Romans 14:1-12 When Christians Disagree

My commentary entitled this chapter and the next, "When Christians Disagree", and it says "Disunity has always been a major problem with God's people ... almost every local church mentioned in the New Testament had divisions to contend with ... If each Christian had kept his convictions to himself, there would have been no problem, but they began to criticize and judge one another.  The one group was sure the other group was not at all spiritual."

One of the three important admonitions Paul gave his readers was to receive one another.  "Paul was addressing those who were strong in the faith, that is those who understood their spiritual liberty in Christ and were not enslaved to diets or holy days ... In the Roman assemblies ... the weak Christians were judging and condemning the strong Christians, and the strong Christians were despising the weak Christians."

Paul gave four reasons why all Christians should welcome or receive one another:

1)  God has received US -- "It is not our responsibility to decide the requirements for Christian fellowship in a church; only the Lord can do this.  To set up man-made restrictions on the basis of personal prejudices (or even convictions) is to go beyond the Word of God.  Because God has received us, we must receive one another.  We must not argue over these matters, nor must we judge or despise one another."

2)  God SUSTAINS us -- "The strong Christian was judged by the weak Christian, and this Paul condemned because it was wrong for the weak Christian to take the place of God in the life of the strong Christian.  God is the Master; the Christian is the servant.  It is wrong for anyone to interfere with this relationship ... Christians ought to be busy working for the Lord; then they will not have the time or inclination to judge or condemn other Christians."

3)  Jesus Christ is Lord -- "No Christian has the right to play God in another Christian's life.  We can pray, advise, and even admonish, but we cannot take the place of God ... If the Christian would go to the Lord in prayer instead of going to their brother with criticism, there would be stronger fellowship in our churches."

4)  Jesus Christ is Judge -- "Paul asked the weak Christian, 'Why are you judging your brother?' Then he asked the strong Christian, 'Why are you despising your brother?'  Both strong and weak must stand at the judgment seat of Christ, and they will not judge each other -- they will be judged by the Lord ... Instead of judging other Christians, we had better judge our own lives and make sure we are ready to meet Christ at the judgment seat ... When Jesus Christ is Lord, we permit Him to deal with His own servants as He wishes."

Father, thank You for this vivid reminder that I am being disobedient to You when I judge Your other servants -- my fellow Christians.  Help me not to disobey You ever in this way.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford