When Christians Disagree (Part 3)

Paul was asked a question – “Is eating meat offered to idols contaminating?” And no one in the Roman church seemed to agree. Paul acknowledged this was not a black and white question with a simple answer and, instead, took the opportunity to instruct the Roman Christians that as they sorted through the question they needed to remember that their unity was more important than their differences on a grey area.

How can this be done? In Romans 14-15, he gives a series of considerations. And on the Wednesday feature of this blog, we will study these 13 considerations.  

CONSIDERATION #1 (posted on 4.18.22) – Remember the difference between opinion and absolutes. “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.” (14:1-2).

CONSIDERATION #2 – Remember to value those who differ from you. “Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.” (Rom 14:3)

When those opinions are formed, do not look down on the one who shares a different opinion from you. If someone chooses to not wear a mask because they believe the coronavirus stats are inflated or not accurate, don’t look down on them because you believe they are foolish. We must not treat others as inferior or unworthy of our affection.

Why? Paul says, “God has welcomed him.” God has saved those who don’t share our opinions. God has called that person a member of His family. You will spend eternity with that brother or sister. Who are we to condemn or despise those that Jesus died for – those that God has welcomed into His kingdom?

Let me give you an example from the life of Peter. Peter was wrongfully criticized for taking the Gospel to the Gentiles and eating with them in Acts 11, even though God had given Gentile Christians the same Holy Spirit that the Jews received on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Peter later cowered to the opinions of men and refused to fellowship with Gentile Christians in Antioch and Paul rebuked him for his despising of others who were not like him, who didn’t have the same cultural lineage – “¹¹ But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.¹² For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy” (Gal 2:11-13).

And Paul was right to rebuke Peter for that sinful decision to despise others. Peter pretended that fellowship was based on culture and race, and he was wrong. God has received the weak and the strong, and we should welcome both.

There is a lot of confidence right now in the minds of many of us about this whole pandemic. We are convinced in our own opinions about what is and isn’t fact. And, we could all use some humility in not forcing our opinions on others. The counsel of James in James 1:19 is a good place to start – “…let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” People who practice those words aren’t very opinionated; and, they tend to defer to the preferences of others.

Paul does not say, “Those of you who are strong, please try to convince the weak.” Paul does not say, “Tell the weak why they are wrong.” Paul does not say, “Show the weak the error of their ways.”

He simply says, “Do not despise them.” If someone’s conscience leads them another way, allow it with grace. We are to not judge the weak or the strong with sinful criticism.