“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” Roman 14:1-4
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” Romans 14:12-13
“Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Romans 14:16-19
“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” Romans 14:22
In the United States alone there are over 600 different church denominations and this number sky rockets if you include all the different sects and groups around the world, who call themselves Christian organizations. Each one has been established to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a great thing! But each denomination also has doctrines of man that they expect their members to abide by and each one claims to have “the truth” in regards to how a Christian should live. Some say a woman shouldn’t speak in a public assembly and another says you have to go to church on a certain day. One says you can’t dance and another says you have can’t eat meat. One says you have to be submerged in water when baptized and another says you have to pray a certain prayer in order to receive Christ.
Paul gives clear instruction in this passage that this kind of teaching only brings division to the body of Christ and causes people to stumble in their faith. If this is the case then why is this kind of teaching still taking place today? And why are so many Christians attacking other Christians who adhere to different doctrinal beliefs? Is there any way to bring unity to the body of Christ that will destroy this kind of infighting among the church of Jesus Christ? These passages I have quoted answer all these questions and my prayer is that as you meditate on them you will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit so you can walk in the wisdom of the Lord.
There is only one true doctrine and that is Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross period! Nothing more and nothing less! Everything else that we choose to adhere to in our own personal walk should be kept between us and God and not imposed on each other. If you don’t want to eat meat, come to my house and I will fix you the most amazing tofu dish you have ever eaten. I won’t throw a pork chop on your plate and then have a debate with you about it. If you don’t want to cut your hair I won’t keep telling you how great you would look with a short hairstyle. If you want to dance I won’t tie your feet to the floor at a wedding and tell you all the reasons why dancing is wrong. In doing this I am fulfilling Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”
This is what we have to do if we are going to further the unblemished Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word unblemished means not tarnished in any way. Synonyms of unblemished are spotless, immaculate, impeccable, perfect, pure, and unsullied. Jesus Christ is the only one who is unblemished! If we are going to be able to fulfill Paul’s instruction we have to remind ourselves of this truth and refer to 1 Peter 1;18-19 when we are in doubt. It says, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
My prayer for you today is that the Holy Spirit will grant you wisdom and understanding if you have judged another believer in how they walk out their relationship with God. Or if you have condemned yourself for the things which you have adhered to and then changed your mind over the years is Romans 1:14, “Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” I want to encourage you to spend time in the Word and in prayer so that the Spirit of God can speak to you in regards to Paul’s instruction in Roman 14. As you believe by faith in the Holy Spirits ability to teach you all things, you will grow in wisdom and understanding.
Prayer: I believe by faith that Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross is the true doctrine for salvation. Cleanse me of any limiting or false beliefs that I have adopted in regards to how one must live as a Christian. Let me not judge my brothers and sisters in Christ who believe differently about things that have nothing to do with Salvation. But instead let me love them with the love of Christ in me and only focus on things that make for peace and things that will edify them. I praise you for granting me wisdom and understanding by the power of the Spirit which you have given me to teach me all things. Amen.
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