Romans chapter 14 Paul writes to the members of the Body of Christ about relationships and different views that believers in the church have. When there are more than one person in a given setting, there are bound to be different opinions and views regarding culture/ethnic/social/traditions and doctrinal differences. For years and years the society/communities, more specific believer communities have struggled with all sorts of different issues and the response/tolerance for those different views. Sadly so many communities/churches have split and lived in unforgiveness and hurt all because their focus got too caught up in what Paul describes as non-essentials. So what are non-essential topics you ask? Some real life examples that I can think of are, should women wear conservative clothing and not adore themselves by jewelry because you know true beauty is a meek and humble spirit! Or how about the topic of tattoo’s, alcohol and dancing, or the different ways of leading a service, communions, baptisms etc, or the style of worship that is done. This list of different views and traditions go on and on!! So how do we respond to people with different convictions? Because we all have bumped into issues that may be easier to tolerate and differ but how do we respond to those issues that we were taught from an early age, are wrong and worldly? Paul writes in chapter 14:1 “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters” vs 5 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” Vs 7-8 “For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Pretty much Paul is starting out this letter by bringing the focus to where it needs to be, Love your God and people. He is writing about accepting one another and not passing judgment on each other, basically creating an environment that everyone belongs because everyone belongs to Jesus. Vs 3 says, “The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.” That word contempt means to make them of little value. When I read this verse I’m reminded that it’s not only the sinners that we need to accept and love but also the religious people with all of their complexities. We have to question what is in our hearts? If we don’t partake in something do we judge those that do? Or vice versa, if we do lead/practice in specific things do we judge those that don’t? When it deals with sinners, do we judge the process of them becoming more like Jesus? Of course not! I know it’s easier said than done. Human nature likes to boast and feel more successful and righteous than thou. But we have to remember just as how Jesus loved and forgave us and gave us room and grace to grow, same should go toward people that are in a different season than we are, because after all, we never really stop learning and changing and growing in Jesus… hopefully. I find it easier for me to have grace toward “new believers” rather than super traditional/religious individuals. That is where my heart is tested, do I allow Jesus to be Jesus and love the religious people as I love and serve “new believers”? Giving people the benefit of the doubt and giving them the room to grow and loving them no matter their idioacracy because I
