Are there times, however, when believers should not surrender their rights to another brother but instead stand for the truth of their position? We have discussed the challenge of a fellow believer who may be prone to sin should we practice our liberty in their presence. But are there times when the believer is not prone to sin due to our practice but is already sinning in self-righteous judgment and demands that everyone else do what they want? One does not need to spend much time around Christians to discover such an individual. In these cases, how does the principle of love play out?

 

When the believer faces these positions, we must remember that the goal is not simply appeasing other Christians or avoiding conflict. As Naselli and Crowley state, “Christian freedom is not ‘I always do what I want.’ Nor is it ‘I always do whatever the other person wants.’ It is ‘I always do what brings glory to God. I do what brings others under the influence of the gospel. I do what leads to peace in the church’.”[1] With this in mind, we discover three situations in Scripture that help us determine the best course of action.

 

The first situation deals with individuals who have willfully added to the gospel through their legalistic actions. These individuals begin to judge other’s salvation by their set of standards. In this, the gospel subtly becomes Christ + my standards. Sam Storms defines legalism as “the tendency to regard as divine law things that God has neither required nor forbidden in Scripture, and the corresponding inclination to look with suspicion on others for their failure or refusal to conform.”[2]  When we face these individuals, we are obligated to the gospel over their convictions.

 

Paul instructed the Romans and Corinthian believers to restrain their freedom for their fellow believer’s conscience. However, one situation arose in which Paul did not restrain his freedom and called out those who differed. In Galatians 2:11-14, certain individuals came to the Galatian churches from Jerusalem. These Jewish believers still believed that conformity to the diet in the Mosaic Law was required for salvation. When they came to these churches, they separated from the Galatian believers. They also persuaded Peter to join them through their actions. In this instance, Gospel truth was at stake. As a result, Paul did not restrain his freedom to eat unkosher meat and join the Jewish believers. Instead, Paul boldly and publicly rebuked Peter (and the Jewish believers) for their position. So we see that when the Gospel truth is at stake, we cannot afford to restrain our freedom.

 

Legalists sometimes don’t add to the gospel but add to sanctification. They are not tempted to violate their conscience by following us. Instead, they simply demand their way. They are the obstinate believers. Their sin is one of self-righteousness and grasping for power. These people tend to divide the church and disturb its peace through their prideful demands that others do what they want. Jesus faced these very people in the Pharisees. He regularly called out their hypocrisy and jealousy of power. He healed, traveled, and ate on the Sabbath even though he knew the Pharisees saw it as evil. “The concern here is not simply that your freedom may irritate, annoy, or offend your weaker brother or sister. If a brother or sister simply doesn’t like your freedoms, that is their problem. But if your practice of freedom leads your brother or sister to sin against their conscience, then it becomes your problem.”[3] We must care for the offended brother and rebuke the obstinate brother. I should note that Christians should seek counsel from their spiritual leaders to determine if this is the case. You need God’s wisdom to discern between the offended brother (the one whose conscience is wavering due to your action) and the obstinate brother disrupting the gospel and the church’s peace through their selfishness.

 

Please don’t assume that fellow believers who hold a different position are being strict because they are neurotic people. Instead, think the best of those individuals. In many cases, they are as concerned for God’s glory as you are.[4] Thus, we should pursue peace whenever possible. For this reason, Paul would restrain his freedom when he came to Jewish believers. If the fellow believer just doesn’t like my position but is not obstinate about it, love would call me to care for them and seek peace. The principle of love encourages those of strong conscience to care for other believers. So, I am free to refrain from practicing my freedom as I seek to promote gospel living and peace within the church.

 

There is a difference between the offended brother and the obstinate brother. Each case requires God’s wisdom, humility, and grace to act in a way that pleases God. Sometimes, I refrain from practicing my freedom for my fellow believer’s sake. Yet, when Gospel truth is at stake, I stand for the Gospel. And when the obstinate brother disrupts the peace within the body of Christ through their sinful demands, I do not consent but hold to truth for the sake of my fellow believers. In all things, my love for God and others drives my decisions.

 

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