MOV:The issue of Christian Liberty  by Mark S. Camp

INTRODUCTION

"Peace of conscience is nothing but the echo of pardoning
mercy." (William Gurnall)

Mary Jones, age 45, has attended church all of her life.
As far as she knows, her church is a fundamental, Bible-
preaching, Bible-believing, Baptist church. When Mary was
growing up, her friends at school used to make fun of her
because she always wore a dress, never pants, even in the dead
of winter. Her friends thought that she was odd because she
was not allowed to go see movies and go swimming. She was
constantly made fun of because her family did not celebrate
Christmas. Repeating what her father had often said, Mary
would tell her classmates that they were going to hell because
they had those "green idols" (Christmas trees) in their homes.
Mary had been invited to a slumber party at someone's home, but
her Father refused to let her go when he found out that the
girls would be watching television, which he considered to be
the high priest of Satan.

When Mary was 16, she began to like John, a boy in her
class who was also a Christian. They would talk to one another
after school and it was soon evident that John had affections
for Mary also. John invited Mary to go on a hayride that his
church youth group was having. Mary rushed home to ask
permission to go. Her father asked her what church John
belonged to. Mary said he was a Presbyterian. Mary's father
immediately began lecturing her about how only Baptists
belonged to the Bride of Christ, Presbyterians were nothing but
a bunch of liberals who used alcohol in the Lord's Supper and
who used translations other than the King James Version, etc.
Needless to say, Mary did not go with John and soon John lost
interest in her. When Mary tried to talk her hurt feelings
over with her mother, Mrs. Jones reminded her that Jesus was
persecuted for his beliefs, and Mary should not consider it
strange that "lost people" did the same to her.

Mary graduated from high school and went off to a
fundamental, Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, Baptist college.
Here she met Tom, the boy of her dreams. Tom liked Mary also
and soon a strong bond of love began to grow between them.

They would often get together after class to pray or read the
Bible together. One day, while they were sitting on the grassy
knoll in front of Mary's dorm, Tom could resist the urge no
longer and reached over and kissed Mary on the cheek. She
blushed from embarrassment, but her heart raced with
excitement. The excitement was short-lived however. Professor
Smith happened to walk by and saw Tom kiss Mary. He
immediately took the two of them to the dean's office. The
dean called Tom a "womanizer" and accused Mary of being
promiscuous. The parents of the two were called and informed
by the dean that after a lengthy investigation, their children
were being dismissed from the school for sexual misconduct.

Mary returned home embarrassed and depressed. Her parents
scorned her and the Christians at church turned cold towards
her. The pastor counseled Mary about her sin and demanded that
she openly repent in front of the entire church. Having been
taught to be submissive under any circumstance, Mary agreed to
do so. The people said that she was forgiven, but there still
remains a coldness towards her.

Mary is still single and still attends the same church.
She never wears pants, doesn't smoke or use alcohol, doesn't go
swimming, doesn't watch television, and doesn't celebrate
Christmas. In her heart however, there is a great turmoil.
Mary desperately wants to be loved by a man. She constantly
has fantasies of being with a man. When she goes shopping,
envy and jealousy well up within her heart when she sees all
the modern appliances and pretty clothes which she wishes she
could buy. At Christmas, she goes into periods of deep
depression when she sees the joy and happiness that others are
experiencing. She stopped living with her parents because
inwardly she hates them and wishes that they were dead. Mary
professes to be a Christian, but she knows very little about
the grace of God.

Friends, I could go on and on with this story but I
believe you can see what I have been getting at. Perhaps you
think that this story is exaggerated and make-believe. Well, I
confess, I did make it up but I assure you that it is not far
from the truth. I personally know many people who could fit in
one way or the other, the description of Mary Jones. Mary
Jones was raised in a supposedly Christian environment, yet
most of what she was taught and much of the way she was treated
was not Christian at all. Mary, and thousands like her, have
been brought up in a legalistic setting in which holiness and
spiritual maturity were measured not by Biblical standards, but
by the commandments and traditions of men.

The Bible, and more specifically the New Covenant,
nowhere specifically condemns television, women wearing pants,
being kissed by your boyfriend, observing Christmas, having a
Christmas tree, or swimming. The Bible nowhere states that
only Baptists are true members of the Bride of Christ. (I once
heard a fellow say that there would be enough Baptists in hell
to hold a Bible conference!) How sad it is that many, many
Christians are being placed under a yoke of bondage that Jesus
Christ never intended them to bear. Jesus said that his yoke
was easy and his burden light (Matthew 11:30). Yet, many
preachers and other Christians are just like the Pharisees in
that they seek to place burdens upon people that neither they
nor their fathers are able to bear.

