Discussion: The tyranny of the weaker brother || RC Sproul
One of the dangers that often goes unrecognized in the
Church today is the problem of tyranny of the weaker
brother.
On Wednesday afternoon at our pastors conference,
Dr. R.C. Sproul gave a timely lecture on the subject.
His main text was Romans 14.
1.] Sanctification
Protestant Reformers were united in their affirmation
that the Bible teaches justification by faith alone—but
not by a faith that is alone.
Saving faith immediately, necessarily—and inevitably
shows evidence of itself in the good works we produce
in the process of sanctification.
Paul tells us to work out salvation in fear & trembling,
as GOD works in us to will & do [Philippians 2:12-13]
We are not to be at ease in Zion
or quietists that let go & let GOD.
The whole Christian life requires labor with the godly
fear that we call reverence & with the adoration that
is ever present in the hearts of those—who tremble
before the living GOD.
Sanctification is not undertaken in a casual matter.
1.1] Pitfalls that Undermine Progress
There are, however, various pitfalls that undermine
our sanctification. Predominant among them are:
• antinomianism &
• legalism.
[1] Antinomianism means anti-lawism.
It carries the idea that once I am saved by grace,
I no longer have to be concerned about living a
life of obedience, & I no longer need to heed
to GOD's law.
The favorite refrain of the antinomian is free
from the law, O blessed condition, I can sin all
I want & still have remission.”
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One of Roman Catholicism's fears during the
Protestant Reformation was that the doctrine
of justification by faith alone would produce
antinomianism.
There were indeed some radical reformers
who misunderstood the doctrine & moved
in that direction.
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But the Reformed wing of the Reformation
was convinced that though the ceremonial
law had been fulfilled & abrogated, moral
𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗢𝗗'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 are still
𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 how to
please GOD, not for “earning of salvation”
Today, antinomianism is epidemic.
Epidemic is a rapid spread of disease
to a large number of hosts in a given
population within a short time.
Some say the OT law has no further import to the
life of the Christian. One of the most prevalent
examples of this idea is a destructive growth of
carnal Christians.
This is a contradiction in terms once we understand
what is meant by the words “carnal Christian”—but
there is a sense it has some application to us.
All of us who are in CHRIST remain carnal
to some degree because our flesh, the
will, & nature in opposition to GOD isn't
eradicated until we are glorified.
This is not, however, what advocates mean in
calling some believers carnal Christians.
The idea of the carnal Christian says
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it is possible to come to true saving faith &
receive JESUS as SAVIOUR but not as LORD.
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A truly converted person may never produce the
fruit of a sanctified life—but may remain utterly
carnal & unconcerned with GOD's law unto death.
CHRIST is in the life of the carnal Christian, but
HE is not on the throne of the person's life.
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1.2] Carnal Christian Source
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The self sits enthroned and determines how one
will live. Where does this idea of carnal Christian
come from? Bad theology is one answer.
But it may also originate as a way to explain why
so many profess CHRIST & yet show no evidence
of it.
I knew a young man who lived with his girlfriend
& sold drugs, & excused his sin by calling himself
a carnal Christian.
He went forward at an altar call
but made no effort to follow JESUS.
He is an example of antinomianism with a
vengeance.
[2] Legalism
The other main threat to our sanctification is
legalism. What is legalism? It is not an easy
question to answer because there is not one
monolithic form of legalism.
The worst legalism says that by our works we can
satisfy the demands of GOD's law & gain salvation
through our good deeds.
This is the view of salvation held by all people
who do not affirm biblical Christianity.
But if this were truly the way of salvation, it could
only cause us everlasting doom, for no one fulfills
the law perfectly.
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Other forms of legalism were perfected by the
Pharisees. The Pharisees majored in the minors.
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This form of legalism gives great attention to minor
matters of the law at the expense of the weightier
matters of the law.
JESUS castigated the Pharisees
for only observing the tithe.
People should tithe, HE said, but not at the expense
of other matters. We cannot pick and choose which
commandments to follow [Matthew 23:23-24]
We all know people who are scrupulous about some
minor things--but do not care whether they display
the fruit of the SPIRIT [Galatians 5:22-24].
Pharisees also violated the SPIRIT of the law to get
around the law about traveling on the Sabbath day.
Let's say they calculated journey to be about a mile,
which should have meant that they would not travel
more than a mile away from their home on the
Sabbath day.
They created a loophole, however, that said a home
could be established if they left a personal item like
a toothbrush somewhere.
If they wanted to take a journey on the Sabbath that
was fifteen miles, for example, they could leave a
toothbrush or other personal item every mile along
their desired route.
That way, they would never travel more than a mile
from their home.
Starting from their real house, they would get to the
place where they left their first personal item after
traveling only a mile.
They were at their new house when they found their
toothbrush & everything started over again.
They could then travel another mile to their next
house, then the next house, all the way until their
final destination.
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One of the most destructive forms of legalism then
and now, & the one most seriously practiced by the
Pharisees was a tendency to add to the law of GOD.
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They bound men's consciences where GOD had
left them free to do what they wanted to do.
This problem has plagued the Church for centuries.
In any case, it can be helpful for us to ask
ourselves where do we fall on this wide
spectrum of legalism & the atmosphere
we have in our Church.
2.] Matters Indifferent
Connected to the matter of legalism & antinomianism
is the idea of adiaphora & Christian liberty.
Adiaphora are matters indifferent, those
areas, where one is commanded neither
to do or to abstain, areas where GOD has
not told us what or what not to do.
Christians have liberty in matters indifferent; we can
choose for ourselves what course of action we'll take.
Christian liberty never gives us liberty to disobey GOD.
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It is not a disguise for licentiousness.
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Once I had a teaching opportunity for a Mission in a
community outside of New York City.
After the Mission ended, I was invited back to the home
of one of the Mission leaders for a prayer meeting with
the Mission's leadership team.
To my horror, people started to pray to their deceased
relatives when the meeting started.
I interrupted them & told them that Christians are not
allowed to pray to the dead because it is forbidden in
Scripture & is a capital offense in the OT.
The Mission's leaders responded that the rule did not
matter because it was an OT rule.
I asked them what had happened in
redemptive history that would make
a formerly abhorrent practice [in OT]
[suddenly] acceptable to GOD.
They responded that they were not under the law, &
that I shouldn't lay a guilt trip on them. This exchange
𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 of Christian
liberty on their part.
Consulting witches & so forth is not adiaphora.
Clearly, occultic matters are not matters
indifferent, & there is no biblical reason
to think otherwise.
On some occasions, however, we cannot agree on what
is indifferent. The biblical concept of Christian liberty
is to help us coexist -- when we do not have the same
understanding of what fits the category of adiaphora.
