SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!
By Richard Burkard
Let's pretend for a moment. Suppose you walked into a grocery store and found ground beef on sale for ten cents a pound? Or you drove by a gas station in the country, and discovered they'd rolled back the price of unleaded to 90 cents a gallon?
Would you keep those ridiculous values to yourself -- or would you tell your friends, so they could take advantage of it, too?
Believe it or not, the answers to these pretend questions may tell what sort of Christian you are. For many of us, it's only natural to want to tell others about something good and valuable that we've found. In a way, that's what the concept of EVANGELISM is about -- sharing the good news about Jesus with other people. (Matt. 28:18-19)
BUT is there a time to keep your mouth SHUT as a Christian? Solomon wrote there was "a time to be silent and a time to speak." (Ecc. 3:7, NIV unless noted) And the apostle Paul agrees with him, in a passage that's become controversial in the Worldwide Church of God.
"So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God...." (Rom. 14:22) What is the context of this statement? Members of various Church of God groups have trouble even agreeing on that! Some point to verse 1, and claim it's about people "whose faith is weak." Others cite verse 2, and argue the context involves vegetarianism. (Why they don't move up in the verse and argue it's about people eating ANYTHING, I don't know.) Another group will pin the context on verse 5, relating to holy days.
The Updated New American Standard Bible puts this title on Romans 14: "Principles of Conscience." That seems fair, since verse 1 talks about accepting believers "without passing judgment on disputable matters." Verse 2 would be a natural outgrowth of verse 1, as Paul introduces the topic of those "whose faith is weak," then cites an example of one whose faith would be weak - one who "eats only vegetables."
Paul uses some wise diplomacy by not putting the label "whose faith is weak" on either side of the "sacred days" debate in verse 5. (The New Bible Commentary suggests the real issue here is not whether to observe, but how - with the question possibly being to fast or not to fast.) Whether the topic is what to eat or whether or not to eat, it all goes back to the theme: such matters are one of an individual believer's conscience.
Verses 10-13 in Romans 14 remind us of that: "You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother?.... Each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another." The Worldwide Church of God obviously has struggled with this on the matter of keeping "Holy Days." Just when my WCG congregation seemed to reach a consensus that we should keep Old Testament days, higher-ranking ministers came in and left no doubt that this approach was at least antiquated - and perhaps outright wrong. (For details, see the article "Time for Me to Go.")
Are these ministers forgetting part of Romans 14 when they do this? Look at the last part of verse 13: "Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." The high-ranking ministers would argue the Holy Days are an obstacle to new members, but doesn't this street run in BOTH directions? By taking and intimating strong stands for Sunday, Easter and Christmas worship, is the WCG setting an obstacle in the path of LONG-TIME members?
Rom. 14:15 reminds us of how to act in love: "Do not by your eating [or day-keeping, etc.] destroy your brother for whom Christ died." The first part of the verse warns against making your brother "distressed" by what you do. This can take many forms. Using our original examples, what if the low-priced ground beef is at a store your friends are boycotting because of discrimination in hiring? What if the cheap gas comes from a company that pollutes God's atmosphere?
Paul sums up the best approach to take in Rom. 14:19. "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." In short: work for peace, and build others up. As one commentator wrote: "Do not force it upon others; respect the scruples of the weak." (One-Volume Bible Commentary, Dummelow, pg. 656)
It can be easy for believers to want to "share the wealth" about new truths we discover from God's Word. I attended a United Church of God Bible Study with a woman who gushed about something new she found in the book of Zechariah, after watching a minister's video. Of course, what's new to YOU may not be new to ME; we're all at different stages in the Christian walk. But we must be careful in sharing such things, because what's new to you might be MISUNDERSTOOD by you -- and might mislead others!
So it can be good to apply the guidance of Romans 14:22 - to keep some beliefs "between yourself and God." But how do we properly apply this in Church situations?
+ Do I simply believe everything I'm told? NO. "Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good." (I Thes. 5:21, NASB) Paul instructs Christians to be "....accurately handling the word of truth." (II Tim. 2:15, NASB) If someone gives you guidance that's in error, whether it's sinful guidance or not, invoke the principle of Galatians 6:1 -- and restore your brother or sister gently.
+ If someone outshouts me, do I cave in? NOT NECESSARILY. The "old WCG" featured ministers with such powerful speaking styles (not to mention some claiming to have superior knowledge or spiritual ability) that some "free thinkers" were squashed like bugs. Even now, some in the "new WCG" remain so adamant in their beliefs (even New Covenant beliefs) that those who sincerely disagree can feel ostracized.
But Karl Barth summed up the proper attitude of a believer very well: "Thou art alone with God in thy faith. To Him only thou art bound; upon Him only thou art cast. He alone is thy Judge and thy Saviour...." (The Epistle to the Romans, pg. 522) When all is said and done, we must answer to God for our beliefs and actions - not any man.
A Worldwide News article in 1999 had this reminder: "Others should not condemn, but even if they do condemn, we should not allow their attitudes to boss us around (Col. 2:16). We cannot let their sensitivities create permanent obligations for what we do...." (December 1999, pg. 26) Should this not go for condemning OLD era practices, as well as NEW ones?
+ Should I say ABSOLUTELY nothing? NO -- because that's really the other extreme. "That does not mean that you have to keep your beliefs secret, of course (Paul did not) -- it means that your belief affects your own relationship with God; it should not intrude into other peoples' relationships with God." (WN, 2/21/95, pg. 9) "There is a time to be quiet (to seek peace), and a time to speak (to edify).... It is OK to state your conviction, but not in a deliberate attempt to offend." (WN, 12/99, pg. 26) And that's really the key - stating beliefs, without "cramming them down other people's throats."
+ Should I simply not believe anything? NO, that's an extreme approach as well. I Peter 3:15 warns you to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...."
One commentary says this about Romans 14: "Here it is made very clear that everyone must have a standard for his conduct.... It is highly important that a believer provide the correct standard for his conscience, and that he help his fellow believers to have this standard, too." (Wycliffe Bible Commentary, pg. 1223)
A Worldwide News article summed up a discussion of religious traditions and customs with two "needs" which every Christian must balance:
1) Do not let someone else's conscience dictate what you do.
2) Do not let your behavior offend them.
Switching from an "old WCG" habit under intense pressure from ministers, as my congregation recently experienced, would violate #1. Belligerence with either old or new ways would violate #2. Knowing when to "shut up and sit down," as some politicians put it, will bring more peace to a church, a congregation - and your spiritual life.
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