Dealing With The Weaker Brethren

Introduction:

* A Church where brethren see more of one another will also face the reality of each other’s weaknesses.  

* As a church grow, it is inevitable that we will encounter weaker brethren in the midst of us.

* Every mature church must be willing and ready to deal with weaker brethren.

<Ro 14:1-4>

1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

* On disputable matters

* Background of <Romans 14>

* Learn to apply the principle of Christian love with weaker brethren

<Ro 14:6>  

6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

<Ro 14:13-22>

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

* We must apply the principle of “not stumbling others” with love, not extremely.

* And we must not let ourselves be guilt trip needlessly also.

The Rule of Christian love in dealing with weaker brethren **

1) Accept others who are weaker in faith as brothers and sisters

<Ro 14:4>

4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

2) Entitle our weaker brethren their Christian liberty

* Practically, a person should not be forced to act according to another person’s conscience with respect to “disputable matters”.

* This comes with 2 presuppositions:

(1) A Christian’s faith is at various levels of personal growth.

(2) God will always meet us at our faith.

* <Ro 14:6>: 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

3) The stronger brother has an obligation to not cause his weaker brother to stumble but should be considerate to act in love.

* <Ro 14:22>: 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.

* <Ro 14:17>: 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

4) Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification

* Cowork and serve together with the weaker brethren