Christian Liberty

We all agree that only God can command the conscience. Whenever He commands, we are bound to do. Whatever He prohibits, we must avoid. There are explicit and sweeping commands in the Moral Law, such as the command against lying, whose application in most areas of our lives are plain and undeniable. However, in other areas, God has given us principles to apply to our decisions and activities. With sanctified wisdom each of us applies these principles. And so long as the application does not contradict the clear teaching of Scripture, the Christian has liberty of conscience before God in the exercise of his freedom.

The very concept of Liberty assumes the right to abstain or partake of the activity in question. Therefore the use of one's freedom, in such a case may be appropriately applied in either direction. So long as the motivation of the heart is right and charity toward the brethren is maintain, no sin is committed. Any attempts to make a prohibition of such things as applicable to all people is to be condemned as legalism (Col 2:16, 20-23 & 1 Tm 4:1-3). Similarly, partaking of such things without discipline will result in sin and possibly enslavement (1 Cor 6:9-12 & Eph 5:18).

Misunderstanding and conflict can arise when different applications of Scriptural principles are made surrounding the same issue. It is to this situation that Paul wrote in Romans 14:1-15:7. Paul states that those who abstain from such an activity must not be critical of others who decide not to abstain. At the same time, those who do not abstain should be sensitive of those who do. Essentially, as each opportunity arises, all of us should so desire to please our Lord that each of us should be craving to exhibit respect and charity toward our fellow believers (Rom 14:7-9, 15-20, 15:1-7; 1 Cor 10:23 & 31).

In the cases of alcohol drinking there is no Scriptural prohibition of their use, only a prohibition concerning their misuse (Pr 20:1; 1 Cor 6:9-12 & Rom 13:13). But neither is their use commanded. Therefore they both come under the classification of Christian Liberty. Some may choose to joyfully celebrate their wise use of these products as good gifts from their Creator (Ps 104:15; Rom 14:6; 1 Cor 10:30-31; & 1 Tim 4:3-4). Others may decide that, under the provisions of 1 Cor 6:12, 10:23, & 31-33, for him and his family the wisest course of action is to abstain from those same items. Either view is to be commended as proper application of Christian Liberty.

Paul, writing to the Romans, dealt with related issues concerning Liberty. On the one hand, Paul had to deal with stronger believers who were exercising their liberty but not being sensitive to their weaker brothers' tender consciences. On the other hand, Paul had to deal with weaker brothers whose consciences would not allow them to partake but who were critical of those who did. He instructs the stronger brothers not to hold the weaker brother in contempt and to defer his freedom for the good and edification of the weaker brother (Rom 14:3, 13-15, 19-21, & 15:1-3). Paul also rebukes the weaker brother for wrongly judging his brother by using man-made law when it is God who will judge the labor of his servant (Rom 14:3-4 & 10-12).

Since there are numerous issues of Christian Liberty, every believer, even the most mature one, will find himself, at some point as the weaker brother. Thus, the designation "weaker brother" is not a comprehensive label of one's overall maturity in Christ, but a description of one's position on an individual issue. Thus, in areas of Liberty, any prohibition applied to oneself that because a moral issue of conscience automatically becomes a "weaker brother" issue. A weaker brother's problem is that he lacks faith (Rom 14:1). Being a weaker brother is not technically a sin. On the contrary, Paul states that going against one's sensitive conscience is a sin (Rom 14:14 & 23), however, being a weaker brother is not a condition in which a maturing believer should desire to remain. And when a weaker brother attempts to bind the conscience of another brother over a matter of Christian Liberty, the weaker brother is being legalistic in his application of Christian principles.

The stronger brother, by contrast, because of his stronger faith on an issue, has an immense responsibility to his fellow believers. To the weaker brother, he must not disparage his lack of faith, nor place a stumbling block in his path (Rom 14:13-15). And to those who abstain in general, he must be careful not to flaunt his freedom to partake. Therefore, the question for the stronger brother is not whether to partake, but when to partake and how openly he proclaims this freedom. While the stronger brother has nothing for which to apologize by reason of his faith (Rom 14:16 & 1 Cor 10 29:30), his maturity on this issue must be yoked with discretion and discernment (Rom 14:20-22 & Phil 1:9-11; see also Pr 3: 21 & 8:12, where wisdom is paired with discretion, and Pr 2:2-3 where wisdom is paired with discernment). Flaunting one's liberty exposes an imprudent heart, which can lead weaker brothers and covenant children into taking steps for which they are not ready (i.e. a stumbling block).

To sum up this matter of Liberty, "the kingdom of God is not [about] eating and drinking," but about "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17). The issue of whether we abstain from something or not is ancillary to the primary goal-the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). We achieve this goal by looking not to the pleasing of ourselves, but to the pursuit of peace and edification of others (Rom 14:15-19, 15:1-2 & 1 Cor 10:23-24). In this way, we imitate Christ (Rom14:7-9, 15:1-7 & 1 Cor 10:31-11:1) However, we also know that receiving pleasure from God's good gifts glorifies Him in our joy and thanksgiving for them (Ps 104:15; Rom 14:6, 16-17 & 1 Cor 10:30-31). God calls us to unity in these matters. This unity is not over whether to abstain or not, but a unity by an acceptance of each other to His glory (Rom 15:1-7). Thereby, our witness to others will be effective that unbelievers might be saved (1 Cor 10:31-33). May God's glory be preeminent in all that we do, and may He give us discernment in the use of His many gifts to us.

Information poured from:
Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church