In this paper, I wish to deal with the subject of
Christian liberty. When I say "liberty" I am NOT talking about
a license to sin or the right to live a life free of
restraints. I am talking about the believer no longer being
bound to the principles of the world by which righteousness is
sought. I am talking about liberty from ceremonialism,
formalism, traditionalism, asceticism, culturalism, and the
like. Before we go further into this study, I am going to ask
you to prayerfully read four portions of Scripture as
background. These passages are:

Romans 14

Colossians 2

1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 10:23-33

Read these passages slowly and prayerfully, allowing their
message to sink deep into your heart and mind. Once you have
read them continue with the rest of this paper. May God give
you understanding from his Word and by his Spirit.

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

Part 1

The subject of Christian liberty greatly needs to be
understood today by Christians and especially by preachers of
the Gospel. A well balanced view of the believer's liberty in
Christ will benefit the church in that it promotes our
acceptance of one another because of who we are in Christ
Jesus, not because of what we wear or don't wear, like or don't
like, etc.

Pastors are often guilty of manipulating their
congregations through guilt. Where this occurs, you will
usually find a body of believers who measure their
sanctification solely by what they do or do not do. It almosts
seems as though many churches have a written code somewhere
which lists those things that are allowable and those things
that are not. If someone transgresses this invisible list,
they are made to feel guilty of breaking the very law of God.
There must certainly be a list somewhere, because most of the
things preached against in many churches are certainly not
specifically prohibited in God's Word, our sole authority for
matters of faith and practice.

At the risk of stepping on some "holy" toes, I would just
like to list some of these "rules of conduct." I am not saying
that I support or promote everything listed, I am simply saying
that these things are not specifically prohibited or permitted
anywhere in the Scriptures. They are rather, what I would
classify as the commandments and traditions of men (usually
pastors). Here is the list:

1. Women are not allowed to wear pants.

2. A ladie's hemline must be below the knee.

3. Women are not allowed to wear bathing suits.

4. Women are not allowed to wear any make-up at all.

5. Boys and girls are not allowed to swim together.

6. Men cannot have long hair.

7. Men cannot wear beards.

8. It is mandantory that in a Christian school, all the
boys must wear white shirts and ties; girls must wear
dresses or coulots.

9. Any kind of card game is sinful.

10. The King James Version of the Bible is the only true
translation of the Scriptures. Any other is liberal.

11. Alcohol is sinful (except if it's in medicine!).

12. Only an ordained minister can baptize and administer
the Lord's Supper.

13. A minister's ordination must be traced back to the
Apostles or John the Baptist.

14. Any board game where dice are used is sinful because
the soldiers cast lots for Christ's robe.

15. Television is of the devil. It is the high priest of
Satan.

16. The Christian is forbidden to celebrate Christmas.

17. Christmas trees are signs of idolatry.

18. Dancing is a sin.

19. All rock music is of the devil. (It is amazing how
many preachers will say this, yet they love to
listen to country and western with all of its songs
about adultery, divorce, etc.)

20. Women must wear a hat in church.

21. Anyone who is not a Baptist is not in the bride of
Christ.

22. Only a baptism (immersion) done in a Baptist church
of exact like faith and order is true New Testament
baptism).

23. Watching football on Sunday is a sin.

24. Doing seminary studies on Sunday is a sin because it
breaks the Sabbath Day.

25. Engaged couples at a Christian college are not allowed
to hold hands or kiss in public.

Did that listing seem funny to you? I hope it did, but
then again, I hope it seemed sad. Many Christians get nothing
but a steady dose of "don't do this" every Sunday, and as a
result are still spiritual infants feeding on milk instead of
meat. The doing or not doing of the specific things above
cannot be supported by specific Scripture verses.

One great truth to come down through Protestantism is the
doctrine of soul liberty in the matters of religion. This
means that each individual is allowed to make his or her own
choice when it comes to religious practices; no church can
force its people to accept doctrine without question. This
competency in matters of religious practice can also be applied
to the matter of choosing whether or not to engage in something
that is neither approved of or disapproved of by the Scripture.
I want to give you a sermon at this point on the subject
of Christian liberty. After you read the sermon, I will make
some practical applications.

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

Part 2

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a
cover-up for evil" 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)

We have before us in this verse from the pen of Peter,
another explanation of the preceding verses. In verse 15, he
has said, "For it is God's will that by doing good you should
silence the ignorant talk of foolish men." Verse 16 is an
explanation of one way believers can so silence ignorant talk.
The Christian is a person who has been set at liberty and thus
is expected and commanded to use this freedom. However, while
being at liberty, the believer is at the same time under
bondage. He is a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. By
using this freedom properly, under the authority of God, the
Christian will bear proper witness to the foolish.

