The early church found unity and dynamic growth through stable activities energized by the power of God. These keys closed the gap between the generations and laid the foundation for the fastest growing church in history.  For the “Jeremiah Generation” to revive those great days of harmony and evangelistic fervor, these same keys must be applied in the church of today.

It is by purposeful design that we have saved the following material for the final climactic chapter of this book. Since the very first day that God communicated with his human creation, we have all sadly struggled to give Him the attention He deserves. We heard the serpent in the garden, we were distracted by the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai, we expected something different at Bethlehem, and so we joined with the angry mob and pushed God toward the top of Calvary. Pentecost gave us focus for a moment, but then came the Grecian widows, circumcision and Jewish persecution.  After the First Century Christians were gone, church councils stole God’s authority. We found political strength, but grew spiritually weak. We used crusades for evangelism and cannibalized anyone who dared differ with the Pope. Trying to renew our focus, we split and splintered into hundreds of different reformation directions.  But without a full return to the will of God, we only added more distractions from his divine will. Someone shouted “restoration!” and, for a brief moment in history, God’s family rallied toward a complete return to a focus on Him.

Over one hundred years have come and gone since that wonderful call for restoration. Yet sadly, God’s people are as distracted today as they ever have been before. Like Eve, we seek physical pleasure while trying to hold on to a spiritual Creator. Like the children of Israel, we bow before our golden calves of materialism between Sunday services. Like the Jewish leaders, we make laws where God has not made them. Like the early church councils, we amend God’s law to validate our own desires. Like the crusaders, we use the Word of God as a weapon of hate. Like the Pope, we have established a church bureaucracy to legislate religious performances. Like the Reformation leaders we chase after the hermeneutics that sound most reasonable to us. Through it all I can hear God cry, “What about Me? When will you just sit still and listen to Me?” 

Perhaps the greatest challenge and most important task the “Jeremiah Generation” can ever undertake is the refocusing of God’s people on the words of the One Who gave them life. Teach the church to be submissive and let Him rule, to be humble and let Him be praised, to be still and let God speak.

Perhaps the most difficult place to span the generation gap is in the areas of biblical silence. The legalist believes these areas are condemned of God. Their reasoning leads them into the creation of laws on God’s behalf. They enforce these laws through doctrinal crusades and bloody the church in the process. The liberal believes that areas of silence give him unrestricted freedom. He tramples on the consciences of others and often leads open rebellions to promote his own “feel good” experiences. Both must be condemned by the “Jeremiah Generation”!

For the children of God to truly focus on His will, disputable matters of biblical silence must be addressed. Thankfully, God knew this would be the case, so He left us with specific instructions on how to deal with these “doubtful things” (Romans 14:1, NKJV)

Introduction to Romans 14

The man had been stranded on the deserted island for two and a half long years. When the Coast Guard came to rescue him, the man anxiously gathered his belongings while showing his rescuers around the small Island. “That building is where I lived,” said the man pointing to a small grass hut. “This is where I went to church.” He pointed in another direction.

Later they passed by another hut. When one of the rescuers asked about it, the man replied in a huff, “Oh, that’s where I used to go to church.”

Sad, but true. It seems there are many in the church who are so disagreeable that, if stranded alone on an island, they would probably withdraw fellowship from themselves.

Many years ago, I heard the following short poem that accurately describes many within the church. It also describes the step we must take in order to bridge a generation gap that is often widest at the point of  “doubtful things” (Romans 14:1, NKJV).

He drew a circle and drew me out
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had a will to win.
We drew a circle and drew him in.

-Author Unknown

Did you ever know someone who insisted that you fully agree with them on every issue in order to be part of their little circle? Did you ever consider how small their circle is and how much smaller it becomes with every passing disagreement? Romans 14 combats this anti-unity attitude.

This important passage holds the very keys to opening the door to Christ’s prayer for unity. It tells us how to disagree agreeably and even assures us that perfect agreement on every issue is not necessary.

This passage does not, however, endorse unity at all cost. It does not promote the ecumenical suggestions that we throw our arms wide and embrace every view no matter how it compares with God’s Holy Word. Romans 14 is the inspired record of God’s authoritative instructions on how we should deal with disputable matters.

The church desperately needs this study. As we continue to cannibalize each other, our numbers will continue to decrease, our attitudes will continue to sour and our goal will continue to be out of reach. Christ’s prayer for unity was not a pie-in-the-sky fantasy. It was, and is, His sincere desire for the church. He sealed this wish with His divine blood and, therefore, we owe the Lord a complete understanding of this important text.

Romans 14:1

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.”

Paul opens this important chapter by cautioning the mature brother not to discourage the weaker brother with “disputes over doubtful things.” (NKJV) The NIV translates this phrase “disputable matters”.

Perhaps the most important application to be drawn from this opening verse is the attitude we are commanded to have towards such doubtful things. Disputable matters must never be used as grounds for causing division. In this verse, the mature brother is cautioned about such divisiveness. Two verses later, we will see that the immature brother is given the same warning.

Before traveling too far into this vital passage, an important question must be answered, “What are doubtful things” or “disputable matters”?  In verses two through six, Paul answers that question by giving us examples of disputed matters in his day.  The eating of meat and the observance of holy days caused division then. What items might we place on a list of today’s disputable matters? What criteria might we use to decide if a matter is disputable or if, on the other hand, it warrants a line of fellowship?

