Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace

How to Avoid Conflicts 3

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2011-04-17

Synopsis: John Weaver continues his series on avoiding conflicts between Christians by examining Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8–10. He explains that the conflicts in the early church over meats offered to idols and observance of days arose from differences in conscience and knowledge, not from immorality. The strong believer understood that an idol is nothing and that meat is not contaminated, while the weak believer’s conscience was still bound by former ceremonial scruples. Weaver emphasizes that sin resides in the heart, not in material things, and that Christian liberty must be tempered by love and consideration for the weaker brother. He outlines principles for avoiding unnecessary conflicts: not pleasing ourselves, abstaining from some pleasures for the sake of others, focusing on internal righteousness rather than external matters, remembering our accountability before God, and pursuing peace without sacrificing principle. The message sets the stage for future teaching on what it means to offend biblically.

[John Weaver] Just going to deal with the first three verses again, just to try to save my voice. We'll review and keep going from there. Him that is weak in the faith, receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things, another was weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him.

[John Weaver] Now, for the last two weeks, I've dealt with this subject, how to avoid conflicts between Christians. Lord willing, there's probably going to be two more messages when I come back. But in the first message, I try to demonstrate that Christian living is a result of sound doctrine. It is impossible for you and I to have a practical, obedient Christian life without understanding doctrine. And I pointed out that one of the reasons there are so many Christians that do not live an obedient, godly life is because there is very little doctrine that is being taught and preached. I also pointed out that there are varying degrees of faith. Here Paul talks about a weak faith and a strong faith. Our Lord said, O ye of little faith, and then he said, I have not seen so great a faith, no, not in Israel. So just like there's a little and a great and a strong and a weak, there are varying degrees in between as well. So that means this, in 1 John 2, John divided the Christians into babes, into young men, and into fathers.

[John Weaver] So there are different positions of understanding in the Christian faith. I also pointed out that a weak believer is still a believer. It is not the degree of your faith that saves you. It is faith in Jesus Christ that saves you. So if one is a weak believer and yet he believes in the finished work of Jesus Christ and trusts totally and completely in Him, he is still saved no matter how weak he is in faith. And the scripture says that we are to receive the weak in the faith. We're not to receive them to doubtful disputation, but we're to receive them into bonds of friendship and fellowship and ministry.

[John Weaver] So there is to be no fussing and no fighting. Now, the second message that I dealt with last week, if you were not here, I would encourage you to hear it. Because I dealt with this simple principle. Why? It is absolutely impossible to argue someone into a position of faith. In other words, the uselessness and the worthlessness of fussing and fighting and arguing. Someone who does not understand truth is not going to be helped by condemnation, by suppression, and by extreme criticism.

[John Weaver] Scripture does teach that we are to patiently inculcate and teach the Word of God, but yet at the same time we have to depend totally and completely upon God to open the understanding. If God does not open one's eyes, I don't care how saved he is, he will never ever see truth. He'll never understand truth. That is true of a babe, that's true of a young man, that's true of a father. Yet if you ever understand that God who is sovereign in salvation is equally sovereign in illumination, it will enable you to be patient in working with people and helping others because it's impossible for them to understand without God opening their eyes. So why should I get angry with you if you don't see what I see? Why should you get angry with me if I don't see what you see? Because if God does not open our eyes, neither one of us will ever, ever understand the truth.

[John Weaver] Now, it's interesting, as you read Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10, that which caused most conflicts between believers was not doctrine. It was what you and I would call things that are indifferent. The conflicts arose over meets and days. Some viewed certain meets as contaminated. Some viewed certain days as religiously significant. Others did not. And most Christians today would probably think, as you read Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, that those conflicts were absolutely ridiculous, and we cannot even see how such conflicts could even possibly arise. Well, let me tell you the reason we think that. The first reason we think that is because most Christians are totally ignorant of scripture, and therefore they cannot see where a conflict will arise. Most Christians cannot understand the conflicts that happened in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, because we're thousands of years removed from the scene and from the life and times of those early Christians.

[John Weaver] Consequently, we have a tendency then to judge everything in light of our history, our situation, and our knowledge. We sit back and say, well, if I had been alive back then, I would not have done that. Well, that's just your guesstimation. You may have done that back then because you don't know. You're judging everything in light of your present situation. And what many people do not understand is this, that many of the conflicts that arose in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 are exactly the same conflicts that are going on today. I know a number of Christians that are confused over certain meats, certain days. They regard certain days as special and they count them that way and they want everyone else to count them that way. I'm just simply saying there are many of the same exact issues that are going on today. I know Christians that celebrate feasts. And some of them will get very angry with you if you don't do that. And even if you don't know of anyone who is having a conflict over meets and days, the point I'm trying to make is this, there are many other conflicts that are very prevalent between Christians that the same resolutions that the Apostle Paul gives would apply equally to them as well.

[John Weaver] Now, when we get to Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8, there is a distinction here between the strong and the weak. Let me just tell you very clearly, and when I get to the next two messages, this will be very, very evident. But the distinction between the strong and the weak was simply this. The weak were those Christians that were still shackled in their consciences to the old ceremonial observances concerning days and meets. The strong believers were those who saw with their death in Christ the end of all such bondage and enjoyed liberty in the Spirit.

[John Weaver] Now let me point something out. I want you to understand this. The weak in Romans 14 and in 1 Corinthians 8, which we will be looking at, the weak were not immoral people. They were not fornicators. They were not whoremongers. They were not drunkards. No. These people were so conscience stricken that many of them abstained from all meats just to make sure that they were not sinning against God.

[John Weaver] Now, why would any Christian have a concern over meat? Well, the problem that existed in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8 was meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Now, you say, that doesn't change the meat. Let me just point something else. Do you remember in Numbers 25, the Israelites got into an awful lot of trouble when they sat down and ate some meat with the Moabites. And that meat happened to have been sacrificed to the idols. Let me just read. Don't turn there just yet.

[John Weaver] In Numbers 25, verses 1-3, and Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, and they called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods. And the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods, and Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And when you skip down to verse 9, you will find that God killed 24,000 I want to just tell you something. If I'd been invited to a feast and I was eating meat, and I saw 24,000 people die around me because of that meat initially, I think I'd be a little cautious about eating meat as well.

[John Weaver] You see what I'm saying? Now, the meat, of course, was not necessarily contaminated, but they went to the idol. They ate, and it led to their fornication and their wickedness, and God judged them.

[John Weaver] Now, if you will turn in your Bibles to Exodus 34, here is a warning that God gave in verses 15 and 16.

[John Weaver] God says in verse 14, let's begin there, for thou shalt worship no other god, for the Lord whose name is Jealous is a jealous God, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a-whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and while one call thee, and thou eat with his sacrifice, And thou takest of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters to go a-whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a-whoring after their gods." So our Lord is saying, look, you don't do these things simply because it's going to lead to other problems. So here is the background with which a lot of these people in the New Testament understood, and they were saying, well, you know, I don't know.

[John Weaver] You remember in Daniel, and we're not going to turn there, but in Daniel chapter 1, verses 8 through 16, Daniel, the Bible says, purposed not to defile himself with the king's meat. Now, it wasn't that the king was sending him pork or shellfish. That wasn't it. In Bible times, practically every meat was dedicated to a false god. That's how they worshiped God, by the way. I hope you know that in the Old Testament, when you brought your sacrifice to God, the priest, of course, ate of that sacrifice, and then oftentimes, depending on the type of the sacrifice, you ate some of it as well. That was part of the communion with God. The pagans did exactly that as well. And so Daniel then said, look, this meat has been dedicated to an idol. So I'm just not going to eat it or I might not know whether it is or not. So I'm not going to eat it. So Daniel just simply ate pulse and water or peas and water, which is good food, by the way.

[John Weaver] The Josephus in his life states that there were certain Jewish priests at Rome While they lived there, they lived entirely upon fruit, just to make sure that they did not eat anything that was unclean. So, when you have other nations coming into the faith, there arose problems, there arose conflicts. Look in your Bibles, Acts 15, and let's begin with verse 19. Look at the Council at Jerusalem, Acts 15. Notice, if you would, because this conflict arose between those believers who were converted from Judaism and the others who were coming in from other nations. They didn't know what to do, so they held a council. And here's what James, who was the leader, said in Acts 15 and verse 19.

[John Weaver] He says, Wherefore, my sentence is that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles, or the nations, are turned to God, but that we write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. So, they were talking about this problem, and James, as president of the council, gives his judgment or his opinion to which the others consented. And the language here is the usual language in which a judge delivers his opinion. It does not necessarily imply here that James assumed the authority to settle the case, but what he did merely was to give his opinion as to how to best work this problem out at that particular time. Now let me give you a quote before we go any further, and then I'm going to deal with this word, pollutions. But Albert Barnes said this concerning pollutions. Listen carefully. He said, the word rendered pollutions means any kind of defilement.

[John Weaver] But here it is evidently used to note the flesh of those animals that were offered in sacrifice to idols. That flesh, after being offered in sacrifice, was sold in the markets, which I will deal with, or served up at feasts, which I will deal with. It became a very important question whether it was right for Christians to partake of it. The Jews would contend that it was, in fact, partaking of idolatry. The Gentile converts would allege that they did not eat it as sacrifice to idols, or lend their countenance in any way to the idolaters' worship where it had been As idolatry was forbidden to the Jews in every form, and partaking even of the sacrifices idled in their feasts, might seem to countenance idolatry. The Jews would be utterly opposed to it, and for the sake of peace, James advised that they be recommended to abstain from this. To partake of that food might not be morally wrong. but it would give an occasion for scandal and offense, and therefore as a matter of expediency it was advised that they should abstain from it."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note, he says, from pollutions of idols. What James has to refer to in Acts 15 and verse 19 is the meat that had been offered to the idols. He is not talking about idolatry. Idolatry is not something that is indifferent. Idolatry is a sin. It is rebellion. It is wickedness against God. So here's the question. Does offering meat to an idol have any influence upon that meat? Does it contaminate that meat? And does it render that meat uneatable for a believer. Well, you say, wait a minute, Brother Weaver, what possible relevance could that question have for our society today? I mean, come on, who's going to be offering meat to a false idol and expect you to eat some of it? Well, I hope you know that the Jews have their kosher blessings upon certain meats. The Muslims have their blessings upon certain meats to their god Allah. And I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not, but Wiccan and Pagan cults also have their blessings upon certain meats.

[John Weaver] And my question is this. When you go to the grocery store, the meat market, and you buy your meats, how do you know whether or not it has been blessed or dedicated to a false god? I'm just simply pointing out the fact that those issues are still alive today. And just because we may be ignorant of some of these practices does not mean that those practices do not exist. In fact, the next time you go to the grocery store, you begin to notice. You will notice there is a certain sign for that which has been blessed by the rabbis.

[John Weaver] There is an Orthodox Jewish symbol. There is also a symbol for the Muslims, and I'm sure there are probably other symbols as well, but it's stamped there on the product. I'm just simply saying, we have the same problem today. Would you eat something that you know that had been dedicated to Allah? And of course, the rabbis certainly do not believe that Jesus Christ is God.

[John Weaver] Now, let's turn in our Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 8. I'm not going to be going into great detail in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 today because The next two messages, when I deal with what it means to offend biblically, is going to cover 1 Corinthians chapter 8. But I want us to read it, I want you to see this, because this arose not just in the Roman church, but in the Corinthian church as well.

[John Weaver] Paul writes now,"...touching things offered unto idols." We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

[John Weaver] Now, if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing is he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or earth, there be gods many, and lords many, but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge. For some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God, for neither do we eat, or we the better, neither do we eat not, or we the worse.

[John Weaver] But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols? And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish, for whom Christ died. But when you sin so against the weak brethren, you wound their weak conscience, and you sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to understand that Paul states undeniably that there is nothing wrong with meat that has been offered unto an idol. The idol does not change the meat. It does not contaminate the meat. It does not change its form. It does not have any influence upon it. It is just simply plain meat. Look in verse 4. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered unto sacrifice and idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other god but one. Only one God, an idol, is nothing. It can do nothing. Now, look in verse 7.

[John Weaver] Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge. For some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. Now when Paul says in verse 7, Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge. He is not saying that there are Christians that do not know that there is just one God and an idol is nothing. That's not what he's saying. What he is saying is this, that there are believers who somehow think that that idol has some influence upon that meat, and therefore that meat becomes contaminated And therefore it should be rejected for consumption. That's what he's saying. Now, those who knew better were the strong believers. Those who believed that somehow the meat had become contaminated were the weak believers. Look in verse 10. For if any man see thee which has knowledge, that's the strong believer. sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak, the one that thought it somehow had influence upon the meat, be emboldened to eat those things which are offered unto idols."

[John Weaver] Now, evidently, after the sacrifice was over in these pagan temples, a feast was made of whatever was left. And friends and neighbors were invited to the feast. And some of these Christians, not only in the Roman church, but in the Christian church, were exercising their Christian liberty and they were going into that idol's temple and sitting down and enjoying a free meal. Or at least one that was very, very cheap.