In our day and age, the subject of Christian liberty is
much discussed. On the positive side, many have come to see
that in Christ they have been set free from following the
commandments and traditions of men, and are bound solely to the
Scriptures. On the negative side, some of these same people
have used their liberty as a license to sin. There are also
those who, while professing to believe in Christian liberty,
nevertheless will be very forceful in pushing their opinions
upon the consciences of other believers.

I believe that we must seek to maintain a constant balance
in our lives regarding this doctrine of liberty. We must learn
to speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where the
Bible is silent. Only in so doing can we avoid extremism in
our daily walk and in our communion with other Christians. Let
us examine Peter's words (the Holy Spirit's words), considering
these two elements:

1. The Christian as a free man

2. The Christian as a slave of Christ

Let us consider the Christian as a free man. In what
respects is he free? First of all, he is free in respect to
God. The Bible tells us that all men are sinners, and in their
sinful condition are under the wrath of God. The wages of sin
is death. But, in Christ, men and women are set free from this
punishment. Christ has paid the price for sin and has set his
people free.

The Christian is free from "works" as a means of
salvation. The natural man feels the need to do good works in
order to maintain favor with God. He is convinced that his
good works will save him and make him acceptable in God's
sight. But this "good works religion" is in reality a form of
bondage, for how can a person know when he has done enough good
works to please God? In Christ, however, we find that
salvation is all of grace, that we can do nothing to merit
God's favor. Christ sets us free and allows us to live by
faith, and to have the assurance that we are acceptable in
God's sight because of Christ's work on the cross. The
believer is able, because of his freedom, to rejoice in Christ.
Secondly, the Christian is free in respect to man. The
Apostle Paul wrote, "See to it that no one takes you captive
through hollow philosophy, which depends on human tradition and
the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (Col.
2:8). He goes on to say, "Therefore do not let anyone judge
you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious
festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a
shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however,
is found in Christ" (Col. 2:16,17).

It is the natural tendancy of man to dominate others. We
feel that our opinions, our beliefs, our feelings, and our
traditions should be practiced and believed by others. This is
especially true in regards to spiritual matters. The old
commentator, John Brown, wrote:

There is a natural tendancy in man to usurp
spiritual authority over man; and there is a
natural tendancy, too, to submit to this
usurpation. By far the greater part of mankind
have no better reason for their religious
opinions, ordinances, and usages, than that
they have 'received them by tradition from their
fathers.' What is taught and received, as re-
ligious truth and duty, is nothing more than
'the commandments of men.'

Are not Brown's words quite true? How much of what goes
on in our churches is nothing more than the traditions of men?
How much of what is forced onto believers from pulpits and
classrooms is nothing more than the personal like or dislike of
the speaker? Christians are told what to eat and what not to
eat; what to wear and what not to wear; what to drink and what
not to drink; what to watch on television and what not to
watch. Paul spoke to this very issue. In Colossians 2:20-23
we read:

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles
of this world, why, as though you still belonged
to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not han-
dle! Do not taste! Do not touch!?" These are
all destined to perish with use, because they
are based on human commands and teachings. Such
regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom,
with their self-imposed worship, their false hu-
mility and their harsh treatment of the body, but
they lack any value in restraining sensual indul-
gence.

The Judaizers were trying to impose human bondage upon the
believers in Galatia. In Galatians 5:1, Paul says, "It is for
freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do
not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
The issue at hand here was that the Judaizers were trying
to put the Galatians back under the law as a means of
completing their salvation. Many pastors and churches today do
something very similar, only in the realm of holiness or
sanctification. We hear such things as, "No long hair for
men! No pants or make-up for ladies! No card playing! No
rock music! No alcohol or tobacco! No coffee! No dancing!
No bathing suits! No television on Sunday!" The list could go
on forever. Why? Because each of these condemnations is not
based upon specific Biblical commandment, but upon opinions and
cultural circumstances. PLEASE! Do not misunderstand me. I
am by no means encouraging you to take up drinking alcohol or
smoking tobacco or to start playing poker. I am simply stating
that such things are not SPECIFICALLY spoken against in the
Bible. Neutral or amoral things have no sin in them. Sin lies
in man's heart. The Scripture does not condemn alcohol, BUT it
does forbid drunkeness. The Scripture also tells us that our
body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. My other point is that
the do's and don't's heard from our pulpits vary from one man
to the next. John Eadie has written:

Men attach a higher sanctity to abstinence from
certain kinds of food and physical refreshment,
than to abstinence from sin.

