Romans 14: Balancing Liberty and Love

I’ve just finished writing up some comments and application on Romans 14 for a forthcoming commentary in the SGBC series. If I had to some up the exhortation that Paul makes, I’d put it as follows:

– Learn to differentiate between areas of conviction and areas of command.
– Don’t major on minor doctrines.
– Withhold judgment where the gospel is not threatened.
– Exercise your convictions to build-up others up, not to tear them down.
– Do not exchange freedom in Christ for slavery to human tradition.
– In all times act in love and carry each other’s burdens.

In Rom 14:1-15:6, we could say that Paul is bent on stressing that Jesus is Lord of the weak (e.g., teetotaling Sabbatarian vegan Jews) and the strong (e.g., wine sipping Saturday-shopping bacon munching Gentiles). If God has justified them, then they cannot condemn each other. If God has raised them up, then they cannot put each other down. If they all belong to the Lord and then they all belong to each other. If everyone calls him “Lord,” then they must call each other “brothers and sisters.” If God has accepted them, then they must accept each other. If they share the same faith, then they share food together. As N.T. Wright puts it, “justification by faith” entails “fellowship by faith.” This is what justification by faith looks like when it sits down at the table of Christian community.