[John Weaver] And they knew that that idol was nothing. They knew it had no influence upon that meat. They knew that there was only one God. Moreover, I'll point out a little bit later, they were also publicly buying this cut-rate meat and eating it at home.

[John Weaver] Now, listen to what Matthew Henry says, and I love this. He says, he tells them, he's talking about what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8, he tells them that the mere eating and drinking had nothing in them virtuous nor criminal. Nothing that could make them better or worse, pleasing or displeasing to God. For instance, he said, meat commended us not to God, for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we eat not are we the worse. It looks as if some of the Corinthians made a merit of their eating what had been offered to idols, and then in their temples too, because it plainly showed that they thought the idols nothing. But eating and drinking are in themselves actions indifferent. It matters little what we eat, what goes into the man of this sort neither purifies nor defiles. Flesh offered to idols may in itself be as proper for food as any other, and the very eating or forbearing to eat has no virtue in it. Note, it is a gross mistake to think that distinction of food will make any distinction between men and God's account.

[John Weaver] Now listen, eating this food and forbearing that have nothing in them to recommend them or a person to God. Now, Paul is drawing the picture of the enlightened brother who is going into the temple and enjoying a good sake. or a good piece of mutton. That's what he's talking about. He's exercising his liberty. He knows that there's nothing that that idol has done to contaminate that piece of meat. However, what he's also pointing out, and I will deal with in the next two messages, the strong believer who was going into this idol's temple and exercising his liberty at this point had no concern or at least did not consider the effect of his actions upon his unenlightened, ignorant, weaker brother. So it's not that these believers were worshipping the idol. They were not. They were not worshipping the idol. They had no regard for the idol. They knew that there was only one God.

[John Weaver] And all they were doing was getting a very good meal, either free or very, very cheap. Now, if you look in 1 Corinthians 10, verse 25, I'll cover this more later, but 1 Corinthians 10, verse 25, Paul writes, Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. whatsoever sold in the shambles that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. The shambles was nothing more than a cut-rate meat market.

[John Weaver] These pagans would offer all these animals in sacrifice to their God. Not all of the sacrifice was consumed. The pagan priests couldn't eat it all. And so they opened a discount meat market next door to the temple. And Christians were going there, buying this discounted meat. So Paul says, whatever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no questions for conscience sake. So Paul is saying undeniably that this meat not only may be purchased, it may be eaten, even though it was offered in sacrifice to an idol. because that idol had no influence upon the meat, it did not change the quality of that meat, it did not contaminate that meat, it did not render that meat unfit for use. So the idol was nothing. Now, let me point out, it should be evident by now that meat in and of itself It's not sinful or evil, even if it has been offered unto idols. Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] Anytime you locate evil in matter, or evil in something material, you've left biblical truth and you've gone into pagan philosophy. You've gone into what is known as Greek dualism. Evil does not reside in matter. Evil resides in the human heart. Sin is not located in anything material. Sin is located in the human heart.

[John Weaver] Somebody at home will probably take exception with me, not necessarily here, but when they hear this message, but here it is. Alcohol is not sinful in and of itself. I'm not telling you to go out and drink. I'm 66 years old. I've never had a beer in my entire life. But I'm just simply saying, if alcohol is sinful in and of itself, You can't even use medicine. Most medicine is alcohol based. Your homeopathic remedies are alcohol based. I'm just simply saying you cannot locate evil in matter.

[John Weaver] When you do, you go into pure paganism. That's all there is to it. Sin is in the heart. Look in Romans 14 and verse 14. Look what the Apostle Paul said. Romans 14 in verse 14, then I want you to turn back to Matthew 15. Romans 14, verse 14, how could this be any clearer? Paul writes, I know. And I'm persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him that is seen anything unclean, to him it is unclean. But note what he said, there is nothing unclean of itself. Sin does not reside in matter. If you will go back to Matthew chapter 15. Matthew 15. And let's begin reading with verse 15. Matthew 15 verse 15.

[John Weaver] Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said unto them, Are you also yet without understanding? Do not you yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but that he doeth them washing hands, or even a piece of meat offered in idol, defileth not a man."

[John Weaver] So it's not that which goes in, it's that which comes out that defiles You remember the passage in Proverbs 4 verse 23 where God said, keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. So in light of that truth we should understand that simply because some things are lawful and we may have liberty on the one hand, we must also understand on the other hand that not everything is expedient and there are always ramifications to our conduct and our actions. Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10 emphasize consideration for others, especially for the weaker brethren. Simply because we understand something does not mean that others understand, and the problem is our actions are always scrutinized by others.

[John Weaver] I remember years ago, when I first started preaching, I preached a message in Tallahassee, Florida. I'd only preached, you know, a short time. And after I'd preached in Tallahassee, Florida, I'd only preached that one message. I went down deeper into Florida because my aunt and my uncle owned a restaurant. And I was going through there and I stopped and I visited them. I spent the night there.

[John Weaver] Next morning I was eating breakfast at the restaurant. And this had been a week or so, I guess, prior when I had preached. When I was sitting there that morning, eating breakfast, a man got up and he came over and said, your brother we've brought you. I heard you preach last week in Tallahassee, Florida. How in the world? You know, it dawned on me. What a small world.

[John Weaver] How could the two of us be in that one place at the same time? I'm just simply pointing out the fact that our actions are always observable. That's why the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 14, verse 7, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Period. Now, when it comes to exercising our liberties in Christ, we must remember the truth of Romans 15, verse 3.

[John Weaver] I read it last week. For even Christ pleased not himself, but the reproaches of them that reproach thee fell on me. Do you realize that Christ not only sacrifices life, but his pleasures, everything for each believer? We cannot always please ourselves. In fact, the whole Christian life is really not about pleasing ourselves. First and foremost, it is about pleasing Christ. It's about ministering to others, and in that sense of the word, pleasing them for their good to edification.

[John Weaver] That's what he's talking about in Romans 15. In fact, that's what he said in verse 2. Let us not please ourselves, but let us please our neighbor for his good unto edification.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 10 again. 1 Corinthians 10, and let's begin reading it in verse 20. I told you I'm going to come back to this passage, and I want to point out a number of things before I start trying to tie it together and make applications. But look, 1 Corinthians 10, verse 20, Paul writes, But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God. And I would not that you should have fellowship with devils. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealous?

[John Weaver] Are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth, or good whatsoever is sold in the shambles that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go, you have to go, you can't get out of it, whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience' sake, for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?"

[John Weaver] Now, notice what he says. Why is my liberty judge of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that which I give thanks? Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God, even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved."

[John Weaver] Now, let me just try to give you an overall view of this first. Paul acknowledges that those who sacrifice without faith to Christ, he acknowledges that those who are without faith in Christ sacrifice to devils and not to the one true and living God. Stop and think. All the sacrifices made of the Hindus, Brahmins, Chinese, all these are sacrificing to demons. They're sacrificing. They're not sacrificing to God. You say, but they're so sincere.

[John Weaver] Their sincerity does not matter. The only way that you can get to God the Father is through Jesus Christ. He said, No man cometh in the Father but by me. And if you sacrifice to anything else other than the one true and living God through Jesus Christ our Lord, it is to demons or to devils. That's what Paul is saying. Secondly, what Paul is saying in this passage, is simply because something is lawful does not mean that it is wise to do it or expedient to do it.

[John Weaver] It may be lawful for me to climb a fence and to attempt across a field where is a huge, hot-tempered, 3,000 pound bull. It may be lawful for me to do it, but it may not be wise. It may be lawful for me to walk up to somebody like Chuck Liddell, you know, the mixed martial artist, who's really good. It may be lawful for me to walk up to him and give him a piece of my mind, but it sure would not be wise or expedient.

[John Weaver] Because I might get beaten into concrete. I'm just simply saying, just because we have liberty to do certain things, and I'm going to explain this in the next two messages, does not mean that we should always exercise that liberty. There are other considerations as well.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, the Apostle Paul is emphasizing in 1 Corinthians 10 that we're to seek the welfare of others and not just simply consider ourselves. That's why I said, let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. That's not saying, I want Dr. Bowen's money. That's not saying that. What it is saying is, I want to help Dr. Bowen. I want to promote him. I want to encourage him. I want to edify him. In other words, I'm not seeking just to build up myself or to have my pleasure. I want him built up.

[John Weaver] Fourthly, Paul is telling us that we may eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols in our homes or even at feasts, for we know that there is only one God And the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Everything that is in this earth belongs to God. It doesn't belong to some dumb idol. It belongs to God. And therefore, I may eat it in worshiping to Him. I don't have to eat it in reference to that idol. Fifthly, Paul is pointing out that if someone announces that the meat is dedicated to an idol, Paul says not to eat it. Isn't that interesting?

[John Weaver] So let me put it like this. Here's a good illustration. You work for a large corporation, let's say. And they're having their annual Christmas dinner. And you are disposed to go. You have to go. And the CEO stands up and says something like this, well, this year, We're doing this in honor of Saturnalia and we're worshiping the star Saturn. What? Paul says don't eat it. Why? You know there's only one God. You know Saturn is not a God. Paul said you don't eat it for conscience sake. Not your conscience. But for the conscience of the man who said it. And for the conscience of those people around. Why? Because you want the opportunity to tell them, I'm not eating it because there's only one God and it is not Saturn.

[John Weaver] It's the Lord Jesus Christ. And I'm not going to eat this because you're saying we're honoring Him. No, I will honor my God by not eating it. You see what I'm saying? So, He said, if it's set before you, And nobody says anything, eat it and don't ask any questions. OK, but if somebody says something, then you say, no, I'm not going to do it. OK, now, sixthly, he tells us that whether we eat or whether we drink, we do all for God's honor and God's glory.

[John Weaver] And in doing so, we seek not to offend or wound the consciences of others. Now, I'm really excited about the next two messages because I'm going to show you, Lord willing, what it means to offend and how not to offend and how we have misunderstood this term and we have lost the biblical doctrine of rebuke. Okay? So let me try to tie this together and make some applications.

[John Weaver] The first one is this. If we're going to learn to avoid conflicts, we must learn not to please ourselves. I get tickled every time I think of this because every one of us, when we were younger, hated to be told what to do. Especially at times when we did not want to do it. We wanted to do something else. And we would say, when I get grown, I'm going to do what I want to do. And when you got grown, you found out that you couldn't do what you wanted to do.

[John Weaver] You had to do what you had to do. Okay? We cannot always do that. which we want to do, we cannot always please ourselves. Galatians 6 and verse 2 says, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. So if I see Joe having a problem, and I would really like to go fishing, I am to forego my fishing to help Joe. Okay? Just take Joe Fish and that'll solve the problem. That'll work. Then I could be helping him at fishing. That'd be wonderful. But you remember the Bible says that Christ pleased not himself. He said, let us not please ourselves, but our neighbor unto his good for edification.

[John Weaver] But the point being, which I'm going to really develop in the next two messages, is We can't say when it comes to exercising our Christian liberty, I'm going to do it. I don't care who's standing by or who's around me or who complains. I'm going to do what I want to do. No. That's an unbiblical attitude. You have to consider others.

[John Weaver] Secondly, abstaining from a few pleasures is not going to hurt us. If we must either give up time or pleasure temporarily, what really does that matter? What Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 8 is this, he said, but meat commended us not to God, neither are we the better if we eat it or we the worse if we don't. And I'll tell you something that I found, folks. I have found when I give up my pleasure and my time to minister to God's people and to help them, God always rewards me and gives me greater pleasure at something else and greater time. I'm just saying, you can't out-give God. And the scripture says, and you can paraphrase this in any way, in Romans 14 verse 20, Paul said, for me, destroy not the work of God. We could say, for pleasure destroy not the work of God. For your liberty destroy not the work of God. Which is more important, the work of God, or your temporary pleasure?

[John Weaver] The third application is this. The essence of the kingdom of God is not that which is external, but that which is internal. Here's what Paul said in Romans 14, 17 and 18. He said, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable unto God and approved of man.

[John Weaver] And I'll be honest with you. I'd rather please God than have a full stomach any day. And I'd rather please him than have my own pleasure. So he says, the kingdom of God is not meat and drink. In other words, it's nothing external, but it's righteousness and peace and joy and the Holy Ghost. I want you to look back in Romans 14, because here's another incentive to avoid censures and condemnations. Look in Romans 14, beginning there with verse 10.

[John Weaver] But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set it not thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then, every one of us shall give an account of himself to God." So our attitudes, our actions, our conduct will all be held accountable before our Lord.

[John Weaver] Not as to whether we're saved or not. That's already been taken care of. But how we served Him. And whether or not our lives were pleasing unto Him. But since you're in Romans 14, look at verse 19. Here's the last application. Our goal should be peace. Romans 14, verse 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

[John Weaver] Now, please understand this, and I will really, really emphasize this, Lord willing, in the next two messages. Paul is not saying peace at any price. He is not saying peace at the sacrifice of principle. He is not saying peace at the sacrifice of righteousness. What he is saying is simply this, we need to seek peace without unnecessarily causing contentions and conflicts. There are some things that we can do to avoid those things.

[John Weaver] I do not have to always say what I am thinking.

