Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/2005 1

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Cannot draw lines of fellowship narrower OR wider than God has! All matters of liberty or indifference emanates from authority. Must recognize the need to abide in the doctrine of Christ which includes proper attitudes.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ "In matters of faith, unity; In matters of judgment, liberty; In all things, charity.“ BUT - For many today: "In matters of faith, LIBERTY; In matters of judgment, liberty; In all things, TOLERANCE.“ (except for those who oppose this motto)

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Has been grossly abused by those who are teaching or defending error... Tolerance and Forbearance for brethren who differ with one another in matters of indifference to God... No Tolerance for Sin - "Not for an hour" (Gal. 2:4-5)

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Any Attempt to Put Sinful Doctrine or Practices into Romans 14 Violates the Context Puts God in Fellowship with Sin Brings Sin into the Church Provides Basis for Open- Ended Fellowship with Sin

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ The Text - Matters Clean, Good, Pure v. 14, 16, 20 Immediate Context Rom. 6:1,6,7, 10, 12, 13, 19, 22 Rom. 7:3 Rom. 8:6-8 Rom. 13:11-14 (no moral sins) Rom.16:17-19 (no doctrinal sins) Attempts to put sin in the text violates Text and Context:

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Distant Context Gal. 5:19-21 (works of the flesh) Col. 3:5-11 (put to death) Eph. 5:13-14 (reprove) 2 Jn 9-11 (no fellowship with sin) 2 Cor. 6:14 (unequal yoking) There Should Be No Dispute On This! Attempts to put sin in the text violates Text and Context:

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Matters of Indifference are those beliefs or practices which are not specifically regulated by Scripture: They are things that are neither commanded nor forbidden, - 1 Cor. 9:5 They are things that are authorized and allowed – Rom 14:5,6, (Matters Clean, Good, Pure v. 14, 16, 20) To engage in an authorized liberty one is neither the better or worse - 1 Cor. 8:8 Just because a thing is an authorized liberty doesn’t mean that it is always expedient - 1 Cor. 11:17

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Romans 14:1-3 (NKJV) Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. [2] For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. [3] Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Weak: Uninformed, unable to practice, poor understanding, doing it not to the Lord, convinced in own mind, gives God thanks. Danger: Judge his brother, violate his own conscience.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Romans 14:1-3 (NKJV) Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. [2] For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. [3] Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Strong: Informed, able to practice, right understanding, doing it to the Lord, convinced in own mind, gives God thanks. Danger: Cause weak to stumble; set brother at nought.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Romans 14:1 (NKJV) Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. Doubtful... Διαλογισμός - dialogismos Thayer Definition: 1) the thinking of a man deliberating with himself 1a) a thought, inward reasoning 1b) purpose, design 2) a deliberating, questioning about what is true 2a) hesitation, doubting 2b) disputing, arguing Vines: expresses reasoning or questioning hesitation, 1Ti_2:8.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Disputing... Διάκρισις - diakrisis Thayer Definition: 1) a distinguishing, discerning, judging The strong were not to judge the weak brother as being unworthy of fellowship because of their lack of understanding regarding matters that were indifferent to God. Romans 14:1 (NASB-U) Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ One's mistaken concept of what is included in "The Faith" does not change a matter of indifference into "The Faith.” We must come to the absolute certainty in our mind that a thing is a matter of faith, and this certainty must be the result of an objective and diligent study of God’s word. God has not left "The Faith" in Doubt: (Eph. 3:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:5,21) Romans 14:1 (NASB-U) Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Romans 14:23 (NKJV) But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Do not condemn another based on your lack of understanding – (bind where God did not). (3,4) Be fully convinced (5) To practice or not is your choice, but whether you do or not – make sure it is for the purpose of serving the Lord (6) All will stand before the Lord, He is the judge (7-13) Nothing is unclean in itself (14,20) Pursue peace (19) Not to violate his conscience (23)

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Do not judge i.e. condemn the weak brother because of his lack of understanding. (1,13) Do not despise. (3) What you do – make sure you are convinced it is right & do it to the Lord - You will give account to God (5-12) Not to put a stumbling block in your brothers way – (13,21,22) Not to destroy your brother with your food (15,16) Pursue peace – teaching the weak brother the truth – (19) Romans 14:1 (NASB-U) Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ MDR Drinking Modern Alcohol Immodest dress Gambling Idolatry Observing holidays religiously Traditions as doctrine Circumcision

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Eating of meats Observing holidays non- religiously Family customs Marriage Women wearing pants Women working Bible classes # of cups Circumcision Different Races Different Cultures Different family history Different educational backgrounds Different religious backgrounds Different professions Different knowledge Different abilities

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Cor. 1:10 (NKJV) Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Withdraw Fellowship -2 Thes 3:8 Continue In Fellowship Contend - Jude 3 Do Not Contend Preach The Faith Gal 1:23 Keep "faith" to Self Cannot Continue Rom 6:1, 15 Continue in Practice God does not accept 2 Cor 6:14-18 God accepts both - (Practitioner, Non-practitioner) Sinful, Violation of God's will Pure, Clean, Good "Have no fellowship“ Eph 5:11 "Receive" 1 Thes 5:14; Jude 22; Mat 18 Romans 14

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ Cannot draw lines of fellowship narrower OR wider than God has! All matters of liberty or indifference emanates from authority. Must recognize the need to abide in the doctrine of Christ which includes proper attitudes.

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/ "In matters of faith, unity; In matters of judgment, liberty; In all things, charity.“ Tolerance and Forbearance for brethren who differ with one another in matters of indifference to God... No Tolerance for Sin - "Not for an hour" (Gal. 2:4-5)

Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/