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.”
………………………………………………………………………. 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. ……………………………………………………………………….
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
………………………………………………………………………… it is possible to come to true saving faith & receive JESUS as SAVIOUR but not as LORD. …………………………………………………………………………
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.
................................................................. 1.2] Carnal Christian Source .................................................................
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.
............................................................................................. Other forms of legalism were perfected by the Pharisees. The Pharisees majored in the minors. .............................................................................................
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.
.................................................................................................. 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. ..................................................................................................
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.
.................................................................................................. It is not a disguise for licentiousness. ..................................................................................................
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.