We are duty bound to listen to God's men expound the Word
and we are obligated to heed and practice it. But we are not
bound by their opinions and personal likes or dislikes.

Freedom allows a believer to walk by his own conscience and not
by the conscience of some other human being. Freedom allows
each believer to make applicable use of Scriptural principles.
Concerning the right use of liberty, Paul wrote, "For why
should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?" (1
Corinthians 10:29b).

The believer's conscience is to be bound by the Word and
Spirit. He is to be filled (continually) with the Spirit (Eph.
5:18), he is to walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), and he is to be
led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:18,25). And, he writes elsewhere,
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Cor.

3:17). Brown writes once again:

Christians should act as free, not only in refusing
to submit to human authority in religion themselves,
but also in carefully abstaining from imposing the
yoke of human authority on others. Their freedom
should be manifested, not only in maintaining their
own privileges as free, but in respecting the privi-
leges of others.

One might say, "I don't force anything you have mentioned
upon others" or "Our church doesn't condemn the things you
mentioned." This may well be true. But what about some things
I did not mention. How many divisions have occurred in
churches over whether one cup or many cups should be used in
the Lord's Supper? Is the Scripture clear and commanding on
this? What about Bible translations? To hear some Christians
talk you would think that anyone who does not read from the
King James Version is a heretic. What about the subject of
sending children to private Christian schools? Does the
Scripture clearly forbid the use of the public school system?
Some churches believe that unless you were baptized in running
water you were not really baptized at all! Does the Scripture
mandate a running water baptism?

The practical matter here is this - it is alright for each
individual to have opinions and likes or dislikes pertaining to
matters not clearly forbidden or commanded in Scripture. But,
it becomes sin when others are pressured into believing
likewise. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes:

One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but
another man, whose faith is weak, eats only veget-
ables. The man who eats everything must not look
down on him who does not, and the man who does not
eat everything must not condemn the man who does,
for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge some-
one else's servant? To his own master he stands or
falls. . . . One man considers one day more sacred
than another; another man considers every day alike.
Each should be fully convinced in his own mind. He
who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.
He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives
thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the
Lord and gives thanks to God. . . . You, then, why
do you judge your brother? Or why do you look
down on your brother? For we will all stand before
God's judgement seat. . . . So then, each of us will
give an account of himself to God. Therefore let
us stop passing judgement on one another.

I encourage you to read the entirety of Romans 14 and
meditate upon the practical implications of it. Christians are
free in respect to God, and in respect to man.

Having looked at the Christian as a free man, the second
thing I should like to consider is the Christian as a slave to
Jesus Christ. The frequent Greek word for slave is "doulos."
It pictures a permanent relationship of servitude to another.
The will of the slave is swallowed up by the will of the lord
or master.

As a slave to Christ, it is the believer's constant duty
to guard against abusing his freedom. The word used for
"cover-up" (1 Peter 2:16 NIV) is a Greek word which means a
covering or veil. In the Septuagint, the word is used in
reference to the badger skins which covered the tabernacle (Ex.
26:14). It is very easy for a Christian to abuse his liberty
and "cover it up" by saying, "I'm not sinning! I'm just
enjoying my liberty in Christ."

Freedom necessitates discernment and moderation. Paul
tells Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach, but tells
the Ephesians not to be drunk with wine. Christian women are
never told in the Scriptures that they cannot wear make-up or
pretty clothes, but they are told to "adorn themselves with
proper clothing, modestly and discreetly" (1 Tim. 2:9).

As slaves we will want to be pleasing to our Master, and
we should ask ourselves, as the hymn asks, "Is my master
satisfied with me?" Paul says that all things are lawful, but
all things are not necessarily expedient or proper for the
moment. Therefore it might be right for you to enjoy a game of
cards. But suppose a brother or sister comes to visit whose
conscience does not permit him or her to play. The Scriptural
position is that you refrain from looking down on him or her,
and that you have an understanding that they are acting as they
feel pleases their Master. And, while the cards are not sinful
in and of themselves, you would be abusing your liberty to
foolishly lose all of your money in a gambling game, and then
not be able to pay your bills and provide for the needs of your
family.

The right use of Christian liberty is sometimes like
walking a tightrope. We must maintain a proper balance or we
will quickly fall into danger.

