THE title of this sermons is not the most illuminating one, but I found it difficult to come up with a better one which seemed to capture the teaching Paul is giving in these verses.

The thoughts and convictions of others, even when we are convinced that they are not binding, or even right, can have a powerful influence over us, and we may well find ourself in bondage, and even made to feel guilty. It is a fact that there are opinions and practices within the life of Christian fellowships, which are not about essential truth, but about non-essentials, over which there are valid differences of opinion. They are often part of a traditional culture which has grown up from past problems about Christian living which are not entirely relevant as issues have changed. One example of this problem can be illustrated from the time of Billy Graham's first mission at Harringay Arena, back in the middle of the 20th century. The traditional practice for Christian women at the time was not to wear make-up. It was considered worldly and a mark of sub-standard Christian life in any woman who dared to apply make-up. The Christian culture in America at the time saw no problem with modest application of make-up, and Ruth Graham came over into the Christian culture of Great Britain wearing lip-stick. A lot of judging went on at the time against the Graham's. Ruth Graham graciously fitted into the culture of Britain and stop using any make-up. She fulfilled the teaching of Paul which we considered in the previous sermon. However people were made to feel guilty over the matter of make-up, and there was a certain amount of bondage and disharmony created in the evangelical world of that time. Paul addresses this problem in these last two verses of chapter 14 which we are going to consider now. Today there is no problem in Christian fellowships over the use of make-up in women, and it is easy to see that this problem should not have been a source of disharmony in those days.

LOOKING AT THE VERSES.

It will be helpful first to take a close look at these two verse before us, and try to see exactly what Paul is teaching, and then seek to make some application of the teaching for our Christian living today.

As we often find when we study Paul's writings these verses are not exactly easy to understand when we first look at them, and so we need to take time to study them.

In verse 22 Paul is teaching that if we are convinced that the thinking and practice of others in the fellowship of the church is not binding, and that their thinking and convictions are open to correction, then two things are important for us to affirm. The first is in the opening words of Paul in verse 22. He says "so whatever you believe about these things". Paul recognises that we have real belief that the way we have been led to think is not wrong. So the first thing we must do is to be firm in our belief. We have considered the matter and the issues involved prayerfully and honestly, and we feel our conscience is clear, and that the contrary opinion is not essential, and that our belief is not sinful. So, in the issue at that time, the belief that all food is clean is valid, and there was nothing wrong in this conviction, and that it was not sinful to eat meat sold in the market, whatever had happened to it before it was offered for sale.

The second thing Paul tells us is important to confirm is that the opinions of others have to be considered, and so we must keep our opinion between ourself and God. This means that when we are in the company of those who have trouble over the issue we know to be good, then we give place in practice to their opinion, but when we are not in their company then it is perfectly alright to follow our convicitons.

Then Paul says "Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves." In this sentence Paul is recognising that the opinions of others, and a tradition in the fellowship to which a person belongs, can have a powerful effect on a person, even though after prayerful and obedient study of God's word that person has come to see that the opinion of the fellowship is not necessarily binding, essential, or a mark of substandard Christian behaviour. This was the case with the problem of food sold in Paul's day that had been offered to idols. Some mature believers saw clearly that all food was clean, and could be eaten with a good conscience. However Paul recognised that the opinion of others can have a powerful effect on others who so not share that opinion of non-essential matters, and this can cause a person to feel under condemnation by the fellowship. Paul says that a person is blessed when, having come to a sure opinion on a matter, can be strong enough not to allow the opinion of others to make him feel guilty and condemned. However this is not always easy, specially in a circumstance when a person is going through a difficult time. At such times Satan is very quick to exploit the situation and cause doubts to arise in a person's mind. Also the constant repitition of the opinion of others can wear us down.

Paul is seeking to emphasise the importance of standing firm in our belief and not allowing the opinion of others to destroy our peace. And so Paul goes on in verse 23 “But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith;” In this sentence Paul is telling us that if we allow ourself to be be made to feel guilty by others over something we know to be right, then the problem lies in the exercise of faith. If our faith falters then doubts about our convictions rise, and then we find ourself being troubled by condemnation.

Here Paul is addressing a very important aspect of everyday Christian living. It is the matter of holding fast to our faith. When we have searched our heart before God, and prayerfully enquired for understanding as to how to live from God's word, we must hold fast to our faith that the way we are proceding is right and true. We must not let others cause our faith to falter. In Psalm 33: 4 the Psalmist praises God "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." This must be our conviciton and strength always, and we must not allow our faith to be assaulted by others. In Ephesians 6: 10ff Paul is addressing the matter of standing firm in the strength of God in the midst of all the assaults of the evil one. In verse 16 Paul tells us to "take up the shield of faith, with which we extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Faith is a gift from God, but it is also a grace we must practice and work on. We must take up faith as a shield, and cause all doubts thrown at us to bounce off the shield of our faith. We must believe the word of God is true, and his word to us is true. This practice of faith goes on all the time, and faith grows stronger with practice.

Paul finishes by saying "and everything that does not come from faith is sin". At first this may seem very hard, and making the matter so much worse, and increasing our difficulty and doubling our guilt. But if we understand what Paul is saying properly, we shall find strength in this last sentence.

Paul is not seeking to increase our guilt but rather to re-enforce faith. Paul is seeking to show us that when we doubt we are doubting God's word and so doubting God himself. This is ceasing to trust God. God has promised to honour his word. The Bible makes clear that God never lies. The truth is that the one thing that is absolutely certain in this uncertain world is the veracity of God's word and promise. Seen in this light we see that lack of faith is sinful, and we are prompted to be strong in faith, and not doubt.

APPLICATION.

Having looked at Paul's teaching, we need to apply it to our lives. How are we to do this?

We all know the power of doubts when they assault us, and we all have experienced the fierceness of the struggle when we are in the midst of it. How do we grow strong in faith.

In the first place we must stand firm in our faith in Jesus as our Saviour who has redeemed us for sin and death, and won for us a place in God's family, together with the gift of eternal membership of the kingdom of God. When faith is assalted we must go back to our roots in Christ, and be sure that he is our Lord and our God, and that we are forgiven and safe in his love.

The next thing to remember is that God is true, and his word is sure, and that it is a firm and rock-like foundation upon which to rest our lives. We must expel any idea that God will let us down. We must never doubt that God's plan for us as his child is sure, and we are safe in that plan.

Then we must re-affirm in our mind that truth of God's word which has brought us to affirm what we believe to be true for our life, and having gone over the truth we have searched, hold fast to it.

Then we must say to ourself that whatever others may say about us or our action, we know we rest under the favour and approval of God, and so the opinions of others are not valid, and do not move us.