Thursday, April 15, 2010
From Tom Degeneffe
The class discussion last Sunday (ch. 14) was so challenging and informative! I only wish that we had the time to delve into all of the application questions that this chapter raises! What really strikes me as being crucial in applying this teaching is the discernment necessary to determine whether a particular issue falls into the category of liberty / opinion, thus the instructions of this chapter apply ... or ... does it come under the instruction of I Corinthians 1:10; II Thess. 3:14-15; II John 9 etc. and is thus a fellowship issue. Kirk brought up the probability that the believers in Rome were meeting in several small house churches, yet the Spirit addressed them as a united body and this chapter instructs them to receive each other without passing judgement on differences of opinion. This principle must have some relevance in our culture, where many localized groups of believers meet together for worship and are engaged in the discovery of God's word and how it applies to them, coming to differing conclusions in many matters. What an intense level of mature, loving discernment is necessary to determine how to respond to this situation without compromising truth, yet not allowing division with those who are also accepted by the Father.
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What a powerful point! I believe that discernment (in deciding which issues are matters of liberty and which are salvation issues) comes with wisdom. There are definitely many times in my life when I wish I had possessed the wisdom and discernment to keep my big mouth shut on matters I now believe were liberties. :)
ReplyDeletePowerful comment, Tom. All I can say is "amen" and it really says that knowing the Word and being able to carefully "divide" the Word is of upmost importance to the Body of Christ.
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