The church today is divided over many things. Race and politics have become a flashpoint over the last 12 years culminating during the administration of the 45th President of the United States, and now COVID-19.
But there are also many other, less volatile matters over which we disagree. We may have different preferences in the style of the church building, length of service, or musical instruments. Knowing how prone we are to division; it is no accident that the Bible says we need to try to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 NIV Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
How can a church full of people with diverse backgrounds, genes, personality types, ways of communicating and thinking, struggles, emotions, values, desires, experiences, expectations, and convictions ever expect to find unity?
The burden of maintaining this peace is not equally shared.
A major theme of the New Testament is that of sin’s power to destroy the spiritual and moral character of the church. But outright, blatant sin is not the only danger to a church’s spiritual health and unity. Certain attitudes and behavior can destroy fellowship and fruitfulness, and they have crippled the work, the witness, and the unity of countless congregations throughout church history. These problems are caused by differences between Christians over matters that are neither commanded nor forbidden in Scripture. They are matters of personal preference and historic tradition, which, when imposed on others, inevitably cause confusion, strife, ill will, abused consciences, and disharmony.
In the 14th chapter of Romans Paul addresses the danger to unity as the conflict that easily arises between those to whom he refers as “strong” and “weak” believers, those who are mature in the faith and those who are immature, those who understand and enjoy freedom in Christ and those who still feel either shackled or threatened by certain religious and cultural taboos and practices that were deeply ingrained parts of their lives before coming to Christ.
Romans 14:1-2 NIV Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
Paul’s command may seem hard to accept because it feels like an infringement on our individual rights. And...it is;
But when God expects this of us, He is treating us no differently than He did His own Son who humbled Himself for us.
Philippians 2:6-8 NIV Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Paul did not hesitate to accuse people who denied the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. But when people have different opinions about certain actions, the ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ Christians should respect each other. In things that are not essential to the faith, a Christian must be free to obey his own conscience.
Essential Christian Beliefs (there are others but here is a sample)
● We believe in the authority of Scripture, which is another way of saying that the Bible is God's inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word. It's the ultimate source for knowledge about God, as well as the definitive guide for our daily lives.
● Next, we affirm the existence of a triune God or one God in three distinct persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This God is self-existent, eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omnipresent, holy, righteous, and loving. God created the universe from nothing, and He rules sovereign over His creation, including both human and angelic beings.
● We also hold that man is a physical and spiritual being who is created in God's image. But because of his sin or transgression, man has lost his fellowship with God. The extent of sin is so great that its effects continue to this very day in the form of cruelty, sickness, suffering, and death.
● By God's grace, Jesus Christ - Who is fully God and fully man - was sent to save us from our bondage to sin. We believe that Christ was born of a virgin, died for our sins, physically rose from the dead, and will one day return to judge the world and deliver His people. Faith in Christ alone (not faith + works) is the only means by which an individual can escape eternal damnation and judgment.
● Finally, we recognize the church as God's ordained institution headed by Christ. The church is composed of all believers, and is organized for teaching, worship, fellowship, for the administration of communion and baptism, for spiritual growth and support, and for evangelizing the world. True believers seek to be part of local church assemblies where the Word of God is taught
Paul was telling them that since everybody had been saved because of God’s grace and their faith, and nothing they did themselves that they must not be proud. They must not think that they are better than other people.
The standard by which they must judge themselves is the standard of faith. That faith means to trust in Christ. He lived and died for them. When they think about Christ’s action, they will be humble.
Romans 14:9-13 NLT Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer ? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord , ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God. ’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
Paul understood the challenge and prayed that God would enable the believers in Rome to have “the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had”
Romans 14:3 NIV 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 (emphasis mine).
The Christian is Christ’s servant. Only Christ, his master, can decide whether he is a loyal Christian.
Since everybody had been saved because of God’s grace and their faith, and nothing they did themselves that they must not be proud. They must not think that they are better than other people.
The standard by which they must judge themselves is the standard of faith. That faith means to trust in Christ. He lived and died for them. When they think about Christ’s action, they will be humble.
Romans 14:9-13 NLT Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer ? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord , ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God. ’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
Sometimes we make allowances for our differences but still view others with contempt. We tolerate others without truly accepting them. Such treatment is not true acceptance. Remember that Christ has not treated us this way. How should you treat those people with whom you differ? Accept one another as Christ has accepted you.
This should be our prayer.
Forgive us for our contempt of others and teach us to respect all members of the body of Christ, even those whom we don’t understand. Draw us ever closer to you, Lord.
● We believe in the authority of Scripture, which is another way of saying that the Bible is God's inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word. It's the ultimate source for knowledge about God, as well as the definitive guide for our daily lives.
● Next, we affirm the existence of a triune God or one God in three distinct persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This God is self-existent, eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omnipresent, holy, righteous, and loving. God created the universe from nothing, and He rules sovereign over His creation, including both human and angelic beings.
● We also hold that man is a physical and spiritual being who is created in God's image. But because of his sin or transgression, man has lost his fellowship with God. The extent of sin is so great that its effects continue to this very day in the form of cruelty, sickness, suffering, and death.
● By God's grace, Jesus Christ - Who is fully God and fully man - was sent to save us from our bondage to sin. We believe that Christ was born of a virgin, died for our sins, physically rose from the dead, and will one day return to judge the world and deliver His people. Faith in Christ alone (not faith + works) is the only means by which an individual can escape eternal damnation and judgment.
● Finally, we recognize the church as God's ordained institution headed by Christ. The church is composed of all believers, and is organized for teaching, worship, fellowship, for the administration of communion and baptism, for spiritual growth and support, and for evangelizing the world. True believers seek to be part of local church assemblies where the Word of God is taught
Paul was telling them that since everybody had been saved because of God’s grace and their faith, and nothing they did themselves that they must not be proud. They must not think that they are better than other people.
The standard by which they must judge themselves is the standard of faith. That faith means to trust in Christ. He lived and died for them. When they think about Christ’s action, they will be humble.
Romans 14:9-13 NLT Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer ? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord , ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God. ’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
Paul understood the challenge and prayed that God would enable the believers in Rome to have “the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had”
Romans 14:3 NIV 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 (emphasis mine).
The Christian is Christ’s servant. Only Christ, his master, can decide whether he is a loyal Christian.
Since everybody had been saved because of God’s grace and their faith, and nothing they did themselves that they must not be proud. They must not think that they are better than other people.
The standard by which they must judge themselves is the standard of faith. That faith means to trust in Christ. He lived and died for them. When they think about Christ’s action, they will be humble.
Romans 14:9-13 NLT Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer ? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord , ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God. ’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
Sometimes we make allowances for our differences but still view others with contempt. We tolerate others without truly accepting them. Such treatment is not true acceptance. Remember that Christ has not treated us this way. How should you treat those people with whom you differ? Accept one another as Christ has accepted you.
This should be our prayer.
Forgive us for our contempt of others and teach us to respect all members of the body of Christ, even those whom we don’t understand. Draw us ever closer to you, Lord.
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