We have examined the Christian as a free man and as a
slave to Christ. Recognize your freedom in Christ today. But
always be mindful that you are to please your Master and you
must be prepared to one day give an account. Paul's
exhortation should be ever present in our ears, "So whether you
eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of
God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

Let us understand what true holiness is and what it is
not. Let us stop immediately our judgements of others who do
not follow our particular tastes and enjoyments. Let us get
away from binding ourselves to a man-made "checklist" of do's
and don't's. Let us realize our responsibility to keep from
being a stumbling block to someone else, yet let us also be
responsible in showing others the true freedom that they can
have in Christ. Let us learn that sin does not exist in
created things, but rather that sin exists in human beings.
Human beings can quickly pervert the good things which God has
made for man's enjoyment.

And, finally, let us have firmly implanted in our minds
that we ought to speak boldly and declare what the Bible
teaches, but where the Bible is silent on a matter we must let
each brother and sister stand or fall before God in his or her
own conscience. We are our brother's keeper, but we are not
his conscience.

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

Part 3

Now that you have read the sermon, I want to make some
practical applications of what was said. I do not expect, nor
do I ask you to agree with everything I have said or will say,
but I do ask you to hear me out. I firmly believe that even a
small, forward step in the direction of Christian liberty will
greatly enhance your usefulness in ministry and I am sure that
it will help the general life of the church.

First, the subject of Christian liberty, like all other
doctrines, will meet with either acceptance or opposition.

Because of the culture in which we live, and because we have
rightly been instructed that the believer is to be separate
from the world, I think you will see that the subject meets
with much more opposition than acceptance at first.

For example, if you have been raised in a strict,
fundamental environment, my statements about alcohol will be
greatly opposed, especially if there has been an acquaintance
with alcohol addiction. I want to state clearly that I am not
in the least advocating that every believer should stock his or
her refrigerator with a case of Lambrusco. What I am
advocating however, is that the matter of alcohol, or wine, or
any other amoral thing be studied from the Scripture. If wine,
in and of itself, is sinful, then why would God allow it to be
used in his holy, ceremonial sacrifices? Why would Paul tell
Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach problems? In
speaking of the many blessings that God gives to man, why does
the Psalmist say, "He makes...wine that gladdens the heart of
man" (Psalm 104:15). If wine is sinful, why does the Lord
Jesus use it as an element in the Lord's Supper? I have heard
it argued that the wine of the New Testament was a very diluted
wine, mostly water. Thus, it was okay for the Lord to use it.
Sin is sin. If wine is sinful, then it is sinful whether it is
mixed with water or not. If alcohol is sinful, then it is
sinful even when used in medicine.

Now, lest you think that I am only writing to advocate the
use of alcohol, let me make my point. Sin itself does not lie
in the substance of an amoral thing, such as alcohol, a deck of
cards, a television, etc. Sin lies in the heart of man! Take
away a sinner's alcohol and he or she will find something else
to take its place.

Let me make application to some of the other things I
listed earlier. If a woman's hemline must be below the knee,
how far below the knee must it be? Is there a standard of
calibration somewhere? How long is man's hair allowed to get
before it is considered long? How many days can a man go
without shaving before his beard is considered sinful? There
are some women who would be dressing more decently if they wore
pants instead of some of the dresses of today. What preacher
has ever traced his ordination each and every step all the way
back to John the Baptist?

I have heard many preachers preach against every known
thing under the sun, yet these same preachers will stuff
themselves to the point of sickness at a church dinner and are
grossly overweight. These same preachers continually exceed
the speed limit. These same preachers would just as soon fish
or watch baseball as they would study the Word diligently. I
ask you, where is the line drawn, and who draws it?

My friends, we as ministers and teachers of the liberating
Gospel of Jesus Christ, need to instruct our people in the
nature of real holiness. We need less sermons against dancing
and more sermons on patience; less sermons against television
and more sermons on gentleness; less sermons against clothing
and more sermons on self-control; less sermons against gambling
and more sermons on how to edify one another.

Lest you think by now that I am a left-wing liberal, let
me assure you I am not. I believe in the inerrancy and
infallibility of God's holy Word. Alcohol is grossly abused in
our day. It is a moral and societal pitfall. Drunk drivers
should face stiffer penalties. Alcoholic men who abuse their
wives should be dealt with severely by the courts. Liquor
stores that sell to minors should be penalized and shut down.
But, remember, it is the sinful heart of man which takes any
good thing of God and perverts it into something ugly and
shameful.