[John Weaver] I can bite my tongue occasionally. I'm not Italian. I'm teasing. Now, you understand what I'm saying. If I am talking to someone and I've got five minutes. Five minutes is all I've got. And I have to be leaving. And somebody is going to bring up eschatology. And they've got a totally different piece of eschatology that I have. How can I explain? How can I teach in five minutes?

[John Weaver] You know what I'll do? I'll sit there and listen to what he has to say. I'll let it go in one ear and out the other end and say, well, the Lord bless you. I'll see you later. Why would I get into an argument with him at that particular point? What good would it do? I don't have to look at him and say, dummy, what's wrong with you? Grow up. Study some. No. Look in Romans 12 and verse 18 again, for he that in these things serveth Christ. That's Romans 12, verse 18 is what I want, Romans 12, verse 18. But look there, look what he says. If it be possible.

[John Weaver] As much as life in you, live peaceably with all men." What does that mean? Paul is not saying peace at any price. Paul understands that there are some people that you cannot live peaceably with. But as much as life in you, do not necessarily create or cause unnecessary conflicts. If you have opportunity to teach, teach, is what I'm saying. But we should do those things which make for peace.

[John Weaver] Now, what I want to show you in the next two weeks is this. If Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10, if those passages were read and studied and the principles developed, on how to avoid conflicts, how not to call someone to stumble, how not to offend. If those principles were followed, there would be fewer conflicts in our lives, in our homes, in our churches.

[John Weaver] Now, I will be absolutely honest with you. I know some people that love to fight. They love to argue. They love to bicker. In fact, they're not happy unless they're creating some trouble. I'm sure you know people like that as well. Those are some of the people that the Apostle Paul says, as much as life in you live peaceably with all men, there's some you can't. He knows that.

[John Weaver] But as Scripture said, we should follow those things which make for peace, and not to unnecessarily cause conflicts. The same issues that the Apostle Paul dealt with are still with us today, and other issues that may not be related to these would still meet and have need of the same resolutions that the Apostle teaches in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. So we need to learn them.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your love, for your mercy, for your goodness. Lord, we do pray that you would teach us and that you would open our eyes, that you would give us understanding. Help us, Lord, to be a blessing to each other, to help each other, to edify one another, to encourage each other in the faith. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In my name we pray, Amen.

[John Weaver] This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-424-7000. You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

How to Avoid Conflicts 3

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	62118103
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace
Genre	Sermon
Date	2011-04-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 153: How to Avoid Conflicts — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	73

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of Romans 14:1–3

Weaver reviews the first three verses of Romans 14, summarizing the previous two messages: Christian living flows from sound doctrine, believers have varying degrees of faith, and we are to receive the weak without disputing.

Just going to deal with the first three verses again, just to try to save my voice. We'll review and keep going from there. "Him that is weak in the faith, receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him."

Now, for the last two weeks, I've dealt with this subject, how to avoid conflicts between Christians. Lord willing, there's probably going to be two more messages when I come back. But in the first message, I tried to demonstrate that Christian living is a result of sound doctrine. It is impossible for you and I to have a practical, obedient Christian life without understanding doctrine. And I pointed out that one of the reasons there are so many Christians that do not live an obedient, godly life is because there is very little doctrine that is being taught and preached. I also pointed out that there are varying degrees of faith. Here Paul talks about a weak faith and a strong faith. Our Lord said, "O ye of little faith," and then he said, "I have not seen so great a faith, no, not in Israel." So just like there's a little and a great and a strong and a weak, there are varying degrees in between as well. So that means this, in 1 John 2, John divided the Christians into babes, into young men, and into fathers.

So there are different positions of understanding in the Christian faith. I also pointed out that a weak believer is still a believer. It is not the degree of your faith that saves you. It is faith in Jesus Christ that saves you. So if one is a weak believer and yet he believes in the finished work of Jesus Christ and trusts totally and completely in Him, he is still saved no matter how weak he is in faith. And the scripture says that we are to receive the weak in the faith. We're not to receive them to doubtful disputation, but we're to receive them into bonds of friendship and fellowship and ministry.

The Uselessness of Arguing and Dependence on God for Illumination

Weaver reiterates that arguing cannot produce faith; only God can open a person’s understanding, which should make us patient with those who do not see truth as we do.

So there is to be no fussing and no fighting. Now, the second message that I dealt with last week, if you were not here, I would encourage you to hear it. Because I dealt with this simple principle. Why? It is absolutely impossible to argue someone into a position of faith. In other words, the uselessness and the worthlessness of fussing and fighting and arguing. Someone who does not understand truth is not going to be helped by condemnation, by suppression, and by extreme criticism.

Scripture does teach that we are to patiently inculcate and teach the Word of God, but yet at the same time we have to depend totally and completely upon God to open the understanding. If God does not open one's eyes, I don't care how saved he is, he will never ever see truth. He'll never understand truth. That is true of a babe, that's true of a young man, that's true of a father. Yet if you ever understand that God who is sovereign in salvation is equally sovereign in illumination, it will enable you to be patient in working with people and helping others because it's impossible for them to understand without God opening their eyes. So why should I get angry with you if you don't see what I see? Why should you get angry with me if I don't see what you see? Because if God does not open our eyes, neither one of us will ever, ever understand the truth.

The Nature of Early Church Conflicts: Meats and Days

The conflicts in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 were over indifferent matters—meats and days—not doctrine. Modern Christians often fail to see the relevance because of ignorance of Scripture and historical distance.

Now, it's interesting, as you read Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10, that which caused most conflicts between believers was not doctrine. It was what you and I would call things that are indifferent. The conflicts arose over meats and days. Some viewed certain meats as contaminated. Some viewed certain days as religiously significant. Others did not. And most Christians today would probably think, as you read Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, that those conflicts were absolutely ridiculous, and we cannot even see how such conflicts could even possibly arise. Well, let me tell you the reason we think that. The first reason we think that is because most Christians are totally ignorant of scripture, and therefore they cannot see where a conflict will arise. Most Christians cannot understand the conflicts that happened in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, because we're thousands of years removed from the scene and from the life and times of those early Christians.

Consequently, we have a tendency then to judge everything in light of our history, our situation, and our knowledge. We sit back and say, well, if I had been alive back then, I would not have done that. Well, that's just your guesstimation. You may have done that back then because you don't know. You're judging everything in light of your present situation. And what many people do not understand is this, that many of the conflicts that arose in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 are exactly the same conflicts that are going on today. I know a number of Christians that are confused over certain meats, certain days. They regard certain days as special and they count them that way and they want everyone else to count them that way. I'm just simply saying there are many of the same exact issues that are going on today. I know Christians that celebrate feasts. And some of them will get very angry with you if you don't do that. And even if you don't know of anyone who is having a conflict over meats and days, the point I'm trying to make is this, there are many other conflicts that are very prevalent between Christians that the same resolutions that the Apostle Paul gives would apply equally to them as well.

Distinction Between the Strong and the Weak

The weak were those still bound in conscience to ceremonial observances; the strong enjoyed liberty in Christ. The weak were not immoral but were overly scrupulous to avoid sin.

Now, when we get to Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8, there is a distinction here between the strong and the weak. Let me just tell you very clearly, and when I get to the next two messages, this will be very, very evident. But the distinction between the strong and the weak was simply this. The weak were those Christians that were still shackled in their consciences to the old ceremonial observances concerning days and meats. The strong believers were those who saw with their death in Christ the end of all such bondage and enjoyed liberty in the Spirit.

Now let me point something out. I want you to understand this. The weak in Romans 14 and in 1 Corinthians 8, which we will be looking at, the weak were not immoral people. They were not fornicators. They were not whoremongers. They were not drunkards. No. These people were so conscience stricken that many of them abstained from all meats just to make sure that they were not sinning against God.

Old Testament Background for Concern Over Meat

Weaver cites Numbers 25, Exodus 34, and Daniel 1 to show why some believers were cautious about eating meat that had been associated with idol worship, given Israel’s history of judgment.

Now, why would any Christian have a concern over meat? Well, the problem that existed in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8 was meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Now, you say, that doesn't change the meat. Let me just point something else. Do you remember in Numbers 25, the Israelites got into an awful lot of trouble when they sat down and ate some meat with the Moabites. And that meat happened to have been sacrificed to the idols. Let me just read. Don't turn there just yet.

In Numbers 25, verses 1-3,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 25:1-3, 9

"And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, and they called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods. And the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods, and Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel."

And when you skip down to verse 9, you will find that God killed 24,000. I want to just tell you something. If I'd been invited to a feast and I was eating meat, and I saw 24,000 people die around me because of that meat initially, I think I'd be a little cautious about eating meat as well. You see what I'm saying? Now, the meat, of course, was not necessarily contaminated, but they went to the idol. They ate, and it led to their fornication and their wickedness, and God judged them.

Now, if you will turn in your Bibles to Exodus 34, here is a warning that God gave in verses 15 and 16.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 1:8-16

God says in verse 14, let's begin there, "For thou shalt worship no other god, for the Lord whose name is Jealous is a jealous God, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a-whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; and thou takest of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a-whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a-whoring after their gods." So our Lord is saying, look, you don't do these things simply because it's going to lead to other problems. So here is the background with which a lot of these people in the New Testament understood, and they were saying, well, you know, I don't know. You remember in Daniel, and we're not going to turn there, but in Daniel chapter 1, verses 8 through 16, Daniel, the Bible says, purposed not to defile himself with the king's meat. Now, it wasn't that the king was sending him pork or shellfish. That wasn't it. In Bible times, practically every meat was dedicated to a false god. That's how they worshiped God, by the way. I hope you know that in the Old Testament, when you brought your sacrifice to God, the priest, of course, ate of that sacrifice, and then oftentimes, depending on the type of the sacrifice, you ate some of it as well. That was part of the communion with God. The pagans did exactly that as well. And so Daniel then said, look, this meat has been dedicated to an idol. So I'm just not going to eat it or I might not know whether it is or not. So I'm not going to eat it. So Daniel just simply ate pulse and water or peas and water, which is good food, by the way.

The Jerusalem Council and the Issue of Pollutions of Idols

Acts 15:19–20 shows the early church addressing the same problem. James advised Gentile converts to abstain from pollutions of idols, referring to meat offered to idols, not idolatry itself.

Josephus in his life states that there were certain Jewish priests at Rome. While they lived there, they lived entirely upon fruit, just to make sure that they did not eat anything that was unclean. So, when you have other nations coming into the faith, there arose problems, there arose conflicts. Look in your Bibles, Acts 15, and let's begin with verse 19. Look at the Council at Jerusalem, Acts 15. Notice, if you would, because this conflict arose between those believers who were converted from Judaism and the others who were coming in from other nations. They didn't know what to do, so they held a council. And here's what James, who was the leader, said in Acts 15 and verse 19.

He says, "Wherefore, my sentence is that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles, or the nations, are turned to God, but that we write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." So, they were talking about this problem, and James, as president of the council, gives his judgment or his opinion to which the others consented. And the language here is the usual language in which a judge delivers his opinion. It does not necessarily imply here that James assumed the authority to settle the case, but what he did merely was to give his opinion as to how to best work this problem out at that particular time. Now let me give you a quote before we go any further, and then I'm going to deal with this word, pollutions. But Albert Barnes said this concerning pollutions. Listen carefully. He said, "The word rendered pollutions means any kind of defilement.

But here it is evidently used to note the flesh of those animals that were offered in sacrifice to idols. That flesh, after being offered in sacrifice, was sold in the markets, which I will deal with, or served up at feasts, which I will deal with. It became a very important question whether it was right for Christians to partake of it. The Jews would contend that it was, in fact, partaking of idolatry. The Gentile converts would allege that they did not eat it as sacrifice to idols, or lend their countenance in any way to the idolaters' worship where it had been. As idolatry was forbidden to the Jews in every form, and partaking even of the sacrifices idled in their feasts, might seem to countenance idolatry. The Jews would be utterly opposed to it, and for the sake of peace, James advised that they be recommended to abstain from this. To partake of that food might not be morally wrong, but it would give an occasion for scandal and offense, and therefore as a matter of expediency it was advised that they should abstain from it."

1 Corinthians 8: Knowledge, Liberty, and the Weaker Brother

Paul teaches that an idol is nothing and meat is not defiled, but not all have that knowledge. The strong must take care that their liberty does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

Paul writes now, "...touching things offered unto idols. We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." "Now, if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge. For some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God, for neither if we eat, are we the better; neither if we eat not, are we the worse."

"But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols? And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish, for whom Christ died. But when you sin so against the weak brethren, you wound their weak conscience, and you sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

Now, I want you to understand that Paul states undeniably that there is nothing wrong with meat that has been offered unto an idol. The idol does not change the meat. It does not contaminate the meat. It does not change its form. It does not have any influence upon it. It is just simply plain meat. Look in verse 4. "As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one." Only one God, an idol, is nothing. It can do nothing. Now, look in verse 7.

"Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge. For some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled." Now when Paul says in verse 7, "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge," he is not saying that there are Christians that do not know that there is just one God and an idol is nothing. That's not what he's saying. What he is saying is this, that there are believers who somehow think that that idol has some influence upon that meat, and therefore that meat becomes contaminated and therefore it should be rejected for consumption. That's what he's saying. Now, those who knew better were the strong believers. Those who believed that somehow the meat had become contaminated were the weak believers. Look in verse 10. "For if any man see thee which has knowledge," that's the strong believer, "sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak," the one that thought it somehow had influence upon the meat, "be emboldened to eat those things which are offered unto idols."

The Shambles and Christian Liberty in Eating

Paul permits buying and eating meat sold in the shambles (discount meat markets associated with temples) without asking questions, because the earth is the Lord’s and the idol is nothing.

These pagans would offer all these animals in sacrifice to their god. Not all of the sacrifice was consumed. The pagan priests couldn't eat it all. And so they opened a discount meat market next door to the temple. And Christians were going there, buying this discounted meat. So Paul says, "Whatever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no questions for conscience' sake." So Paul is saying undeniably that this meat not only may be purchased, it may be eaten, even though it was offered in sacrifice to an idol. Because that idol had no influence upon the meat, it did not change the quality of that meat, it did not contaminate that meat, it did not render that meat unfit for use. So the idol was nothing. Now, let me point out, it should be evident by now that meat in and of itself is not sinful or evil, even if it has been offered unto idols. Listen carefully.

Sin Resides in the Heart, Not in Material Things

Weaver argues from Romans 14:14 and Matthew 15 that nothing is unclean of itself; evil is in the heart, not in matter. This counters pagan dualism and applies to issues like alcohol.

Anytime you locate evil in matter, or evil in something material, you've left biblical truth and you've gone into pagan philosophy. You've gone into what is known as Greek dualism. Evil does not reside in matter. Evil resides in the human heart. Sin is not located in anything material. Sin is located in the human heart.

Somebody at home will probably take exception with me, not necessarily here, but when they hear this message, but here it is. Alcohol is not sinful in and of itself. I'm not telling you to go out and drink. I'm 66 years old. I've never had a beer in my entire life. But I'm just simply saying, if alcohol is sinful in and of itself, you can't even use medicine. Most medicine is alcohol based. Your homeopathic remedies are alcohol based. I'm just simply saying you cannot locate evil in matter.

When you do, you go into pure paganism. That's all there is to it. Sin is in the heart. Look in Romans 14 and verse 14. Look what the Apostle Paul said. Romans 14 in verse 14, then I want you to turn back to Matthew 15. Romans 14, verse 14, how could this be any clearer? Paul writes,

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:14

"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him that esteemeth anything unclean, to him it is unclean."

But note what he said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:14

"there is nothing unclean of itself."

Sin does not reside in matter. If you will go back to Matthew chapter 15. Matthew 15. And let's begin reading with verse 15. Matthew 15 verse 15.

"Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said unto them, Are you also yet without understanding? Do not you yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." Or even a piece of meat offered to an idol, defileth not a man.

So it's not that which goes in, it's that which comes out that defiles. You remember the passage in Proverbs 4 verse 23 where God said,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 4:23

"Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life."

So in light of that truth we should understand that simply because some things are lawful and we may have liberty on the one hand, we must also understand on the other hand that not everything is expedient and there are always ramifications to our conduct and our actions. Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10 emphasize consideration for others, especially for the weaker brethren. Simply because we understand something does not mean that others understand, and the problem is our actions are always scrutinized by others.

Principles for Exercising Liberty Without Causing Offense

From 1 Corinthians 10, Weaver draws principles: not all lawful things are expedient; seek others’ welfare; eat meat unless someone announces it is idol-offered; do all to God’s glory.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 10:20-33

Are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth, or good. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go, you have to go, you can't get out of it, whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if any man say unto you, 'This is offered in sacrifice unto idols,' eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience' sake, for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?" Now, notice what he says. "Why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that which I give thanks? Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God, even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they

might be saved."

Now, let me just try to give you an overall view of this first. Paul acknowledges that those who sacrifice without faith in Christ, he acknowledges that those who are without faith in Christ sacrifice to devils and not to the one true and living God. Stop and think. All the sacrifices made of the Hindus, Brahmins, Chinese, all these are sacrificing to demons. They're sacrificing. They're not sacrificing to God. You say, but they're so sincere.

Their sincerity does not matter. The only way that you can get to God the Father is through Jesus Christ. He said, "No man cometh unto the Father but by me." And if you sacrifice to anything else other than the one true and living God through Jesus Christ our Lord, it is to demons or to devils. That's what Paul is saying. Secondly, what Paul is saying in this passage, is simply because something is lawful does not mean that it is wise to do it or expedient to do it.

It may be lawful for me to climb a fence and to attempt to cross a field where there is a huge, hot-tempered, 3,000 pound bull. It may be lawful for me to do it, but it may not be wise. It may be lawful for me to walk up to somebody like Chuck Liddell, you know, the mixed martial artist, who's really good. It may be lawful for me to walk up to him and give him a piece of my mind, but it sure would not be wise or expedient. Because I might get beaten into concrete. I'm just simply saying, just because we have liberty to do certain things, and I'm going to explain this in the next two messages, does not mean that we should always exercise that liberty. There are other considerations as well.

Thirdly, the Apostle Paul is emphasizing in 1 Corinthians 10 that we're to seek the welfare of others and not just simply consider ourselves. That's why he said, "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." That's not saying, I want Dr. Bowen's money. That's not saying that. What it is saying is, I want to help Dr. Bowen. I want to promote him. I want to encourage him. I want to edify him. In other words, I'm not seeking just to build up myself or to have my pleasure. I want him built up.

Fourthly, Paul is telling us that we may eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols in our homes or even at feasts, for we know that there is only one God and the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Everything that is in this earth belongs to God. It doesn't belong to some dumb idol. It belongs to God. And therefore, I may eat it in worshiping to Him. I don't have to eat it in reference to that idol. Fifthly, Paul is pointing out that if someone announces that the meat is dedicated to an idol, Paul says not to eat it. Isn't that interesting?

So let me put it like this. Here's a good illustration. You work for a large corporation, let's say. And they're having their annual Christmas dinner. And you are disposed to go. You have to go. And the CEO stands up and says something like this, "Well, this year, we're doing this in honor of Saturnalia and we're worshiping the star Saturn." What? Paul says don't eat it. Why? You know there's only one God. You know Saturn is not a God. Paul said you don't eat it for conscience' sake. Not your conscience. But for the conscience of the man who said it. And for the conscience of those people around. Why? Because you want the opportunity to tell them, "I'm not eating it because there's only one God and it is not Saturn.

It's the Lord Jesus Christ. And I'm not going to eat this because you're saying we're honoring Him. No, I will honor my God by not eating it." You see what I'm saying? So, He said, if it's set before you, and nobody says anything, eat it and don't ask any questions. OK, but if somebody says something, then you say, no, I'm not going to do it. OK, now, sixthly, he tells us that whether we eat or whether we drink, we do all for God's honor and God's glory. And in doing so, we seek not to offend or wound the consciences of others. Now, I'm really excited about the next two messages because I'm going to show you, Lord willing, what it means to offend and how not to offend and how we have misunderstood this term and we have lost the biblical doctrine of rebuke. Okay? So let me try to tie this together and make some applications.

Applications for Avoiding Conflicts

Weaver gives four applications: learn not to please ourselves; abstaining from pleasures won’t hurt us; the kingdom is internal, not external; and our goal should be peace without sacrificing principle.

The first one is this. If we're going to learn to avoid conflicts, we must learn not to please ourselves. I get tickled every time I think of this because every one of us, when we were younger, hated to be told what to do. Especially at times when we did not want to do it. We wanted to do something else. And we would say, "When I get grown, I'm going to do what I want to do." And when you got grown, you found out that you couldn't do what you wanted to do. You had to do what you had to do. Okay? We cannot always do that which we want to do, we cannot always please ourselves. Galatians 6 and verse 2 says,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 6:2

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

So if I see Joe having a problem, and I would really like to go fishing, I am to forego my fishing to help Joe. Okay? Just take Joe fishing and that'll solve the problem. That'll work. Then I could be helping him at fishing. That'd be wonderful. But you remember the Bible says that Christ pleased not himself. He said, "Let us not please ourselves, but our neighbor unto his good for edification."

But the point being, which I'm going to really develop in the next two messages, is we can't say when it comes to exercising our Christian liberty, "I'm going to do it. I don't care who's standing by or who's around me or who complains. I'm going to do what I want to do." No. That's an unbiblical attitude. You have to consider others. Secondly, abstaining from a few pleasures is not going to hurt us. If we must either give up time or pleasure temporarily, what really does that matter? What Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 8 is this, he said, "But meat commendeth us not to God, neither are we the better if we eat it or we the worse if we don't." And I'll tell you something that I found, folks. I have found when I give up my pleasure and my time to minister to God's people and to help them, God always rewards me and gives me greater pleasure at something else and greater time. I'm just saying, you can't out-give God. And the scripture says, and you can paraphrase this in any way, in Romans 14 verse 20, Paul said, "For meat destroy not the work of God." We could say, "For pleasure destroy not the work of God. For your liberty destroy not the work of God." Which is more important, the work of God, or your temporary pleasure?

The third application is this. The essence of the kingdom of God is not that which is external, but that which is internal. Here's what Paul said in Romans 14, 17 and 18. He said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:17-18

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable unto God and approved of man."

And I'll be honest with you. I'd rather please God than have a full stomach any day. And I'd rather please him than have my own pleasure. So he says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:17-18

"The kingdom of God is not meat and drink."

In other words, it's nothing external, but it's righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. I want you to look back in Romans 14, because here's another incentive to avoid censures and condemnations. Look in Romans 14, beginning there with verse 10.

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:10-12

"But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then, every one of us shall give an account of himself to God."

So our attitudes, our actions, our conduct will all be held accountable before our Lord. Not as to whether we're saved or not. That's already been taken care of. But how we served Him. And whether or not our lives were pleasing unto Him. But since you're in Romans 14, look at verse 19. Here's the last application. Our goal should be peace. Romans 14, verse 19. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."

Now, please understand this, and I will really, really emphasize this, Lord willing, in the next two messages. Paul is not saying peace at any price. He is not saying peace at the sacrifice of principle. He is not saying peace at the sacrifice of righteousness. What he is saying is simply this, we need to seek peace without unnecessarily causing contentions and conflicts. There are some things that we can do to avoid those things.

Conclusion and Preview of Next Messages

Weaver concludes that following these principles would reduce conflicts in lives, homes, and churches. He previews the next two messages on what it means to offend biblically.

Now, what I want to show you in the next two weeks is this. If Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10, if those passages were read and studied and the principles developed, on how to avoid conflicts, how not to cause someone to stumble, how not to offend. If those principles were followed, there would be fewer conflicts in our lives, in our homes, in our churches. Now, I will be absolutely honest with you. I know some people that love to fight. They love to argue. They love to bicker. In fact, they're not happy unless they're creating some trouble. I'm sure you know people like that as well. Those are some of the people that the Apostle Paul says, "As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men," there's some you can't. He knows that.

But as Scripture said, we should follow those things which make for peace, and not to unnecessarily cause conflicts. The same issues that the Apostle Paul dealt with are still with us today, and other issues that may not be related to these would still meet and have need of the same resolutions that the Apostle teaches in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. So we need to learn them. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your love, for your mercy, for your goodness. Lord, we do pray that you would teach us and that you would open our eyes, that you would give us understanding. Help us, Lord, to be a blessing to each other, to help each other, to edify one another, to encourage each other in the faith. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Christian Liberty and Conscience

Summary: Believers have liberty in Christ regarding indifferent matters like food, but must consider the consciences of weaker brothers who may not share the same understanding.

Evidence: Weaver explains that the strong knew an idol is nothing and meat is not defiled, while the weak thought the meat was contaminated. He cites 1 Corinthians 8:4–7 and Romans 14:14.

The Nature of Sin and Defilement

Summary: Sin is located in the human heart, not in material objects. Nothing is unclean of itself; defilement comes from within.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Romans 14:14 ('there is nothing unclean of itself') and Matthew 15:18–20, arguing that evil thoughts and actions from the heart defile a person, not food.

Consideration for the Weaker Brother

Summary: Strong believers must limit their liberty when its exercise would cause a weaker brother to stumble or be emboldened to act against his conscience.

Evidence: Weaver discusses 1 Corinthians 8:9–13, where Paul says if meat causes a brother to stumble, he will never eat meat again, and emphasizes not wounding a weak conscience.

The Uselessness of Arguments and Dependence on God

Summary: It is impossible to argue someone into faith or understanding; only God can open eyes. This should produce patience rather than conflict.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'It is absolutely impossible to argue someone into a position of faith' and 'If God does not open one's eyes... he will never ever see truth.'

Peace and Edification as Goals

Summary: Believers should pursue peace and mutual edification, avoiding unnecessary conflicts, though not at the expense of principle or righteousness.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 14:19 ('follow after the things which make for peace') and Romans 12:18 ('as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men'), clarifying it is not peace at any price.

