Romans 14:1-13
Paul could easily be talking to us today in today’s reading. Initially I was thinking Democrat-Republican policy fights and name-calling at the national and state level. Then I thought of our own Men’s Group Bible Study, how our discussions have sometimes gotten heated over politics – unfortunately, more often than not, way off topic. But those divisions clearly exist in our own St. Andrew’s congregation. There are good arguments on both sides and good debates could be had, but (again, unfortunately) party loyalty and television sound bites tend to triumph over reasoned discussion.
But then I thought further of our first service / second service history and the challenges we faced when we went to a unified service. There were first-service people who would never attend at 11:00 and second-service people who would never go to the 9:00 am service. Some people don’t like guitars and drums, while others don’t like vestments and choirs. But these are “earthly” matters – we Christians disagree on so many things. My Study Bible had a good quote: “Christians do not agree on all matters pertaining to the Christian life, nor do they need to.” Finally, Paul says it best, I think, in his closing statements: But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God… So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. (vv. 11-13, NASB)
Slava Bohu!
I agree with you. Unity in essentials, liberty in nonessentials. It requires great sensitivity to others’ needs to discern how to respond sometimes, humbly respecting others but remaining true to your own convictions. Perhaps even harder is clarity on what is “essential”. If some make rules for all Christians about what is what I consider nonessential, how should I handle this?