle of sola Scriptura, that Scripture alone is the final, infallible standard for faith and life. Because of that, both the church and the individual Christian have no right to bind us to believe or do anything contrary or in addition to the Scriptures. God’s Word is sufficient for faith and life (2 Tim. 3:16–17), and we have freedom to make choices for ourselves when Scripture is silent, as long as we do not violate biblical principles.
Since the days of the Apostles, Christians have had to learn to live together in peace and love when they disagree over issues on which Scripture is silent. Romans 14 gives us important guidance. Some who are less mature in the faith may have scruples that lead them to abstain from or to observe certain things that in themselves are morally indifferent. Those who are mature in the faith are not to turn away those with such scruples. Mature believers also are not to flaunt their liberty by engaging in such indifferent things in a confrontational way before less mature believers. At the same time, those who are less mature are not to exercise what Dr. R.C. Sproul frequently called “the tyranny of the weaker brother” and try to prevent mature people from engaging in morally indifferent things that less spiritually mature believers have scruples about. Dr. Sproul notes that we are not to “refuse [weaker brothers]; we are to welcome them. [But] they are not to dispute over doubtful things. They are not allowed to apply pressure and cause conflicts over indifferent things.” Ultimately, we are to love and bear with one another.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
It is easy for us to look down on others who do not follow our personal practices. We must take care not to do this. We are not allowed to impose our own rules on others; others are obligated to follow the law of God, not our individual preferences.
For further study
- Proverbs 30:5–6
- 1 Corinthians 10:23–33
The bible in a year
- Ezekiel 7–9
- Hebrews 11:1–16
- Ezekiel 10–13
- Hebrews 11:17–40