Secondly, a proper attitude towards Christian liberty will
go a long way in creating an atmosphere of acceptance in our
congregations. By acceptance, I mean accepting one another
because of who we are in Christ, not on the basis of whether or
not we all do everything alike. Let me give an example. Some
people feel that the King James Version of the Bible is the
only true translation of the Scriptures. Many people who feel
this way judge and condemn as liberals those who use another
translation. I will not go into textual criticism here on this
point. But to hear some people talk, you would think that the
prophets and apostles actually wrote in King James English. I
am not condemning the KJV as a translation, but I am reminded
of a funny, but sad story.

One of my college professors went to a small country
church to fill the pulpit one Sunday. He happened to like the
Revised Standard Version. After the service, one of the
deacons came up to him and said, "Brother, we only use the
original Bible in this church!" (This deacon meant the KJV.)
My professor calmly replied, "Brother, I am deeply sorry. I
did not mean to offend anyone, but had I known that your people
read Hebrew and Greek, I would have brought the original!" I
happen to know that this professor was not a liberal.

A legalistic and judgemental attitude in a church will
create more problems than it solves. Too often our churches
look more like a meeting of the scribes and Pharisees instead
of a congregation of sinners saved by grace.

Thirdly, a balanced perspective of Christian liberty will
alleviate much of the way by which pastors seek to motivate
God's people to service. I have heard men preach that if you
do not tithe God will destroy your house or maybe kill your
children. Instead of preaching about cheerful giving and the
need to further the work of the kingdom, these men are trying
to motivate believers by making them feel guilty. The New
Testament never appeals to a believer to act on the basis of
guilt. Believers are called to serve based upon love for
Christ and based upon a repentance which is the result of godly
sorrow. Lost sinners should indeed feel the condemning wrath
of God and should be made to feel objectively guilty. The only
person who can bring a charge against God's elect is the One
who elected them. If a believer is being instructed in the
fulness of the Word, and is walking in and by the Spirit, he
will be brought to have godly sorrow when he does wrong.

Finally, I hear a question from you which says, "Well, if
we don't tell people all of these do's and don't's, how will
they know what is right and wrong?" Let me answer this
question and sum up by listing seven basic principles
concerning Christian liberty:

1. Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the
Bible is silent.

2. What the Bible condemns, you should condemn.

3. What the Bible approves, you should approve.

4. The Bible nowhere contains a complete checklist
of forbidden things.

5. The Bible is a book of principles, which when
applied correctly by a believer, will provide the
answers to problems, questions, and decisions.

6. Equip Christians to apply these principles, and pray
for the Spirit to lead, teach, and guide them.

7. Teach that liberty must always be practiced with a
concern for one's body and soul, a concern for
maintaining a clear testimony before the lost, and
that liberty is never a license to sin.

Let me provide a closing example. Suppose someone says,
"Well, the Bible does not specifically prohibit me from smoking
marijuana, therefore I will exercise my liberty and smoke it."
Such a statement is only partially correct; the Bible does not
specifically prohibit marijuana smoking. However, regardless
of the health considerations involved, we are told in the Bible
that we are to obey the civil authorities over us. "Everyone
must submit himself to the governing authorities" (Romans 13:1
NIV). The civil authorities have made laws which forbid the
sale, distribution, and use of marijuana. Therefore, if a
Christian smokes it, he has not only broken civil law, but he
has also broken God's law by not submitting to the governing
authorities.

Holiness is not merely the ability to keep a checklist of
someone's likes and dislikes. It is a matter of correctly
applying the totality of God's Word in all of our daily
circumstances, and diligently seeking to emulate the life and
example of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

The old Puritan, Walter Cradock once said:

I would do a hundred things that Christ hath not
commanded, and leave undone a hundred things that
Christ hath not forbidden, rather then be tied to
one thing by men that Christ hath not commanded.

Finally, this quote Article 17 of the Southern Baptist
Faith and Message of 1963:

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has
left it free from the doctrines and commandments
of men which are contrary to His Word or not
contained in it.

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

Part 4

What I should like to do in this part of our study, is to
examine the contents of the fourteenth chapter of Paul's letter
to the Romans. In this chapter, we see first of all that there
are levels of Christian understanding, as Paul speaks about the
weak and the strong. Secondly, we see the limits of our
liberty clearly set out for us. Keep in mind that we will not
see a minute list of regulations, but rather broad principles
which are to govern the exercise of our liberty.

I want to simply go straight through the text, verse by
verse. It is not my intent to do a deep, exegetical study of
all the component parts of the grammatical construction, but
rather to just examine what the text simply and clearly says to
the average English reader.