Accountability Before God

Summary: Every believer will give an account of himself to God at the judgment seat of Christ, which should motivate careful conduct toward others.

Evidence: Weaver reads Romans 14:10–12, emphasizing that we will all stand before the judgment seat and give an account of our attitudes and actions.

Key Arguments

Conflicts over indifferent matters arise from differences in knowledge and conscience, not from immorality.

Summary: The weak in Romans 14 were not immoral but overly scrupulous, abstaining from meat to avoid sin. The strong understood their liberty. Conflicts came from these differing consciences.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The weak were not immoral people. They were not fornicators... These people were so conscience stricken that many of them abstained from all meats just to make sure that they were not sinning against God.'

An idol is nothing and cannot contaminate meat; therefore, eating such meat is not inherently sinful.

Summary: Paul clearly teaches that an idol has no real existence and meat offered to it is not defiled. The strong believer is free to eat it.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 8:4 ('we know that an idol is nothing in the world') and Romans 14:14 ('there is nothing unclean of itself').

Christian liberty must be limited by love and concern for the spiritual welfare of others.

Summary: Even though something is lawful, it may not be expedient if it causes a weaker brother to stumble. Paul would rather never eat meat than cause a brother to fall.

Evidence: Weaver quotes 1 Corinthians 8:13 ('if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth') and 1 Corinthians 10:23–24.

Sin is a matter of the heart, not external things; therefore, no food or drink is sinful in itself.

Summary: Jesus taught that what enters the mouth does not defile, but what comes from the heart. This principle undergirds the teaching on meats offered to idols.

Evidence: Weaver reads Matthew 15:17–20 and states, 'Sin does not reside in matter. If you will go back to Matthew chapter 15... those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man.'

Believers should not please themselves but seek the good and edification of others.

Summary: Christ did not please Himself, and we are called to bear one another's burdens and consider how our actions affect others, even in matters of liberty.

Evidence: Weaver references Romans 15:2–3 and Galatians 6:2, and says, 'We cannot always please ourselves... Christ pleased not himself.'

The kingdom of God is not about external rules but internal righteousness, peace, and joy.

Summary: Paul defines the kingdom not by food and drink but by spiritual realities. This perspective helps believers prioritize what truly matters.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Romans 14:17–18: 'For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.'

Scripture References

Romans 14:1-3

Context: Weaver reads these verses at the opening to review the command to receive the weak without disputing over doubtful things.

Numbers 25:1-3, 9

Context: Weaver cites this passage to show why some believers were cautious about eating meat associated with idols, as Israel was judged after eating sacrifices to Baal Peor.

Exodus 34:14-16

Context: Weaver reads this warning against eating sacrifices to other gods, which could lead to idolatry and intermarriage.

Daniel 1:8-16

Context: Weaver references Daniel's refusal to defile himself with the king's meat, which was likely dedicated to idols.

Acts 15:19-20

Context: Weaver reads James's counsel at the Jerusalem Council that Gentile converts should abstain from pollutions of idols, referring to meat offered to idols.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Context: Weaver reads the entire chapter to show Paul's teaching on knowledge, liberty, and the weaker brother regarding meat offered to idols.

1 Corinthians 10:20-33

Context: Weaver reads this passage to highlight principles: not all things are expedient, seek others' good, eat unless told it is idol-offered, and do all to God's glory.

Romans 14:14

Context: Weaver quotes this verse to prove that nothing is unclean of itself; sin does not reside in matter.

Matthew 15:15-20

Context: Weaver reads Jesus' teaching that what comes from the heart defiles a person, not what enters the mouth.

Romans 14:17-18

Context: Weaver quotes these verses to show that the kingdom of God is not about external things like food but righteousness, peace, and joy.

Romans 14:10-12

Context: Weaver reads this passage to remind believers that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account.

Romans 14:19

Context: Weaver quotes this verse as the final application: pursue peace and mutual edification.

Romans 12:18

Context: Weaver reads this verse to clarify that peace is to be pursued as much as possible, but it is not always achievable with everyone.

Galatians 6:2

Context: Weaver cites this verse to support the call to bear one another's burdens and not please ourselves.

Romans 15:2-3

Context: Weaver references these verses to show that Christ did not please Himself, and we should please our neighbor for edification.

1 Corinthians 10:25

Context: Weaver quotes this verse to show Paul's permission to eat whatever is sold in the shambles without asking questions.

Proverbs 4:23

Context: Weaver alludes to this verse to reinforce that the heart is the source of life's issues, not external things.

Historical References

Josephus on Jewish priests in Rome eating only fruit

Context: Weaver mentions that Josephus records certain Jewish priests in Rome who lived entirely on fruit to avoid eating anything unclean, illustrating the scrupulosity of some believers.

Albert Barnes' commentary on 'pollutions of idols' in Acts 15

Context: Weaver quotes Barnes explaining that 'pollutions' refers to meat offered to idols, and James advised abstaining for the sake of peace and to avoid offense.

Matthew Henry's commentary on 1 Corinthians 8

Context: Weaver quotes Henry stating that eating and drinking are indifferent actions and that distinction of food does not commend us to God.

Modern kosher and halal food practices

Context: Weaver notes that Jewish kosher and Muslim halal blessings on meat are contemporary parallels to the issue of meat dedicated to a false god.

Wiccan and pagan blessings on meat

Context: Weaver mentions that Wiccan and pagan cults also have blessings on meats, showing the issue is still relevant.

Important Quotes

It is absolutely impossible to argue someone into a position of faith.

Significance: This quote encapsulates Weaver's argument that disputes and arguments are useless in changing a believer's convictions; only God can give understanding.

If God does not open one's eyes, I don't care how saved he is, he will never ever see truth.

Significance: Emphasizes the sovereignty of God in illumination and the need for patience with those who do not yet understand.

The weak were not immoral people. They were not fornicators. They were not whoremongers. They were not drunkards. No. These people were so conscience stricken that many of them abstained from all meats just to make sure that they were not sinning against God.

Significance: Clarifies that the 'weak' in Romans 14 were not sinful but overly scrupulous, which is key to understanding the nature of the conflict.

Anytime you locate evil in matter, or evil in something material, you've left biblical truth and you've gone into pagan philosophy.

Significance: A foundational theological point that sin is not in material things but in the heart, undergirding the entire discussion of Christian liberty.

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him that esteemeth anything unclean, to him it is unclean.

Significance: Weaver quotes Romans 14:14 as the definitive biblical statement that no food is inherently sinful, though conscience can make it so for an individual.

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Significance: This verse is used to show that the essence of Christianity is internal and spiritual, not external rules about food or days.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Significance: The concluding application: believers should actively pursue peace and mutual building up, which is the heart of avoiding conflicts.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to 'receive the weak in the faith' without 'doubtful disputations,' and how can we practice this today?

Context: Weaver opens with Romans 14:1 and emphasizes receiving weak believers into fellowship without arguing over disputable matters.

Why is it impossible to argue someone into a position of faith, and how should this affect our interactions with other believers?

Context: Weaver argues that only God can open eyes to truth, so arguing is useless and we should be patient.

How can we distinguish between matters of doctrine and matters of indifference, and why is this distinction important for church unity?

Context: Weaver notes that the conflicts in Romans 14 were over indifferent things like food and days, not core doctrine.

In what ways might modern believers be 'weak' or 'strong' regarding issues of conscience, and how should the strong treat the weak?

Context: Weaver describes the weak as those bound by former scruples and the strong as those enjoying liberty, and calls for the strong to limit liberty for the sake of the weak.

What does it mean that 'nothing is unclean of itself,' and how does this principle apply to contemporary debates over food, drink, or other practices?

Context: Weaver teaches from Romans 14:14 and Matthew 15 that sin is in the heart, not in material things, and applies it to issues like alcohol.

How can we balance the exercise of Christian liberty with the command not to cause a weaker brother to stumble?

Context: Weaver discusses 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, where Paul says he would never eat meat if it causes a brother to fall, yet also says to eat without asking questions in some contexts.

What does it mean to 'follow after the things which make for peace' without sacrificing principle or righteousness?

Context: Weaver clarifies that Paul is not advocating peace at any price, but we should avoid unnecessary conflicts while still standing for truth.

Applications

Learn not to please ourselves

Summary: Believers should forego personal pleasures and preferences when necessary to serve and edify others, following Christ's example of self-denial.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We cannot always please ourselves... Christ pleased not himself' and cites Romans 15:2–3 and Galatians 6:2.

Abstaining from pleasures is not harmful

Summary: Giving up temporary pleasures or time to minister to others is not a loss; God rewards such sacrifices. The work of God is more important than personal liberty.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'I have found when I give up my pleasure and my time to minister to God's people... God always rewards me' and references Romans 14:20.

Focus on internal righteousness, not external rules

Summary: The kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, not about food, drink, or other external observances. Prioritize pleasing God over personal indulgence.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Romans 14:17–18 and says, 'I'd rather please God than have a full stomach any day.'

Live with accountability to God

Summary: Remember that every believer will give an account of himself to God at the judgment seat of Christ, which should govern our attitudes and actions toward others.

Evidence: Weaver reads Romans 14:10–12 and says, 'Our attitudes, our actions, our conduct will all be held accountable before our Lord.'

Pursue peace and edification

Summary: Actively seek to do things that promote peace and build up others, avoiding unnecessary conflicts, while recognizing that peace is not always possible with everyone.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 14:19 and Romans 12:18, and says, 'We need to seek peace without unnecessarily causing contentions and conflicts.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T14:17:13Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T02:30:49Z

