Most you know that I am an avid rock climber. And
despite being a bit overweight, and not as strong as I used to be, it’s
something that I’m quite passionate about. Apart from doing it every week, both
outside and inside, I talk about it all the time, watch videos about it, focus
friendships on it, read climbing books, and try to talk anyone who will listen into
trying it out. I sometimes find myself in a teaching role in gyms when I see
new people trying to climb who need a few pointers and who are frustrated by
being unable to do something that can be remedied by a certain technique.
Regardless, I always share with the new climber a common quote, “The best
climber is always the one having the most fun.” It’s the recognition that while
there are a lot of things to learn and practice, despite some suffering and
fear, the point – the goal – the purpose – of climbing is to have fun. Well, I
thought about this as I read Paul’s discussion about how to read and hold
convictions and handle disagreements about disputable matters in the church.
And I imagine that Paul would say, “The best Bible reader is always the one
having the most love.” What he actually says in Romans 13:9-10, quoting
Scripture and channeling the perspective is Jesus, is: “9 The
commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You
shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may
be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love
is the fulfillment of the law.”
And in Romans 14, Paul will talk concretely about how that love should be practiced and what it looks like. And I would like to summarize what he says and then unpack it. And hopefully, have a little fun. Here’s my summary: Read the Bible freely for yourself with others in mind so that people hear the good news of Jesus, crucified and risen, and experience righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Read the Bible freely for yourself . . .
Paul’s discussion in Romans chs. 14-15 is deeply personal with the Apostle both addressing and instructing individuals as well as outing himself on his own personal beliefs. In ways that are not the norm for much of Paul’s writings, which often focus on the church and “you” plural, Romans 14 is mostly about “one,” “another,” “you” or “each” (all in the singular), throughout the entire passage. In fact, where the plural is introduced it’s because the NIV translators thankfully desired to include women where the male singular was used and so opted for “they” in order to be inclusive.
And Paul grants quite a bit of freedom to these individuals who are seeking to understand Scripture and follow Jesus as Lord and Savior (which is what creates freedom in the first place). That singular “you” in the passage is: encouraged to think for yourself in order to honor God (vss. 5, 7-8), permitted to develop convictions about significant matters (vss. 1-3; 14), told not to judge others or hold in contempt anyone who belongs to God (3-4), implicitly allowed to recognize one might potentially be wrong (vss. 14-15), and admonished not to force anyone to change whose mind is made up (vs. 23). In fact, you are called to read it with integrity such that you are to remain faithful to your understanding and mustn’t harm anyone by manipulating them to believe something that they don’t believe to be true (vs. 14). And all of the topics mentioned (food, days, wine, etc.) Scripture had something to say about. I’m not suggesting that we should read the Bible in a cavalier way – anymore than one should be cavalier about rock climbing. Both are incredibly dangerous and demand respect, practice, conviction, skills, techniques, and humility. And you are also responsible for your own safety and to engage Bible reading haphazardly, without convictions, Paul says, can make even something that is not sinful actually sinful (vss. 14, 23). But we don’t have to do it exactly the same or always draw the same conclusions.
What we have to do, however, is read it. What we can’t do is imagine that we can have a spiritual discussion without it. Do you know the most common thing Jesus says about Scripture (7 times to be exact)? It’s actually a question and not a statement: “Have you not read?” So more than anything I want to encourage you to read the Bible. Our denomination was started as a movement by a people who believed that each of us must read it for ourselves. They held that Bible reading was an honor, a privilege, that was offered to everyone. It has always been considered a serious and indispensable thing.
In one of our identity text, The Bible & Christian Freedom, denominational leaders stated: “each person has the right to be himself/herself as an individual in Christ, and each person makes his contribution to the freedom of the entire Christian fellowship. This means that we show our brother or sister the courtesy of hearing and of seeking to understand both his/her words and their meaning and that we do not judge him without allowing him the opportunity of stating his case. It also means that we exercise care in our use of words with possible emotional overtones and that we never use disagreement with our brother/sister as an opportunity for personal advancement as his/her expense.” So you are free to think carefully, critically, thoughtfully, with the help of the Holy Spirit in order to discern what the Bible is saying about a whole hosts of things. And friends, we need you to do it.
But reading the Bible freely and making up one’s own mind does not mean that belief is private nor individualistic. Your freedom and your Bible reading are for the purpose of considering and loving others (13:8-10).
Read the Bible freely with others in mind . . .
You are invited to read the Bible and hold convictions about disputable matters – freely – without being badgered or belittled or shamed. Be free. However, the Apostle wants to orient you toward an understanding of freedom that doesn’t first and foremost look at yourself but others. A lot like climbing, you don’t climb alone but have a partner that you are responsible for. You both need each other to stay safe.
How do you know that you are reading the Bible with others in mind? How do you know if your hermeneutic is really a “love your neighbor as yourself” way of reading the Bible? Ask yourself 4 questions:
Can I accept someone who loves Jesus yet thinks differently than I do? (14:1). Paul argues that you cannot fire a servant that you aren’t the boss of in the first place. If God accepts them, how can you reject?
Am I more worried about being right than be loving and encouraging? (13:9-10, 19). If you want to check yourself, ask the person how they experience you. Are they experiencing righteousness, peace, or joy from a conversation with you?
Is my
posture curious or confrontational? (14:3-4, 13).
Am I harming someone’s relationship with Jesus? (14:15)
To ensure that we are reading with others in mind means to lean into a relationship that can allow for us to share our thoughts – Paul will share his thoughts (vs. 14) but also allows others to hear the thoughts of others in an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding, and love. To read the Bible differently focusing primarily on our relationship in Christ is to seek the other person as an ally in approaching the problem rather than the problem itself – to make the problem an “it” rather than a “you.” The denomination states “Unless we wish to stifle all emergent spiritual vitality, we must be sure that people within our fellowship will be free to express themselves in ways which are different from the majority position without the fear of being labeled as disloyal.” Friends, Jesus and Paul would remind us that unity is not a luxury in Bible reading and discipleship, it’s a necessity.
Read the Bible freely with others in mind so that people hear the good news of Jesus, crucified and risen, and experience righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Our passage begins with Paul’s admonition to accept others and not to “quarrel about disputable matters.” By the way, if I was to right down what Christians have agreed upon and disagreed upon, which do you imagine would be longer? If you were to point to the center what would it be? So there is a center here, a shared conviction that all share which for Paul remains indisputable – the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So anything that doesn’t categorically challenge the fundamental Christian belief that Christ died and was raised to be Lord over all, even the living and the dead, might rightly be said to fall in the disputable category (vss. 8-9; 15:5-7). Now, that neither makes all positions right, nor unproblematic, or even helpful. There are plenty of beliefs that I would hope you would never entertain nor practice and we can and should talk about them curiously with one another in a context of love and mutual encouragement. Rember that it is “belonging,” Paul says, to the Lord and one another, that was the reason Christ died and returned to life (vs. 9). This position is a guiding center for us. Friends, the gospel message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, is not about God demanding that we get things right in order to be loved but the story of God’s willingness to come, to suffer, to die for those who disagreed with him so that they might belong. Jesus is God incarnate seeking to be in relationship with those who are incredibly wrong. That story is our faith – so read accordingly, offer love, and please, o please, have fun.
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