In verse 1, Paul sets forth the underlying principle which
is that of accepting one another. The Christian who is strong
in the faith is to accept the weaker brother or sister. Paul
says that they are to be accepted "without passing judgment on
disputable matters" (NIV). What are these disputable matters
to which he is referring? In the immediate context the issue
of eating meat is under consideration. This may have been meat
which was used in the Mosaic sacrifices but is now ceremonially
contaminated, or more likely, it is meat that was used in
feasts given in honor of other gods by the pagans.

Yet, disputable matters are more encompassing than just
the issue of meat. By disputable matters, I believe Paul is
referring to things that are not essential to the Christian
faith. The items listed in part 1 of this study would fall
into that category. Any matter upon which the Bible is silent,
in other words it neither prohibits or recommends a thing, can
be considered a disputable or nonessential matter.

In verse 2, the Apostle says that one man's faith allows
him to eat anything, yet another brother's faith does not
permit him the same freedom. We are told in verse 3 that
neither of these brothers are to look down their noses in a
condemning way at the other. Why? Paul answers that in verse
4. We are each servants of God. Christ is the Lord of all
believers. No servant has been given the authority to pass
judgment on another servant. God has accepted both the weak
brother and the strong brother, therefore we must do likewise.
In verse 5, Paul switches to the issue of observing days.
One brother feels that one day a week should be reserved as a
special day unto the Lord and should be observed as a holy day.
Another brother feels that all the days are the same, that each
day is holy unto the Lord. Each man is fully convinced in his
own mind that his way is correct and the Bible has nothing to
say to support one position as opposed to another. Verse 6
then says that each of these two men give thanks to God for
their respective way of eating or worshiping! Is this a
contradiction? I think not. Let me illustrate the passage
further in order to show the full intent of the words of the
Apostle Paul.

Here you have two former pagans who are now Christians.
Both used to attend the feasts where meat was sacrificed to
idols. These two men are now at a banquet where meat and
vegetables are being served. The one brother eats everything
and gives thanks to God for what he eats. We can almost hear
his prayer: "Lord, thank you that you saved me from my old way
of life. Thank you for this meat and for opening my eyes to
see that you are the only God and that what I used to do was
done to something that did not even exist." On the opposite
side of the table, the other brother, who is only eating the
vegetables, is also praying: "Lord, thank you for delivering me
from my sins. Thank you for taking men out of that old way of
life and for taking away my desire to eat that meat. I no
longer want to be reminded of my former ways, and for that I
thank you."

Here, my friend, is Christian liberty. Christ has set
these two men free so that they can worship him with a clear
conscience. The essence of the liberty is not the meat, but
that each brother is thankful that he can clearly and
unashamedly approach the throne of grace with thanks. The
inward motive is the issue here, not the outward conduct
(although there are Scriptures that are concerned about our
outward conduct and we must not overlook them).

The abuse of liberty comes in when the stronger brother
says to the weaker, "Come on, brother, go ahead and eat this
meat. It won't hurt you. Have a little more faith and trust
God more. You're free, man!" And so, to not be embarrassed,
the weaker brother takes a bite of meat and his conscience is
immediately singed with feelings of guilt and he feels ashamed
before God. The abuse of liberty also comes in if the weaker
brother says to the stronger, "Brother, the Lord will get you
for eating that meat! Don't you know that that meat is sinful?
How can you sin against God by doing that. I will no longer
fellowship with you if you continue to do that!"

Verses 8 through 11 talk more about the fact the Christ is
the judge, not we ourselves, of the brethren. Then in verse
12, Paul says, "So then, each of us will give an account of
himself to God" (NIV). Brothers and sisters, we have enough to
take care of in being sure that we can present ourselves to God
unblemished without trying to give an account for everyone
else!

Now, in verses 13 and following, the Apostle goes on to
show the limits of our liberty. Yes, there are limits. Grace
is not a license to sin. But, grace means that we learn to
live by principle instead of by regulation. Since God is the
judge, we are to stop passing judgment upon others. (Remember,
this judgment is in regards to nonessential things.) Instead,
we are to determine not to put a stumbling block in the way of
other believers so that they do not fall and injure their
consciences.

Verse 13 is often quoted by those who are opposed to the
idea of Christian liberty. But it is usually quoted out of
context. Let me illustrate this verse. Joe has a problem with
playing cards because in his days of unbelief he was a
compulsive gambler. God has now delivered him from this.

However, because he was so attached to cards before, he cannot
be around them anymore since doing so ignites his indwelling
sin and he is tempted to go back to gambling. John, however,
loves to play bridge. One day, Joe comes over for a visit and
John brings up the subject of playing bridge. Joe objects on
the grounds that the cards are sinful things. John presses Joe
on the subject of liberty so much that Joe starts to want to
gamble again. He fights this urge but now his conscience is
wounded because he thinks that he has somehow failed God. This
is very simplistic, but I think illustrates a true obstacle or
stumbling block.