Clean Transcript

How to Avoid Conflicts 3

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Just going to deal with the first three verses again, just to try to save my voice. We'll review and keep going from there. "Him that is weak in the faith, receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him."
#1 | 0:02 to 0:30 | cleaned
Now, for the last two weeks, I've dealt with this subject, how to avoid conflicts between Christians. Lord willing, there's probably going to be two more messages when I come back. But in the first message, I tried to demonstrate that Christian living is a result of sound doctrine. It is impossible for you and I to have a practical, obedient Christian life without understanding doctrine. And I pointed out that one of the reasons there are so many Christians that do not live an obedient, godly life is because there is very little doctrine that is being taught and preached. I also pointed out that there are varying degrees of faith. Here Paul talks about a weak faith and a strong faith. Our Lord said, "O ye of little faith," and then he said, "I have not seen so great a faith, no, not in Israel." So just like there's a little and a great and a strong and a weak, there are varying degrees in between as well. So that means this, in 1 John 2, John divided the Christians into babes, into young men, and into fathers.
#2 | 0:32 to 1:45 | cleaned
So there are different positions of understanding in the Christian faith. I also pointed out that a weak believer is still a believer. It is not the degree of your faith that saves you. It is faith in Jesus Christ that saves you. So if one is a weak believer and yet he believes in the finished work of Jesus Christ and trusts totally and completely in Him, he is still saved no matter how weak he is in faith. And the scripture says that we are to receive the weak in the faith. We're not to receive them to doubtful disputation, but we're to receive them into bonds of friendship and fellowship and ministry.
#3 | 1:45 to 2:33 | cleaned
So there is to be no fussing and no fighting. Now, the second message that I dealt with last week, if you were not here, I would encourage you to hear it. Because I dealt with this simple principle. Why? It is absolutely impossible to argue someone into a position of faith. In other words, the uselessness and the worthlessness of fussing and fighting and arguing. Someone who does not understand truth is not going to be helped by condemnation, by suppression, and by extreme criticism.
#4 | 2:33 to 3:13 | cleaned
Scripture does teach that we are to patiently inculcate and teach the Word of God, but yet at the same time we have to depend totally and completely upon God to open the understanding. If God does not open one's eyes, I don't care how saved he is, he will never ever see truth. He'll never understand truth. That is true of a babe, that's true of a young man, that's true of a father. Yet if you ever understand that God who is sovereign in salvation is equally sovereign in illumination, it will enable you to be patient in working with people and helping others because it's impossible for them to understand without God opening their eyes. So why should I get angry with you if you don't see what I see? Why should you get angry with me if I don't see what you see? Because if God does not open our eyes, neither one of us will ever, ever understand the truth.
#5 | 3:14 to 4:13 | cleaned
Now, it's interesting, as you read Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10, that which caused most conflicts between believers was not doctrine. It was what you and I would call things that are indifferent. The conflicts arose over meats and days. Some viewed certain meats as contaminated. Some viewed certain days as religiously significant. Others did not. And most Christians today would probably think, as you read Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, that those conflicts were absolutely ridiculous, and we cannot even see how such conflicts could even possibly arise. Well, let me tell you the reason we think that. The first reason we think that is because most Christians are totally ignorant of scripture, and therefore they cannot see where a conflict will arise. Most Christians cannot understand the conflicts that happened in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, because we're thousands of years removed from the scene and from the life and times of those early Christians.
#6 | 4:14 to 5:36 | cleaned
Consequently, we have a tendency then to judge everything in light of our history, our situation, and our knowledge. We sit back and say, well, if I had been alive back then, I would not have done that. Well, that's just your guesstimation. You may have done that back then because you don't know. You're judging everything in light of your present situation. And what many people do not understand is this, that many of the conflicts that arose in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 are exactly the same conflicts that are going on today. I know a number of Christians that are confused over certain meats, certain days. They regard certain days as special and they count them that way and they want everyone else to count them that way. I'm just simply saying there are many of the same exact issues that are going on today. I know Christians that celebrate feasts. And some of them will get very angry with you if you don't do that. And even if you don't know of anyone who is having a conflict over meats and days, the point I'm trying to make is this, there are many other conflicts that are very prevalent between Christians that the same resolutions that the Apostle Paul gives would apply equally to them as well.
#7 | 5:37 to 7:18 | cleaned
Now, when we get to Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8, there is a distinction here between the strong and the weak. Let me just tell you very clearly, and when I get to the next two messages, this will be very, very evident. But the distinction between the strong and the weak was simply this. The weak were those Christians that were still shackled in their consciences to the old ceremonial observances concerning days and meats. The strong believers were those who saw with their death in Christ the end of all such bondage and enjoyed liberty in the Spirit.
#8 | 7:20 to 8:11 | cleaned
Now let me point something out. I want you to understand this. The weak in Romans 14 and in 1 Corinthians 8, which we will be looking at, the weak were not immoral people. They were not fornicators. They were not whoremongers. They were not drunkards. No. These people were so conscience stricken that many of them abstained from all meats just to make sure that they were not sinning against God.
#9 | 8:12 to 8:43 | cleaned
Now, why would any Christian have a concern over meat? Well, the problem that existed in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8 was meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Now, you say, that doesn't change the meat. Let me just point something else. Do you remember in Numbers 25, the Israelites got into an awful lot of trouble when they sat down and ate some meat with the Moabites. And that meat happened to have been sacrificed to the idols. Let me just read. Don't turn there just yet.
#10 | 8:44 to 9:33 | cleaned
In Numbers 25, verses 1-3, "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, and they called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods. And the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods, and Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel." And when you skip down to verse 9, you will find that God killed 24,000. I want to just tell you something. If I'd been invited to a feast and I was eating meat, and I saw 24,000 people die around me because of that meat initially, I think I'd be a little cautious about eating meat as well.
#11 | 9:34 to 10:20 | cleaned
You see what I'm saying? Now, the meat, of course, was not necessarily contaminated, but they went to the idol. They ate, and it led to their fornication and their wickedness, and God judged them.
#12 | 10:22 to 10:38 | cleaned
Now, if you will turn in your Bibles to Exodus 34, here is a warning that God gave in verses 15 and 16.
#13 | 10:38 to 10:44 | cleaned
God says in verse 14, let's begin there, "For thou shalt worship no other god, for the Lord whose name is Jealous is a jealous God, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a-whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; and thou takest of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a-whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a-whoring after their gods." So our Lord is saying, look, you don't do these things simply because it's going to lead to other problems. So here is the background with which a lot of these people in the New Testament understood, and they were saying, well, you know, I don't know.
#14 | 11:00 to 11:49 | cleaned
You remember in Daniel, and we're not going to turn there, but in Daniel chapter 1, verses 8 through 16, Daniel, the Bible says, purposed not to defile himself with the king's meat. Now, it wasn't that the king was sending him pork or shellfish. That wasn't it. In Bible times, practically every meat was dedicated to a false god. That's how they worshiped God, by the way. I hope you know that in the Old Testament, when you brought your sacrifice to God, the priest, of course, ate of that sacrifice, and then oftentimes, depending on the type of the sacrifice, you ate some of it as well. That was part of the communion with God. The pagans did exactly that as well. And so Daniel then said, look, this meat has been dedicated to an idol. So I'm just not going to eat it or I might not know whether it is or not. So I'm not going to eat it. So Daniel just simply ate pulse and water or peas and water, which is good food, by the way.
#15 | 11:50 to 13:08 | cleaned
Josephus in his life states that there were certain Jewish priests at Rome. While they lived there, they lived entirely upon fruit, just to make sure that they did not eat anything that was unclean. So, when you have other nations coming into the faith, there arose problems, there arose conflicts. Look in your Bibles, Acts 15, and let's begin with verse 19. Look at the Council at Jerusalem, Acts 15. Notice, if you would, because this conflict arose between those believers who were converted from Judaism and the others who were coming in from other nations. They didn't know what to do, so they held a council. And here's what James, who was the leader, said in Acts 15 and verse 19.
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He says, "Wherefore, my sentence is that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles, or the nations, are turned to God, but that we write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." So, they were talking about this problem, and James, as president of the council, gives his judgment or his opinion to which the others consented. And the language here is the usual language in which a judge delivers his opinion. It does not necessarily imply here that James assumed the authority to settle the case, but what he did merely was to give his opinion as to how to best work this problem out at that particular time. Now let me give you a quote before we go any further, and then I'm going to deal with this word, pollutions. But Albert Barnes said this concerning pollutions. Listen carefully. He said, "The word rendered pollutions means any kind of defilement.
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But here it is evidently used to note the flesh of those animals that were offered in sacrifice to idols. That flesh, after being offered in sacrifice, was sold in the markets, which I will deal with, or served up at feasts, which I will deal with. It became a very important question whether it was right for Christians to partake of it. The Jews would contend that it was, in fact, partaking of idolatry. The Gentile converts would allege that they did not eat it as sacrifice to idols, or lend their countenance in any way to the idolaters' worship where it had been. As idolatry was forbidden to the Jews in every form, and partaking even of the sacrifices idled in their feasts, might seem to countenance idolatry. The Jews would be utterly opposed to it, and for the sake of peace, James advised that they be recommended to abstain from this. To partake of that food might not be morally wrong, but it would give an occasion for scandal and offense, and therefore as a matter of expediency it was advised that they should abstain from it."
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Now, I want you to note, he says, "from pollutions of idols." What James has to refer to in Acts 15 and verse 19 is the meat that had been offered to the idols. He is not talking about idolatry. Idolatry is not something that is indifferent. Idolatry is a sin. It is rebellion. It is wickedness against God. So here's the question. Does offering meat to an idol have any influence upon that meat? Does it contaminate that meat? And does it render that meat uneatable for a believer? Well, you say, wait a minute, Brother Weaver, what possible relevance could that question have for our society today? I mean, come on, who's going to be offering meat to a false idol and expect you to eat some of it? Well, I hope you know that the Jews have their kosher blessings upon certain meats. The Muslims have their blessings upon certain meats to their god Allah. And I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not, but Wiccan and Pagan cults also have their blessings upon certain meats.
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And my question is this. When you go to the grocery store, the meat market, and you buy your meats, how do you know whether or not it has been blessed or dedicated to a false god? I'm just simply pointing out the fact that those issues are still alive today. And just because we may be ignorant of some of these practices does not mean that those practices do not exist. In fact, the next time you go to the grocery store, you begin to notice. You will notice there is a certain sign for that which has been blessed by the rabbis.
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There is an Orthodox Jewish symbol. There is also a symbol for the Muslims, and I'm sure there are probably other symbols as well, but it's stamped there on the product. I'm just simply saying, we have the same problem today. Would you eat something that you know that had been dedicated to Allah? And of course, the rabbis certainly do not believe that Jesus Christ is God.
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Now, let's turn in our Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 8. I'm not going to be going into great detail in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 today because the next two messages, when I deal with what it means to offend biblically, is going to cover 1 Corinthians chapter 8. But I want us to read it, I want you to see this, because this arose not just in the Roman church, but in the Corinthian church as well.
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Paul writes now, "...touching things offered unto idols. We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."
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"Now, if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge. For some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God, for neither if we eat, are we the better; neither if we eat not, are we the worse."
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"But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols? And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish, for whom Christ died. But when you sin so against the weak brethren, you wound their weak conscience, and you sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."
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Now, I want you to understand that Paul states undeniably that there is nothing wrong with meat that has been offered unto an idol. The idol does not change the meat. It does not contaminate the meat. It does not change its form. It does not have any influence upon it. It is just simply plain meat. Look in verse 4. "As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one." Only one God, an idol, is nothing. It can do nothing. Now, look in verse 7.
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"Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge. For some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled." Now when Paul says in verse 7, "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge," he is not saying that there are Christians that do not know that there is just one God and an idol is nothing. That's not what he's saying. What he is saying is this, that there are believers who somehow think that that idol has some influence upon that meat, and therefore that meat becomes contaminated and therefore it should be rejected for consumption. That's what he's saying. Now, those who knew better were the strong believers. Those who believed that somehow the meat had become contaminated were the weak believers. Look in verse 10. "For if any man see thee which has knowledge," that's the strong believer, "sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak," the one that thought it somehow had influence upon the meat, "be emboldened to eat those things which are offered unto idols."
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Now, evidently, after the sacrifice was over in these pagan temples, a feast was made of whatever was left. And friends and neighbors were invited to the feast. And some of these Christians, not only in the Roman church, but in the Corinthian church, were exercising their Christian liberty and they were going into that idol's temple and sitting down and enjoying a free meal. Or at least one that was very, very cheap.
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And they knew that that idol was nothing. They knew it had no influence upon that meat. They knew that there was only one God. Moreover, I'll point out a little bit later, they were also publicly buying this cut-rate meat and eating it at home.
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Now, listen to what Matthew Henry says, and I love this. He says, "He tells them," he's talking about what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8, "he tells them that the mere eating and drinking had nothing in them virtuous nor criminal. Nothing that could make them better or worse, pleasing or displeasing to God. For instance, he said, 'Meat commendeth us not to God, for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we eat not are we the worse.' It looks as if some of the Corinthians made a merit of their eating what had been offered to idols, and then in their temples too, because it plainly showed that they thought the idols nothing. But eating and drinking are in themselves actions indifferent. It matters little what we eat, what goes into the man of this sort neither purifies nor defiles. Flesh offered to idols may in itself be as proper for food as any other, and the very eating or forbearing to eat has no virtue in it. Note, it is a gross mistake to think that distinction of food will make any distinction between men in God's account.
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Now listen, eating this food and forbearing that have nothing in them to recommend them or a person to God. Now, Paul is drawing the picture of the enlightened brother who is going into the temple and enjoying a good steak or a good piece of mutton. That's what he's talking about. He's exercising his liberty. He knows that there's nothing that that idol has done to contaminate that piece of meat. However, what he's also pointing out, and I will deal with in the next two messages, the strong believer who was going into this idol's temple and exercising his liberty at this point had no concern or at least did not consider the effect of his actions upon his unenlightened, ignorant, weaker brother. So it's not that these believers were worshipping the idol. They were not. They were not worshipping the idol. They had no regard for the idol. They knew that there was only one God.
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And all they were doing was getting a very good meal, either free or very, very cheap. Now, if you look in 1 Corinthians 10, verse 25, I'll cover this more later, but 1 Corinthians 10, verse 25, Paul writes, "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake." Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. The shambles was nothing more than a cut-rate meat market.
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These pagans would offer all these animals in sacrifice to their god. Not all of the sacrifice was consumed. The pagan priests couldn't eat it all. And so they opened a discount meat market next door to the temple. And Christians were going there, buying this discounted meat. So Paul says, "Whatever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no questions for conscience' sake." So Paul is saying undeniably that this meat not only may be purchased, it may be eaten, even though it was offered in sacrifice to an idol. Because that idol had no influence upon the meat, it did not change the quality of that meat, it did not contaminate that meat, it did not render that meat unfit for use. So the idol was nothing. Now, let me point out, it should be evident by now that meat in and of itself is not sinful or evil, even if it has been offered unto idols. Listen carefully.
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Anytime you locate evil in matter, or evil in something material, you've left biblical truth and you've gone into pagan philosophy. You've gone into what is known as Greek dualism. Evil does not reside in matter. Evil resides in the human heart. Sin is not located in anything material. Sin is located in the human heart.
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Somebody at home will probably take exception with me, not necessarily here, but when they hear this message, but here it is. Alcohol is not sinful in and of itself. I'm not telling you to go out and drink. I'm 66 years old. I've never had a beer in my entire life. But I'm just simply saying, if alcohol is sinful in and of itself, you can't even use medicine. Most medicine is alcohol based. Your homeopathic remedies are alcohol based. I'm just simply saying you cannot locate evil in matter.
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When you do, you go into pure paganism. That's all there is to it. Sin is in the heart. Look in Romans 14 and verse 14. Look what the Apostle Paul said. Romans 14 in verse 14, then I want you to turn back to Matthew 15. Romans 14, verse 14, how could this be any clearer? Paul writes, "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him that esteemeth anything unclean, to him it is unclean." But note what he said, "there is nothing unclean of itself." Sin does not reside in matter. If you will go back to Matthew chapter 15. Matthew 15. And let's begin reading with verse 15. Matthew 15 verse 15.
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"Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said unto them, Are you also yet without understanding? Do not you yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." Or even a piece of meat offered to an idol, defileth not a man.
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So it's not that which goes in, it's that which comes out that defiles. You remember the passage in Proverbs 4 verse 23 where God said, "Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." So in light of that truth we should understand that simply because some things are lawful and we may have liberty on the one hand, we must also understand on the other hand that not everything is expedient and there are always ramifications to our conduct and our actions. Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10 emphasize consideration for others, especially for the weaker brethren. Simply because we understand something does not mean that others understand, and the problem is our actions are always scrutinized by others.
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I remember years ago, when I first started preaching, I preached a message in Tallahassee, Florida. I'd only preached, you know, a short time. And after I'd preached in Tallahassee, Florida, I'd only preached that one message. I went down deeper into Florida because my aunt and my uncle owned a restaurant. And I was going through there and I stopped and I visited them. I spent the night there.
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Next morning I was eating breakfast at the restaurant. And this had been a week or so, I guess, prior when I had preached. When I was sitting there that morning, eating breakfast, a man got up and he came over and said, "Your brother Weaver, I heard you preach last week in Tallahassee, Florida." How in the world? You know, it dawned on me. What a small world.
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How could the two of us be in that one place at the same time? I'm just simply pointing out the fact that our actions are always observable. That's why the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 14, verse 7, "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." Period. Now, when it comes to exercising our liberties in Christ, we must remember the truth of Romans 15, verse 3.
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I read it last week. "For even Christ pleased not himself, but the reproaches of them that reproach thee fell on me." Do you realize that Christ not only sacrificed life, but his pleasures, everything for each believer? We cannot always please ourselves. In fact, the whole Christian life is really not about pleasing ourselves. First and foremost, it is about pleasing Christ. It's about ministering to others, and in that sense of the word, pleasing them for their good to edification.
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That's what he's talking about in Romans 15. In fact, that's what he said in verse 2. "Let us not please ourselves, but let us please our neighbor for his good unto edification."
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 10 again. 1 Corinthians 10, and let's begin reading it in verse 20. I told you I'm going to come back to this passage, and I want to point out a number of things before I start trying to tie it together and make applications. But look, 1 Corinthians 10, verse 20, Paul writes, "But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God. And I would not that you should have fellowship with devils. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?
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Are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth, or good. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go, you have to go, you can't get out of it, whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if any man say unto you, 'This is offered in sacrifice unto idols,' eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience' sake, for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?"
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Now, notice what he says. "Why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that which I give thanks? Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God, even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved."
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Now, let me just try to give you an overall view of this first. Paul acknowledges that those who sacrifice without faith in Christ, he acknowledges that those who are without faith in Christ sacrifice to devils and not to the one true and living God. Stop and think. All the sacrifices made of the Hindus, Brahmins, Chinese, all these are sacrificing to demons. They're sacrificing. They're not sacrificing to God. You say, but they're so sincere.
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Their sincerity does not matter. The only way that you can get to God the Father is through Jesus Christ. He said, "No man cometh unto the Father but by me." And if you sacrifice to anything else other than the one true and living God through Jesus Christ our Lord, it is to demons or to devils. That's what Paul is saying. Secondly, what Paul is saying in this passage, is simply because something is lawful does not mean that it is wise to do it or expedient to do it.
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It may be lawful for me to climb a fence and to attempt to cross a field where there is a huge, hot-tempered, 3,000 pound bull. It may be lawful for me to do it, but it may not be wise. It may be lawful for me to walk up to somebody like Chuck Liddell, you know, the mixed martial artist, who's really good. It may be lawful for me to walk up to him and give him a piece of my mind, but it sure would not be wise or expedient.
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Because I might get beaten into concrete. I'm just simply saying, just because we have liberty to do certain things, and I'm going to explain this in the next two messages, does not mean that we should always exercise that liberty. There are other considerations as well.
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Thirdly, the Apostle Paul is emphasizing in 1 Corinthians 10 that we're to seek the welfare of others and not just simply consider ourselves. That's why he said, "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." That's not saying, I want Dr. Bowen's money. That's not saying that. What it is saying is, I want to help Dr. Bowen. I want to promote him. I want to encourage him. I want to edify him. In other words, I'm not seeking just to build up myself or to have my pleasure. I want him built up.
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Fourthly, Paul is telling us that we may eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols in our homes or even at feasts, for we know that there is only one God and the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Everything that is in this earth belongs to God. It doesn't belong to some dumb idol. It belongs to God. And therefore, I may eat it in worshiping to Him. I don't have to eat it in reference to that idol. Fifthly, Paul is pointing out that if someone announces that the meat is dedicated to an idol, Paul says not to eat it. Isn't that interesting?
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So let me put it like this. Here's a good illustration. You work for a large corporation, let's say. And they're having their annual Christmas dinner. And you are disposed to go. You have to go. And the CEO stands up and says something like this, "Well, this year, we're doing this in honor of Saturnalia and we're worshiping the star Saturn." What? Paul says don't eat it. Why? You know there's only one God. You know Saturn is not a God. Paul said you don't eat it for conscience' sake. Not your conscience. But for the conscience of the man who said it. And for the conscience of those people around. Why? Because you want the opportunity to tell them, "I'm not eating it because there's only one God and it is not Saturn.
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It's the Lord Jesus Christ. And I'm not going to eat this because you're saying we're honoring Him. No, I will honor my God by not eating it." You see what I'm saying? So, He said, if it's set before you, and nobody says anything, eat it and don't ask any questions. OK, but if somebody says something, then you say, no, I'm not going to do it. OK, now, sixthly, he tells us that whether we eat or whether we drink, we do all for God's honor and God's glory.
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And in doing so, we seek not to offend or wound the consciences of others. Now, I'm really excited about the next two messages because I'm going to show you, Lord willing, what it means to offend and how not to offend and how we have misunderstood this term and we have lost the biblical doctrine of rebuke. Okay? So let me try to tie this together and make some applications.
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The first one is this. If we're going to learn to avoid conflicts, we must learn not to please ourselves. I get tickled every time I think of this because every one of us, when we were younger, hated to be told what to do. Especially at times when we did not want to do it. We wanted to do something else. And we would say, "When I get grown, I'm going to do what I want to do." And when you got grown, you found out that you couldn't do what you wanted to do.
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You had to do what you had to do. Okay? We cannot always do that which we want to do, we cannot always please ourselves. Galatians 6 and verse 2 says, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." So if I see Joe having a problem, and I would really like to go fishing, I am to forego my fishing to help Joe. Okay? Just take Joe fishing and that'll solve the problem. That'll work. Then I could be helping him at fishing. That'd be wonderful. But you remember the Bible says that Christ pleased not himself. He said, "Let us not please ourselves, but our neighbor unto his good for edification."
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But the point being, which I'm going to really develop in the next two messages, is we can't say when it comes to exercising our Christian liberty, "I'm going to do it. I don't care who's standing by or who's around me or who complains. I'm going to do what I want to do." No. That's an unbiblical attitude. You have to consider others.
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Secondly, abstaining from a few pleasures is not going to hurt us. If we must either give up time or pleasure temporarily, what really does that matter? What Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8 and verse 8 is this, he said, "But meat commendeth us not to God, neither are we the better if we eat it or we the worse if we don't." And I'll tell you something that I found, folks. I have found when I give up my pleasure and my time to minister to God's people and to help them, God always rewards me and gives me greater pleasure at something else and greater time. I'm just saying, you can't out-give God. And the scripture says, and you can paraphrase this in any way, in Romans 14 verse 20, Paul said, "For meat destroy not the work of God." We could say, "For pleasure destroy not the work of God. For your liberty destroy not the work of God." Which is more important, the work of God, or your temporary pleasure?
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The third application is this. The essence of the kingdom of God is not that which is external, but that which is internal. Here's what Paul said in Romans 14, 17 and 18. He said, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable unto God and approved of man."
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And I'll be honest with you. I'd rather please God than have a full stomach any day. And I'd rather please him than have my own pleasure. So he says, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink." In other words, it's nothing external, but it's righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. I want you to look back in Romans 14, because here's another incentive to avoid censures and condemnations. Look in Romans 14, beginning there with verse 10.
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"But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then, every one of us shall give an account of himself to God." So our attitudes, our actions, our conduct will all be held accountable before our Lord.
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Not as to whether we're saved or not. That's already been taken care of. But how we served Him. And whether or not our lives were pleasing unto Him. But since you're in Romans 14, look at verse 19. Here's the last application. Our goal should be peace. Romans 14, verse 19. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."
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Now, please understand this, and I will really, really emphasize this, Lord willing, in the next two messages. Paul is not saying peace at any price. He is not saying peace at the sacrifice of principle. He is not saying peace at the sacrifice of righteousness. What he is saying is simply this, we need to seek peace without unnecessarily causing contentions and conflicts. There are some things that we can do to avoid those things.
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I do not have to always say what I am thinking.
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I can bite my tongue occasionally. I'm not Italian. I'm teasing. Now, you understand what I'm saying. If I am talking to someone and I've got five minutes. Five minutes is all I've got. And I have to be leaving. And somebody is going to bring up eschatology. And they've got a totally different piece of eschatology than I have. How can I explain? How can I teach in five minutes?
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You know what I'll do? I'll sit there and listen to what he has to say. I'll let it go in one ear and out the other end and say, "Well, the Lord bless you. I'll see you later." Why would I get into an argument with him at that particular point? What good would it do? I don't have to look at him and say, "Dummy, what's wrong with you? Grow up. Study some." No. Look in Romans 12 and verse 18 again, for he that in these things serveth Christ. That's Romans 12, verse 18 is what I want, Romans 12, verse 18. But look there, look what he says. "If it be possible.
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As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." What does that mean? Paul is not saying peace at any price. Paul understands that there are some people that you cannot live peaceably with. But as much as lieth in you, do not necessarily create or cause unnecessary conflicts. If you have opportunity to teach, teach, is what I'm saying. But we should do those things which make for peace.
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Now, what I want to show you in the next two weeks is this. If Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 10, if those passages were read and studied and the principles developed, on how to avoid conflicts, how not to cause someone to stumble, how not to offend. If those principles were followed, there would be fewer conflicts in our lives, in our homes, in our churches.
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Now, I will be absolutely honest with you. I know some people that love to fight. They love to argue. They love to bicker. In fact, they're not happy unless they're creating some trouble. I'm sure you know people like that as well. Those are some of the people that the Apostle Paul says, "As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men," there's some you can't. He knows that.
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But as Scripture said, we should follow those things which make for peace, and not to unnecessarily cause conflicts. The same issues that the Apostle Paul dealt with are still with us today, and other issues that may not be related to these would still meet and have need of the same resolutions that the Apostle teaches in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 8. So we need to learn them.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your love, for your mercy, for your goodness. Lord, we do pray that you would teach us and that you would open our eyes, that you would give us understanding. Help us, Lord, to be a blessing to each other, to help each other, to edify one another, to encourage each other in the faith. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.
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This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-424-7000. You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T14:17:13Z

