I couldn’t have said it better…

Culled from vee

This post is based on Romans 14 which I’m finding pretty practical when it comes to how I relate to the Christian world and the non- Christian world. In particular over certain issues such as should women be pastors, or should women dress in a particular manner, or over the importance of certain days… you know, the stuff we Christians love debating about (and in some occasions, lording it over others that we are more in line with God because we observe a, b, c, d whereas you don’t!) Obviously Paul is speaking about contentious issues in the roman church at that time (clean and unclean foods and the observance of the Sabbath). I’ve highlighted the verses that are particularly poignant.

The Law of Liberty

1 Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat; and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to criticize another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And stand he will! For the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person considers one day to be above another day.
Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully
convinced in his own mind. 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it to the
Lord. Whoever eats, eats to the Lord, since he gives thanks to God;
and whoever does not eat, it is to the Lord that he does not eat, yet he
thanks God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.
Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died
and came to life for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the
living. 10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why
do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat
of God. 11 For it is written:
As I live,
says the Lord,
every knee will bow to Me,
and every tongue will give praise to God.

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

The Law of Love
13 Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another, but instead decide not to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. 14 (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. 15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. By what you eat, do not destroy that one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore, do not
let your good be slandered, 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and
drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18
Whoever serves the Messiah in this way is acceptable to God and approved
by men.
19 So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. 21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. 22 Do you have faith? Keep it to yourself before God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.

What I love about Paul’s writing here is that it’s clear that his focus is on love and wisdom and building each other up, and not having somewhat useless debates about what we should and should not do. Especially v22 which is such a humbling verse because it speaks about keep your contentious beliefs to yourself and not making the whole world feel judged because what you believe contradicts with what another Christian believes. As a result I’m re-evaluating what I post on my blog. For me Christianity is all about love. I want others especially those who do not know HIM, to feel HIS love when they come to lil-bit-of-heaven and not the constant stream of judgement that makes one feel as if they don’t measure up to what He wants us to be. I’m also therefore going to be careful about what I endorse on other blogs and what discussions I get into because really, most of them are not necessary! What gets me though, is that quite a number of Christians I know don’t get this, they don’t know its about love, and as a result have entangled themselves into all these rules and laws in an attempt to “follow His word” which have led them to become quite myopic and judgemental which makes hanging around them a bit difficult for those who might want to get to know the God they serve, hence my last post! But then I’m reminded of Romans 14 v 13 and I realise I’m now guilty of criticising my brother and not operating in love so I decide to shut up!