The Mindset for Magnifying God in Our Differences | Romans 14:2-4

Scripture

• Romans 14:2–4

About this sermon

Introduction: We are commanded to welcome the one who is weak in faith. We welcome them not to conform their conscience to ours. We welcome them, not requiring that all our differences melt away. We live with each other in a way that we love each other WHILE THE DIFFERENCES exist. It might seem counterintuitive to us, but this really does characterize a mature congregation. Immaturity often requires UNIFORMITY. There is a difference, as our text is making plain, between unity and uniformity. And yet, there is something else that characterizes mature congregations. There is a love despite differences, without pretending that the differences don’t matter. The differences can be consequential. The differences can be important. Yet, we are called to honor God, and to magnify God, while the differences remain. It is IMPORTANT that the Christian understands the difference between the Old and New covenants. It is important that the Christian understands what is considered clean on the other side of the cross. These TRUTHS — REVEALED BY GOD — matter. But while people mature, and when we can say that their sensitivities do not reflect rebellion, or insincerity, we love each other through those seasons of growth. The ability to do that is found in spiritually mature congregations. What we have in verses 2-4 is an explanation of the mindset that must operate as we obey the command, and the exception, of verse 1. The mindset for magnifying God in our differences. • THE DIFFERENCES DESCRIBED (vs.2) What kind of person is weak in faith? What kind of person needs to be welcomed? Paul makes it plain verse 2. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Now, we dealt with this already this morning, so I am not going to spend too much time on it, but reading this entire section makes clear what the issues are. The issues have to do with eating things that are considered clean or unclean (common) according to the Old Testament dietary laws. As you know, there were certain types of animals that a Jew could make a meal of, and there were other types of animals that were off-limits. There is a long list in Leviticus 11:1-47 that defines the boundaries, and many other references to dietary restrictions for God’s people in the OT, but here is a representative one from Deuteronomy 14. ESV Deuteronomy 14:1 "You are the sons of the LORD your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. 2 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 3 "You shall not eat any abomination. 4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. 6 Every animal that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 7 Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you. 8 And the pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. 9 "Of all that are in the waters you may eat these: whatever has fins and scales you may eat. 10 And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you. 11 "You may eat all clean birds. 12 But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, 13 the kite, the falcon of any kind; 14 every raven of any kind; 15 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind; 16 the little owl and the short-eared owl, the barn owl 17 and the tawny owl, the carrion vulture and the cormorant, 18 the stork, the heron of any kind; the hoopoe and the bat. 19 And all winged insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten. 20 All clean winged things you may eat. 21 "You shall not eat anything that has died naturally. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. "You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk. Any Jewish person who had reverence for God paid strict attention to those laws. Not only did they pay strict attention to the dietary laws, but they also were extremely careful in their interactions with Gentiles so as not to defile themselves.