How to Avoid Conflicts 3

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver continues his series on avoiding conflicts between Christians by examining Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8–10. He explains that the conflicts in the early church over meats offered to idols and observance of days arose from differences in conscience and knowledge, not from immorality. The strong believer understood that an idol is nothing and that meat is not contaminated, while the weak believer’s conscience was still bound by former ceremonial scruples. Weaver emphasizes that sin resides in the heart, not in material things, and that Christian liberty must be tempered by love and consideration for the weaker brother. He outlines principles for avoiding unnecessary conflicts: not pleasing ourselves, abstaining from some pleasures for the sake of others, focusing on internal righteousness rather than external matters, remembering our accountability before God, and pursuing peace without sacrificing principle. The message sets the stage for future teaching on what it means to offend biblically.

Introduction and Review of Romans 14:1–3

The Uselessness of Arguing and Dependence on God for Illumination

Weaver reiterates that arguing cannot produce faith; only God can open a person’s understanding, which should make us patient with those who do not see truth as we do.

The Nature of Early Church Conflicts: Meats and Days

Distinction Between the Strong and the Weak

The weak were those still bound in conscience to ceremonial observances; the strong enjoyed liberty in Christ. The weak were not immoral but were overly scrupulous to avoid sin.

Old Testament Background for Concern Over Meat

Weaver cites Numbers 25, Exodus 34, and Daniel 1 to show why some believers were cautious about eating meat that had been associated with idol worship, given Israel’s history of judgment.

In Numbers 25, verses 1-3,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 25:1-3, 9

"And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, and they called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods. And the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods, and Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel."

Now, if you will turn in your Bibles to Exodus 34, here is a warning that God gave in verses 15 and 16.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 1:8-16

God says in verse 14, let's begin there, "For thou shalt worship no other god, for the Lord whose name is Jealous is a jealous God, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a-whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; and thou takest of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a-whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a-whoring after their gods." So our Lord is saying, look, you don't do these things simply because it's going to lead to other problems. So here is the background with which a lot of these people in the New Testament understood, and they were saying, well, you know, I don't know. You remember in Daniel, and we're not going to turn there, but in Daniel chapter 1, verses 8 through 16, Daniel, the Bible says, purposed not to defile himself with the king's meat. Now, it wasn't that the king was sending him pork or shellfish. That wasn't it. In Bible times, practically every meat was dedicated to a false god. That's how they worshiped God, by the way. I hope you know that in the Old Testament, when you brought your sacrifice to God, the priest, of course, ate of that sacrifice, and then oftentimes, depending on the type of the sacrifice, you ate some of it as well. That was part of the communion with God. The pagans did exactly that as well. And so Daniel then said, look, this meat has been dedicated to an idol. So I'm just not going to eat it or I might not know whether it is or not. So I'm not going to eat it. So Daniel just simply ate pulse and water or peas and water, which is good food, by the way.

