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had to stop (v3)! Second, both groups had approach to the proud opinionated men
to give credit to the other for their aspira- of Ephraim was far more effective than
tion to honor Christ by the stance that Jephthah’s mailed-fist method (Jdg 8:1-3;
they took; their convictions sprang from 12:1-6)!
a desire to acknowledge His Lordship
(vv4-9). Neither group had to regard the A Key Verse
other as rebels because they had a differ- A critical verse in the section is chapter
ent attitude to eating meat. A third factor 14:17. It demonstrates that citizens of the
had to be an awareness that everyone’s kingdom are not taken up with “meat and
prime accountability is to God and that drink, but righteousness, and peace, and
that will be seen fully at the judgment joy in the Holy Ghost.” In these things we
seat of Christ (vv10-12): “Every one of us
shall give account of himself to God.” I will can be “well-pleasing to God” (v18 RV).
never be asked to step forward to recount Righteousness in its legal sense is a major
your life’s history, nor you mine. We have theme of the epistle, but it is obvious that
enough trouble keeping ourselves right the righteousness here is practical, in other
without behaving like an assembly police- words, good behavior. With conflict in the
man trying to keep everyone else in line. background, it is so easy to develop a sour
We express Peter’s sentiments too often: disposition that devises underhanded
“Lord, and what shall this man do?” We means to get one over on an opponent.
should be focused on our own obligation That will never please God. What will de-
to follow faithfully. A caveat to this is that light Him is the desire to promote peace,
we cannot ignore unscriptural practices which will in turn stimulate joy. “Let us
and turn a blind eye to violations of bibli- therefore follow after the things which
cal order. These have to be faced head on, make for peace” (v19).
but that is not the emphasis in this article. I firmly believe that Romans 14 should
The strong believers had a further be interpreted strictly in its context, a
opportunity to be charitable by being context which airs a problem that does
willing to forego their right to eat meat to not really affect us today. I have a strong
accommodate the weak brother’s scruples aversion to using the chapter to make ap-
(vv13-15). Who would want to stumble a plications that are too elastic. Too often,
brother? Who would want to endanger activities that are positively worldly and
the spiritual life of someone who is pre- unscriptural are justified by asserting that
cious to Christ, “him … for whom Christ if the person involved is fully persuaded
died”? The teaching spills over into chap-
ter 15, where the strong are discouraged in their own mind (v5), then all must be
from pleasing themselves, with the Lord well. However, I judge that there are prin-
Jesus seen as the supreme example of the ciples here regarding conflict resolution
selfless attitude: “Even Christ pleased that should be heeded. We must ensure
not himself” (v3). Insisting on exercis- that behavior does not deteriorate in the
ing my liberty even if it saddens another midst of tension. If we follow the injunc-
believer puts me in the wrong. Foregoing tions of Paul to the Romans, our actions
our rights is one way to emulate the Savior and reactions can be such as will please
and render pleasure to God in the midst of God. “Ye have received of us how ye ought
conflict. Gideon’s self-effacing, kid-glove to walk and to please God” (1Th 4:1).

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