A Word from Romans 14

Do you have any brothers and sisters in Christ with whom you disagree?

Naturally, that’s kind of a silly question. Because if you’ve spent any time around at all us brothers and sisters in Christ, you know that we disagree about a lot! We’ve got different opinions about doctrine and how to interpret the Bible. We are argue about lifestyle choices and political positions. And while I’d be the first to say that issues like that matter, today’s word from Romans 14 reminds us that we shouldn’t let disagreements about lesser things to get in the way of our commitment to the main thing.

“Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do,’ Paul says. “And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems like they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. So treat them gently.” (14:1, The Message)

Paul then goes on to name some particular issues that his brothers and sisters in Christ disagreed about—things like what you should eat or drink, and which days should be considered holy. And while the issues we disagree about might be different, I think Paul’s advice is still on point: “None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters,” Paul says. “It’s God we answer to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other…So tend to your knitting,’ Paul concludes. “You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.” (14:7-9 and 12, The Message)

So today, let’s bless our brothers and sisters in Christ—especially the ones we disagree with. And let’s make sure that our own lives are filled with love for God and love for others – and that we’re doing for others what we’d want them to do for us. Amen.