Romans 14:1-3 “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.”
Here in this church in Rome they were disagreements over
the eating of meats, some weak in faith believed eating meats was wrong and the
stronger in faith believed that the old laws and customs were eliminated by our
salvation in Jesus Christ. Any time there is an assembly of people there will
be disputes and disagreements. We must always remember that we are people and
while we are all saved by Jesus Christ and all cleansed through His glorious
blood, we are still people with diverse ways and thinking. I suppose that throughout
history every church has had disagreements and disputes over church issues or doctrinal
meaning of the scriptures. God said of the church “For the body is not one
member, but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:14 We are not mind-numb robots that God
has saved and made us all the same, we all come from different backgrounds, we
were all raised with different beliefs, we all have different mindsets, and we
do not all always agree. The stronger members in the church are to help the weaker
members and even in life we should help the weaker Christians who are not as strong
as other might be. But the question is, who are the stronger members of the
church or of the Christian faith? Some will say those who know the most
scriptures, or those who have the higher education level and these are
generally smarter, some may say the Pastor because he is the leader in the
church. But all these are not exactly true, God can make a bush in a yard smarter
than we all, God makes the foolish things wiser than the wise. We must all be
reminded that whenever problems arise in churches or among Christians the
problem solvers are the most intelligent. Sometimes, most times, when disputes arise
it takes sacrifices to solve the issues. I am afraid that in today’s
churches we have forgotten how to solve the problems, and the reason we have is
because we are letting our head override our hearts. If one Christian disagrees
with another Christian, do we withdraw fellowship or solve the problem? Problems
are not always solved, if one believes in one thing and another thing, why is that
and whose fault is it, and who is right or wrong? Doesn’t the Holy Spirit teach
us, and does He teach us with the same doctrine and exactly the same understanding?
We cannot force someone to believe something just because we do, nor can we
reject them just because the Holy Spirit has not blessed them with the same
knowledge. Since when do “we break fellowship” with other believers instead of
loving them and praying that God will solve the issues. Who appointed us the
judge of other Christians, who left us in charge of “right and wrong,” who
among us is without sin or error, it certainly is not me! Again, I ask who are
the stronger Christians, it is those who solve problems instead of worsening
problems. It is those who sacrifice and stop eating meat to not offend those
who believe it’s wrong. Paul wrote in Romans 14:10, 12 “But why dost thou
judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ…So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God.” When we mishandle disagreements and disputing’s
we become the sinners and show no maturity as God commanded. It doesn’t matter
how smart you are in scripture that makes you strong, it’s the wisdom we have with
that knowledge that makes us strong. We need to remember that Jesus will judge
us all, and hurting other believers because we did not have enough wisdom will
only cost us in judgment. “Let us not therefore judge one another any more:
but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall
in his brother's way.” Rom. 14:13 Let us ask ourselves, how would Jesus manage
it, with a breaking of fellowship or with grace?