A wise man once taught me that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible. Notice what Paul says in the very  verse which follows his introduction to “disputable matters”. “One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.” (Romans 14:2, NIV) In other words, disputable matters come as a result of levels of faith.

Some things are disputable because they are a matter of learning. “...faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17, NKJV)  For the weaker brother, who has not yet studied enough to develop a mature faith, we must offer patience. We must never use issues that are outside of his level of understanding to draw a line of fellowship.

Other matters are disputable because they are not part of the biblical record. Some seem to think that, if God did not give His specific approval or disapproval on a topic, Christians have the freedom to make up something for Him. Does the silence of Scripture really give us the right to put words in God’s mouth? Or, is it possible that the silence of Scripture only gives us the right to be silent? When God is silent, we should be also. We would be wise not to make a command or a condemnation out of any issue that God has not specifically addressed.  It is a disputable matter and we should not divide our fellowship over it.

An Overview of Romans 14

Below you will find a guide to the principles of Romans 14. Please study it, digest it and apply it to your life. The material is written in such a way that you should be encouraged to read the text for yourself, consider the summary I have offered and then make applications in your own life. 

Few things are more important than the unity of God's family.  Please do not neglect this vital study.

1. Disputable Matters
Romans 14:1-4

Disputable matters are often matters of spiritual maturity and/or scriptural silence. God says that, in both cases, we must be patient and recognize that it is possible to disagree and both be right. Read verse 4. If God did not command it or condemn it, we must not divide over it.

2. Divine Dominance
Romans 14:5-12

When dealing with disputable matters, being right with God is a personal matter.  In these areas of “doubtful things” (NKJV) three questions must be asked to determine if you are right with God.

1. Are you "fully convinced" in your own mind that what you are doing is right? (vs. 5, NASV)

2. Are you doing it "for the Lord"? (vs. 6, NASV)

3. Have you taken into account that you "will give an account" to God for your decision? (vs. 12, NASV)
3. Destructive Behavior
Romans 14:13-21

Selfish unconcern for your brother's conscience makes every liberty wrong.  Two questions must be asked to determine when the exercise of a liberty is wrong.

1. Does the liberty threaten to "destroy" your brother's spiritual life? (vs. 15, NASV)  Note: Some Christians object and cause strife, not because their spiritual life is threatened, but because their personal preferences are not dominant. This type of selfishness is condemned in verses 3-4. Church leaders should be very careful not to allow a vocal minority to derail the plans of the church by falsely claiming that their personal preferences are matters of spiritual security.  Instead of holding back the entire congregation because a few refuse to grow up, church leaders should condemn their intentional immaturity and deliver them into the hands of God for discipline.

2. Does the exercise of this liberty put a stumbling block "in your brother's way"?  Note: When the immature brother is not involved, the mature brother does not have the responsibility to sacrifice his liberties. Read and study 1 Corinthians 10:27-29. In this passage, Paul lays down a very important principle when dealing with a potentially weak brother. Principle: A mature brother should assume that all others are also mature unless told otherwise. Notice that, in this passage, the mature brother is told to eat whatever is set before him, "without asking questions". (vs. 27) Only when he is told that an immature brother is present is he instructed to sacrifice his liberty.

Conclusion:
Romans 14:22-23

In disputable matters, being right with God is a personal matter. Being right with your brother is a matter of love and sacrifice. When a brother has truly proven himself to be growing, yet still immature, the stronger brother has no choice but to bend over backwards to avoid causing him to stumble. However, when a long-time Christian has proven himself to be unwilling to grow, he must not be allowed to handicap the stronger members of the family. His intentional immaturity must be confronted and his destructive influence condemned.

For the church to return to her glory days of dyamic growth and Divine unity, the “Jeremiah Generation” must fill the generation gap.  Few things can cause greater conflict between age groups than “disputable matters” brought on by levels of faith and/or biblical silence. Learn to apply the principles of Romans 14. Let God speak for Himself. Be patient with those who are truly struggling to develop a mature conscience. Condemn those who refuse to grow up and handicap the church with their selfish objections to change. Celebrate your freedom in Christ Jesus, but never use it to promote a generation gap. Be the “Jeremiah Generation”!

A Final Thought

As the “Jeremiah Generation”, some of you will be called upon to be an Ebed-Melech.  As such, celebrate your role.  Protect God’s man and God will protect you.

Others of you will be called upon to be a Jeremiah.  As such, understand the awesome responsibility it is to be God’s man. Some will receive fanfare. Some will be ignored. Others will be persecuted.  But for the true Jeremiah of God, just knowing you have the hand of God on your shoulder should be enough.

Like an athlete who is called upon by the Coach to carry out a special play on His behalf, run the play for His glory. The team may not always support you. Their poor execution may hinder your mission or even cause you to fail.  But remember, yours is not the game, yours is simply the play that you have been assigned. Honor the Coach. Run His play, His way. 

And when your moments on the field are finished, lift your exhausted eyes to the sidelines. Forget the crowd, look past the team, seek out the Coach. For such a time as this, you have been created. Look for Him. Watch for His nod of approval. Watch His eyes sparkle as He acknowledges your effort.  Drink up the validation He gives with a simple glance and be thankful you were counted worthy to be on the team. “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Well done!”