The Jerusalem Council and the Issue of Pollutions of Idols

Acts 15:19–20 shows the early church addressing the same problem. James advised Gentile converts to abstain from pollutions of idols, referring to meat offered to idols, not idolatry itself.

1 Corinthians 8: Knowledge, Liberty, and the Weaker Brother

Paul teaches that an idol is nothing and meat is not defiled, but not all have that knowledge. The strong must take care that their liberty does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

The Shambles and Christian Liberty in Eating

Paul permits buying and eating meat sold in the shambles (discount meat markets associated with temples) without asking questions, because the earth is the Lord’s and the idol is nothing.

Sin Resides in the Heart, Not in Material Things

Weaver argues from Romans 14:14 and Matthew 15 that nothing is unclean of itself; evil is in the heart, not in matter. This counters pagan dualism and applies to issues like alcohol.

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:14

"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him that esteemeth anything unclean, to him it is unclean."

But note what he said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:14

"there is nothing unclean of itself."

Sin does not reside in matter. If you will go back to Matthew chapter 15. Matthew 15. And let's begin reading with verse 15. Matthew 15 verse 15.

So it's not that which goes in, it's that which comes out that defiles. You remember the passage in Proverbs 4 verse 23 where God said,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 4:23

"Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life."

Principles for Exercising Liberty Without Causing Offense

From 1 Corinthians 10, Weaver draws principles: not all lawful things are expedient; seek others’ welfare; eat meat unless someone announces it is idol-offered; do all to God’s glory.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 10:20-33

Are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth, or good. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go, you have to go, you can't get out of it, whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if any man say unto you, 'This is offered in sacrifice unto idols,' eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience' sake, for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?" Now, notice what he says. "Why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that which I give thanks? Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God, even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they

might be saved."

Applications for Avoiding Conflicts

Scripture Reading — Galatians 6:2

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

The third application is this. The essence of the kingdom of God is not that which is external, but that which is internal. Here's what Paul said in Romans 14, 17 and 18. He said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:17-18

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable unto God and approved of man."

And I'll be honest with you. I'd rather please God than have a full stomach any day. And I'd rather please him than have my own pleasure. So he says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:17-18

"The kingdom of God is not meat and drink."

Scripture Reading — Romans 14:10-12

"But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then, every one of us shall give an account of himself to God."

Conclusion and Preview of Next Messages

Weaver concludes that following these principles would reduce conflicts in lives, homes, and churches. He previews the next two messages on what it means to offend biblically.

How to Avoid Conflicts 3

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	62118103
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace
Genre	Sermon
Date	2011-04-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 153: How to Avoid Conflicts — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	73

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of Romans 14:1–3: Weaver reviews the first three verses of Romans 14, summarizing the previous two messages: Christian living flows from sound doctrine, believers have varying degrees of faith, and we are to receive the weak without disputing.
The Uselessness of Arguing and Dependence on God for Illumination: Weaver reiterates that arguing cannot produce faith; only God can open a person’s understanding, which should make us patient with those who do not see truth as we do.
The Nature of Early Church Conflicts: Meats and Days: The conflicts in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 were over indifferent matters—meats and days—not doctrine. Modern Christians often fail to see the relevance because of ignorance of Scripture and historical distance.
Distinction Between the Strong and the Weak: The weak were those still bound in conscience to ceremonial observances; the strong enjoyed liberty in Christ. The weak were not immoral but were overly scrupulous to avoid sin.
Old Testament Background for Concern Over Meat: Weaver cites Numbers 25, Exodus 34, and Daniel 1 to show why some believers were cautious about eating meat that had been associated with idol worship, given Israel’s history of judgment.
The Jerusalem Council and the Issue of Pollutions of Idols: Acts 15:19–20 shows the early church addressing the same problem. James advised Gentile converts to abstain from pollutions of idols, referring to meat offered to idols, not idolatry itself.
1 Corinthians 8: Knowledge, Liberty, and the Weaker Brother: Paul teaches that an idol is nothing and meat is not defiled, but not all have that knowledge. The strong must take care that their liberty does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
The Shambles and Christian Liberty in Eating: Paul permits buying and eating meat sold in the shambles (discount meat markets associated with temples) without asking questions, because the earth is the Lord’s and the idol is nothing.
Sin Resides in the Heart, Not in Material Things: Weaver argues from Romans 14:14 and Matthew 15 that nothing is unclean of itself; evil is in the heart, not in matter. This counters pagan dualism and applies to issues like alcohol.
Principles for Exercising Liberty Without Causing Offense: From 1 Corinthians 10, Weaver draws principles: not all lawful things are expedient; seek others’ welfare; eat meat unless someone announces it is idol-offered; do all to God’s glory.
Applications for Avoiding Conflicts: Weaver gives four applications: learn not to please ourselves; abstaining from pleasures won’t hurt us; the kingdom is internal, not external; and our goal should be peace without sacrificing principle.
Conclusion and Preview of Next Messages: Weaver concludes that following these principles would reduce conflicts in lives, homes, and churches. He previews the next two messages on what it means to offend biblically.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Conflicts over indifferent matters arise from differences in knowledge and conscience, not from immorality.

The weak in Romans 14 were not immoral but overly scrupulous, abstaining from meat to avoid sin. The strong understood their liberty. Conflicts came from these differing consciences.

Weaver says, 'The weak were not immoral people. They were not fornicators... These people were so conscience stricken that many of them abstained from all meats just to make sure that they were not sinning against God.'

An idol is nothing and cannot contaminate meat; therefore, eating such meat is not inherently sinful.

Paul clearly teaches that an idol has no real existence and meat offered to it is not defiled. The strong believer is free to eat it.

Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 8:4 ('we know that an idol is nothing in the world') and Romans 14:14 ('there is nothing unclean of itself').

Christian liberty must be limited by love and concern for the spiritual welfare of others.

Even though something is lawful, it may not be expedient if it causes a weaker brother to stumble. Paul would rather never eat meat than cause a brother to fall.

Weaver quotes 1 Corinthians 8:13 ('if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth') and 1 Corinthians 10:23–24.

Sin is a matter of the heart, not external things; therefore, no food or drink is sinful in itself.

Jesus taught that what enters the mouth does not defile, but what comes from the heart. This principle undergirds the teaching on meats offered to idols.

Weaver reads Matthew 15:17–20 and states, 'Sin does not reside in matter. If you will go back to Matthew chapter 15... those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man.'

Believers should not please themselves but seek the good and edification of others.

Christ did not please Himself, and we are called to bear one another's burdens and consider how our actions affect others, even in matters of liberty.

Weaver references Romans 15:2–3 and Galatians 6:2, and says, 'We cannot always please ourselves... Christ pleased not himself.'

The kingdom of God is not about external rules but internal righteousness, peace, and joy.

Paul defines the kingdom not by food and drink but by spiritual realities. This perspective helps believers prioritize what truly matters.

Weaver quotes Romans 14:17–18: 'For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.'

Scripture References

Romans 14:1-3: Weaver reads these verses at the opening to review the command to receive the weak without disputing over doubtful things.
Numbers 25:1-3, 9: Weaver cites this passage to show why some believers were cautious about eating meat associated with idols, as Israel was judged after eating sacrifices to Baal Peor.
Exodus 34:14-16: Weaver reads this warning against eating sacrifices to other gods, which could lead to idolatry and intermarriage.
Daniel 1:8-16: Weaver references Daniel's refusal to defile himself with the king's meat, which was likely dedicated to idols.
Acts 15:19-20: Weaver reads James's counsel at the Jerusalem Council that Gentile converts should abstain from pollutions of idols, referring to meat offered to idols.
1 Corinthians 8:1-13: Weaver reads the entire chapter to show Paul's teaching on knowledge, liberty, and the weaker brother regarding meat offered to idols.
1 Corinthians 10:20-33: Weaver reads this passage to highlight principles: not all things are expedient, seek others' good, eat unless told it is idol-offered, and do all to God's glory.
Romans 14:14: Weaver quotes this verse to prove that nothing is unclean of itself; sin does not reside in matter.
Matthew 15:15-20: Weaver reads Jesus' teaching that what comes from the heart defiles a person, not what enters the mouth.
Romans 14:17-18: Weaver quotes these verses to show that the kingdom of God is not about external things like food but righteousness, peace, and joy.
Romans 14:10-12: Weaver reads this passage to remind believers that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account.
Romans 14:19: Weaver quotes this verse as the final application: pursue peace and mutual edification.
Romans 12:18: Weaver reads this verse to clarify that peace is to be pursued as much as possible, but it is not always achievable with everyone.
Galatians 6:2: Weaver cites this verse to support the call to bear one another's burdens and not please ourselves.
Romans 15:2-3: Weaver references these verses to show that Christ did not please Himself, and we should please our neighbor for edification.
1 Corinthians 10:25: Weaver quotes this verse to show Paul's permission to eat whatever is sold in the shambles without asking questions.
Proverbs 4:23: Weaver alludes to this verse to reinforce that the heart is the source of life's issues, not external things.

Historical References

Josephus on Jewish priests in Rome eating only fruit: Weaver mentions that Josephus records certain Jewish priests in Rome who lived entirely on fruit to avoid eating anything unclean, illustrating the scrupulosity of some believers.
Albert Barnes' commentary on 'pollutions of idols' in Acts 15: Weaver quotes Barnes explaining that 'pollutions' refers to meat offered to idols, and James advised abstaining for the sake of peace and to avoid offense.
Matthew Henry's commentary on 1 Corinthians 8: Weaver quotes Henry stating that eating and drinking are indifferent actions and that distinction of food does not commend us to God.
Modern kosher and halal food practices: Weaver notes that Jewish kosher and Muslim halal blessings on meat are contemporary parallels to the issue of meat dedicated to a false god.
Wiccan and pagan blessings on meat: Weaver mentions that Wiccan and pagan cults also have blessings on meats, showing the issue is still relevant.

Important Quotes

It is absolutely impossible to argue someone into a position of faith.

This quote encapsulates Weaver's argument that disputes and arguments are useless in changing a believer's convictions; only God can give understanding.

If God does not open one's eyes, I don't care how saved he is, he will never ever see truth.

Emphasizes the sovereignty of God in illumination and the need for patience with those who do not yet understand.

The weak were not immoral people. They were not fornicators. They were not whoremongers. They were not drunkards. No. These people were so conscience stricken that many of them abstained from all meats just to make sure that they were not sinning against God.

Clarifies that the 'weak' in Romans 14 were not sinful but overly scrupulous, which is key to understanding the nature of the conflict.

Anytime you locate evil in matter, or evil in something material, you've left biblical truth and you've gone into pagan philosophy.

A foundational theological point that sin is not in material things but in the heart, undergirding the entire discussion of Christian liberty.

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him that esteemeth anything unclean, to him it is unclean.

Weaver quotes Romans 14:14 as the definitive biblical statement that no food is inherently sinful, though conscience can make it so for an individual.

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

This verse is used to show that the essence of Christianity is internal and spiritual, not external rules about food or days.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

The concluding application: believers should actively pursue peace and mutual building up, which is the heart of avoiding conflicts.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What does it mean to 'receive the weak in the faith' without 'doubtful disputations,' and how can we practice this today?

[Context]

Weaver opens with Romans 14:1 and emphasizes receiving weak believers into fellowship without arguing over disputable matters.

[Question]

Why is it impossible to argue someone into a position of faith, and how should this affect our interactions with other believers?

[Context]

Weaver argues that only God can open eyes to truth, so arguing is useless and we should be patient.

[Question]

How can we distinguish between matters of doctrine and matters of indifference, and why is this distinction important for church unity?

[Context]

Weaver notes that the conflicts in Romans 14 were over indifferent things like food and days, not core doctrine.

[Question]

In what ways might modern believers be 'weak' or 'strong' regarding issues of conscience, and how should the strong treat the weak?

[Context]

Weaver describes the weak as those bound by former scruples and the strong as those enjoying liberty, and calls for the strong to limit liberty for the sake of the weak.

[Question]

What does it mean that 'nothing is unclean of itself,' and how does this principle apply to contemporary debates over food, drink, or other practices?

[Context]

Weaver teaches from Romans 14:14 and Matthew 15 that sin is in the heart, not in material things, and applies it to issues like alcohol.

[Question]

How can we balance the exercise of Christian liberty with the command not to cause a weaker brother to stumble?

[Context]

Weaver discusses 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, where Paul says he would never eat meat if it causes a brother to fall, yet also says to eat without asking questions in some contexts.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'follow after the things which make for peace' without sacrificing principle or righteousness?

[Context]

Weaver clarifies that Paul is not advocating peace at any price, but we should avoid unnecessary conflicts while still standing for truth.

Applications

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