Written ~ 09-16-2023
Romans 15:1-3
“We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please Himself. As the Scriptures say, ‘The insults of those who insult You, O God, have fallen on me.’”
Paul is writing to the church in Rome, in chapter 14 he is cautioning believers not to be critical of each other. Some believers have very strong convictions in some matters, and some do not. The most important thing is that we focus on pleasing the Lord, not each other. Verses 14:12-13 say,
“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So, let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to use Him as our example to live godly lives. We are not to compare ourselves to each other to see who is doing the better thing. A lot of debate can happen amongst believers if we try to match our worshipping styles. Some worship is loud, some soft and reverent. Some preaching styles are commanding, some much more laid back. Some pray with boisterous, eloquent words, some quietly to themselves. Some acts of service look much different than the next. But, as long as the focus is entirely on worshipping the Lord, preaching the Gospel message, and serving with the heart of our Savior, and doing it in love, that is all that matters. This is the point Paul is trying to get across. In chapter 13 verses 8-10 it says,
“Owe nothing to anyone – except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’ These and other such commandments – are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
In our verses for today’s study, Paul says right off, “We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this.” It is not the “duty” of a strong, bold believer to bowl over a new believer or someone with a much more timid personality and make them worship the same way you do. The right way, the only way, is to love. Verse 15:2 says to “…build them up in the Lord…” Romans 14:18-19 says,
“If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
What happens when we begin to tear each other down for the differences in our worshipping styles? There is a division in the church. I’m not talking about division in the church building you attend, but us, believers, and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are the church. When we start nit picking the way someone else serves the Lord, is that building them up? If we are comparing ourselves with others then choose to believe we are right and the other person is wrong, is that loving your neighbor as yourself? When Jesus walked this earth, He took everything on Himself. He saw the differences in the way His followers behaved. Jesus would not condemn with harshness, but in love He corrected if actions were not in line with Scripture. We need to do the same. Verses 14:10-11 say,
“So why condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”
Let’s look at ourselves. Think about ways you may have judged someone else by their worshipping style. Even if it’s not done to their face, have you ridiculed them under your breath? If that person has very strong convictions that you don’t share, it doesn’t give us the right to make them feel wrong. Remember what it says in Romans 14:13, “…live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.” Let’s learn to build each other up in the Lord, in whatever way best suits their worshipping style. God looks at the heart, He watches our actions, He sees the way we love one another.
I think what we do need to consider, if we see a fellow believer falling into sin and misusing their walk with the Lord as a way to stumble someone else, that kind of behavior needs to be corrected. The strong in faith should step up and guide them back to a godly way of worship. In that correction, build them up with the love of the Lord.
Let’s take a moment to read The Message’s (MSG) take on Romans 15:1-2, I thought it was a really neat way of looking at those two verses,
“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
So instead of judging and condemning, let’s help and love. We need to learn to accept the differences in the church, build each other up in matters that mean the most!
Romans 14:1, in The Message (MSG) says,
“Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.”
Wow, wonderful point, “…they have their own history to deal with…” We may not know or understand the background of another believer, so worshipping styles may differ because of their upbringing, but again, it does not mean they are wrong. Let’s learn to love, to serve, and to help each other grow in faith. Let’s also take note, we all need reminding of the truths in Scripture. We all are students of the Lord. Let’s build each other up!
~AMEN~