A Holy Charge (12)

 

 

“Help the weak” (1 Thess. 5:14).

 

Perhaps we all have our strengths and weaknesses, no doubt we all have our blind spots. With many of us, our greatest strengths can be our greatest weaknesses if they are not crucified with Christ, for self-sufficiency is the death of life in Christ and ministry.

 

But I think “the weak” in this passage are likely those who are constitutionally weak; folks who have a tough time with life, with faith, with understanding; who often struggle as a way of life. This is who they are, it does not mean that this is who they will always be, but this is who they are now and we need to be careful about not putting stumbling blocks before them and deliberate about encouraging them and helping them along the Way of Jesus.

 

We see what this looks like in Romans 14:1 – 15:7; you will need to ponder this passage yourself to gain deeper insight into it, but for now we’ll consider some highlights.

 

“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions” (Rom. 14:1).

 

“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God” (Rom. 15:7).

 

Here is an inclusio of “acceptance.” That is, acceptance brackets all that is between 14:1 and 15:7, and what is between these verses is an element of church life, that element in which we don’t all see the same things the same way – what to do when we have this common occurrence?

 

Paul says that, in this context, we are not to judge one another. “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (14:4).

 

“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (14:10).

 

Note that we can have confidence in Jesus, our Master, to make us all stand (see also Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:24; Jude 1:24). In this confidence we can accept and encourage one another.

 

There are three communal issues that Paul deals with in Romans 14; eating, drinking, and whether or not to religiously observe some days above others. These are all issues that have to do with our relationships with one another, for the Body of Christ meets together and eats together as it shares the Life of Christ together. That is, these issues cannot be avoided if we are going to have relationships with one another.

 

Let me point out that Paul is not engaging in points of doctrine in this chapter, at least not doctrine as we typically understand it. Elsewhere Paul is clear that the time of holy days has come to an end, that the season of viewing food and clean and unclean has come to an end; and we see this, of course, in Jesus and in Peter as well. This is important to realize for two reasons.

 

The first reason is that we ought not to read doctrine about holy days and clean and unclean food into this passage – unless it is to see that there is a certain degree of patience and liberty and grace we need to extend to one another. The second is that we are indeed called to be gracious and patient about these things – not that we place ourselves under bondage to them, as the Galatians were doing, but that we give grace to others who are (hopefully) working through them.

 

Let’s also note that this is a two-way street, Paul is writing to both the strong and the weak.

 

“The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him” (14:3).

 

There is accountability on both sides, on the side of the weak and of the strong. Furthermore, let’s keep in mind that this letter is being read publicly in the congregation(s), the weak are hearing this just as the strong are hearing it. What is going through their minds? Are they classifying each other?  Are they asking themselves, “Which one am I?”

 

Are the weak thinking, “This is me, I am weak. Do I want to remain this way?”

 

Are the strong thinking, “O my. I have been judgmental, forgive me Jesus! Help me Jesus to help my brother and sister.”

 

I have confronted these things in my own life, and I am ashamed about many of my actions and attitudes over the years. I thank God He has not left me to myself or what a cesspool I would still be in. I have played the part of the weak and of the strong. Thank God for His mercy!

 

What about you? As you read Romans 14:1 – 5:7 can you see yourself? What roles have you played? What have you learned? What are you learning?

 

We’ll return to this in our next reflection, the Lord willing.