When You’re In The Right Mindset…
Have you ever noticed that when you get into the right mindset, whatever you’re watching or reading comes alive with lessons that directly relate to the Bible?
My kids and I have been watching the Star Wars saga—we started at Episode 1 and finished 4 this evening—and there were so many allegories to the Bible that it was pretty crazy.
It’s true what they say—there’s nothing new that’s unique, and many stories are simply formulas that we place in different settings in order to get the same message across.
The best stories are like that—so take the time to see the Word in whatever it is that you’re doing. I think you’ll be surprised if you actually start looking for it!
A Brother Caught in Sin
The whole point of the Romans 14 passage is that believers in Christ are bound together in Him. We will have our differences of opinions, we will disagree with them on issues. We will believe that they’re wrong and we’re right.
But we’re to remember the grace by which we were saved, and extend that grace to them. We are to realize that they are living their life out before their maker, and unless they are in a sin which is spelled out in the Bible, we’re to grant them the ability to live out their Christian liberty.
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The Stumbling Block
Lastly, is the idea of a “Stumbling Block”. In the case of Romans 14, this is talking about a Stronger Brother who exercises his liberties, and in the process causes the Weaker Brother to stumble.
The prohibitions mentioned in Romans 14 could lead people to believe that the Stronger Brother has no option but to live like a weaker brother. Take a look:
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
…
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is [dang]ed if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. - Romans 14:15, 21-23
If you took the first part without the second you could certainly get that impression. However, it’s the second section I think is worth our attention.
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The Two Brothers
There are two brothers mentioned in Romans 14—and they are referred to with terms of strength. One is called the stronger brother, and the other the weaker.
The Stronger Brother
The Stronger Brother takes on two different types of individuals.
The first individual is the one that stands firm on his understanding of the Bible and feels free to partake in those things that were previously forbidden—and does so to the glory of God. This is the man (or woman) that could eat the meat offered to idols, because there were no such things as idols and the meat was 50% the price he could get at the local WalMart. His conscience did not bother him about it, and he had a right relationship to the Lord.
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Doctrine From the Psalms?
This past Sunday in Sunday School, we men were in Psalms 51. This is the Psalm that King David of Israel wrote after his sin with Bathsheba and the ensuing sin that followed.
As we were reviewing the Psalm and talking about how sin effects our lives, two different thoughts were on my heart.
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Make Good As Soon As Possible
A lot of what the Bible says is practical, and today’s musing is no exception. It’s always best to take care of situations when they are little, because the longer you wait the more it grows. What started out as something that could have been handled can easily mutate into something that you’ll never get back again.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Matthew 5:25-26
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Do We Miss Out By Saying No?
In the film that just came out on DVD, Yes Man stars Jim Carey as Carl Allen, a man that’s stuck in a rut and always says “no.” He avoids responsibilities, he refuses to try anything new, so when a friend of his brings him to a conference and he’s challenged to say “yes” to any and every query, his life turns upside down.
Now, there are clearly objectionable things in this movie—at least one scene where his acquiescence yields immorality (that takes place off screen but with his reaction), and the climax of the movie doesn’t have our couple wondering about getting married, but moving in together. But I’m not musing as much about the video—which I wouldn’t advise watching without something like Clear Play running—but I am thinking about how often we say “yes” and “no.”
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