But, let me give you an example that is not. Ted is a
believer who enjoys an occasional cigar. Tom is also a
Christian and a reformed smoker as well. Tom does not think
tobacco is sinful in and of itself, but he just can't stand the
smell of smoke anymore. Ted's smoking of a cigar in front of
Tom will not cause Tom to be injured in his conscience even
though he expresses to Ted that the smoke bothers his system.
If Ted puts the cigar out, he is doing so not because he has
injured Tom's conscience and caused Tom to take up smoking
again, but as a matter of courtesy towards Tom.

You see, there is a great difference in someone having a
personal dislike of something, and someone having something
that is a stumbling block to them. This is where those who are
opposed to Christian liberty usually fail to make a
distinction.

In verses 14 through 23, Paul sets down some more
principles. First, food is not sinful in itself. We can also
apply this to any amoral thing such as alcohol, tobacco, cards,
clothing, music, electronic technology, etc. He says that no
food is unclean IN ITSELF. If this is true, then where does
harm and sin enter in? It enters in from the sinful heart of
man which perverts even the best things which God has to offer.
Second, if a believer, for whatever reason, regards an
amoral thing as unclean (bad or sinful), then for that person
it is. It is not necessarily bad for everyone, but it is at
least for that person. Pastor Walt Chantry of Grace Baptist
Church, Carlisle, PA., in his book "The Shadow of the Cross:
Studies in Self-Denial," gives a good illustration. I quote
from page 40 of that book:

In our society there may be a Christian who cannot
go to the beach without lusting after women
dressed immodestly. So he denies himself the right
to enjoy surf and sand. If he loves the ocean, it
may be like plucking out a right eye of personal
enjoyment in order to keep his conscience clear.

But he is tempted to measure all men by his own
experience. He is inclined to suspect that a
brother goes to the beach in order to indulge
lustful thoughts. He is tempted to legislate
that no Christian is to go to a public
beach....You are taught to deny yourself, but not
to deny your brother. You must assume that his
heart is pure, foreign as that may be to your
experience.

The third principle in these verses is that liberty must
always be exercised with a love and compassion for other
brothers and sisters in Christ. As a Christian woman, you may
have the liberty to wear pants to church. But, if doing so,
causes someone else to be so hurt that their worship of God is
hindered, then you must act in love and refrain from doing so.
We are not to let our enjoyment of "things" destroy the
spirituality of another. Priority consideration must always be
given to the person and not to the thing.

The fourth principle is this: The kingdom of God is not
concerned with matters of eating and drinking, but rather, with
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whether or
not we eat or drink a certain thing does not determine our
status in the kingdom of heaven.

The fifth principle we see is that our actions are to be
geared towards promoting unity and edification within the body,
not divisions and strife. The work of God is not to be
destroyed just so we can eat, drink, wear, or enjoy whatever we
want. It is far better to abstain from using an amoral thing
that to cause a brother or sister to lapse into sin and fall
spiritually.

The sixth principle set before us is that we are to guard
how we talk about our liberty. Paul says in verse 22, "So
whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself
and God." This is not a hypocritical statement for the Apostle
to make. It is very easy to become proud and puffed up. We
can talk as though our liberty proves that we are some type of
"super saint." Our talk can become injurious to others,
especially when we try to force our beliefs upon them.

The final principle is summed up in the words of verse 23,
"And everything that does not come from faith is sin" (NIV).
In other words, regarding an amoral thing, if there is any
doubt as to whether or not is is lawful to do, DON'T DO IT.

This is not situational ethics, it is a matter of having a
clear conscience before God. If you are condemned in your
heart about a matter, then you cannot fully glorify God and
give thanks to him by doing it.

Applying the principles set forth by the Apostle will put
the necessary restraints upon the exercise of our liberty. We
do not need a comprehensive listing of what to do and what not
to do set down for us. What we need is a deeper understanding
of the Scriptures and the inward grace of the Holy Spirit to
apply God's Word to our daily lives.

I realize that what I have said about Christian liberty
may be new to many who read these pages. I do not ask you to
accept what I have set forth without question. Be as the
Bereans, searching the Scriptures and seeing if these things be
so. Pray for wisdom and discernment. May God grant you all
grace.

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace
may increase? By no means!" (Romans 6:1 NIV)

"Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with
their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their
harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in
restraining sensual indulgence." (Colossians 2:23 NIV)
