Outward Grace with Inward Humility ~ a Great Combination
To say that we need to demonstrate grace toward those around us seems like a gross understatement. The world around us desperately needs grace extended to them. They need to know about God’s grace, God’s refuge, and God’s love. Further, the church needs it in equal measure. At times, Christians are no more kinder, no more thoughtful, or no more compassionate than many in the world. However, there should be no greater grace extended toward each other than in both the family of God and the biological family unit. These two places should exude the grace of God from each other to each other. Instead, what we sometimes find is judgement, impatience, and insensitivity. Yet if we hope to do this God’s way, we need to manifest outward grace with inward humility; these two provide a great combination of experiencing God’s grace in your life and passing it on to others as well.
Here is where we begin:
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions (Romans 14:1).
Welcoming the Weak, but Do Not Quarrel over Opinions
The idea of welcoming the weak is our key to grace. If you happen to be the strong, then you welcome – or show grace toward – the weak. The Apostle Paul is very clear here. Will the weaker person have the maturity of the strong? No. In absence of the spiritual maturity of the strong, the temptation for the stronger person will be twofold. First, there is potential for the strong to judge the weak. Second, in hope of helping the weaker person, the strong will desire to share opinions with the weak. The Apostle Paul continues.
Here are Two Early Church Examples ~ Food and Holy Days
The Apostle provides us two different examples. However, upon further examination, we see that although the examples are different, the principles are the same. Notice how they parallel each other.
The Subject of Division: Food (vv. 2-4) and Holy Days (vv. 5-6)
Food: One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
Holy Days: One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.
The Principle: Pay attention to your own heart before God, not the other person’s
Food: 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,…
Holy Days: Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
The Motivation: The issue is a matter between the person and God
Food: …for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master[a] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Holy Days: The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
In today’s culture, there are many more than just the two examples that Paul mentions. Today, one could add various forms of entertainment, tattoos, alcohol, tobacco, music, dress, sports, politics, and more. These principles apply in all of these areas as well.
We each live in Christ and under His authority.
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14:7-9)
Paul emphasizes our commonality in Christ. The strong and weak person both lives and dies in Christ. Further, both should submit to His lordship.
We both are the Lord’s and, as such, should live to the glory of Christ. Once again, notice how Paul makes his emphasis on both groups. The strong and the weak both live under Christ and are responsible to Christ. Regardless then of which category you belong, you are responsible for your own decisions before God as an in-Christ person living under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
We each will give an account before God for our own personal lives.
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; 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 will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12)
Paul emphasizes a sobering thought: I need to pay attention to myself because I will stand before God to give an account of myself to God. Whether weak or strong, no matter which you are, you are responsible solely to God for yourself.
Outward Grace with Inward Humility ~ a Great Combination
Living with this kind of outward grace toward those in your life who are weaker than you requires inward humility. This kind of inward humility reflects on God’s personal grace in his or her own life. Grace never forgets that we all are in various stages of sanctification. Grace remembers that God works in each of us as He wills. Further, grace never forgets that our ultimate responsibility in life revolves around our own personal walk with the Lord.
Therefore, both the strong and the weak are forbidden to judge. As recipients of God’s grace, both the strong and the weak remember to not judge the other. Instead, we allow the other individual, whether that person would be the strong one or the weak one, to live and to grow in Christ.
Paul helps us keep this in order whether we are weak or strong.
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 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. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. (Romans 14:13-16)
As a person who demonstrates outward grace, I do not pass judgment.
As a person who walks in humility and love, I even say no to some things just because I desire not to offend my brother.
Paul continues:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Romans 14:17-19)
As a humble, loving person who demonstrates grace for those who are different in any way from us, we desire to demonstrate love, understanding, patience, kindness, compassion, and provide encouragement to our fellow family members in Christ.
You may have one other question – What about the one-anothers?
You may be asking yourself, “But what about the one another passages that tell me to speak the truth in love, help, encourage, or admonish?” Simply, Yes. Do those things as well. However, as you do them, you cannot judge or be anything less than welcoming to the other person.
You may be a stronger person. You may be a weaker person. But regardless, as either strong or weak, you cannot have a spirit of judgment toward those who differ from you. A judgmental spirit only hurts the body of Christ.
Walk in Christ together in fellowship allowing for God to work in each other’s lives in differing ways and at differing speeds. Refrain from judging others. Instead, both parties seek to honor God, demonstrate love with humility, and function as one who will personally stand before God to answer for his or her personal relationship.
And, just think, heaven is going to be great! Once we are all in heaven, we will see first-hand what it means for all of us to live under the lordship of Jesus Christ with humility. We will all do it perfectly! Until then, we will need to show each other the grace and humility of being and growing in Christ together.
(For further consideration, you might consider reading and contemplating Matthew 7:1-5.)
PS On a topic like this, it may be helpful to remind you that I do not use this space to backdoor communicate to people. I have been asked to contribute a written piece on Romans 14:1-12 to an edited book project in the near future. As I studied this text, I thought it would be helpful to write something for this blog as well. So, no peeking between the lines or wondering to whom I must be writing. I would just say for all of us, whether we are weak or strong, if the shoe fits… :)
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