April 12, Romans 14
A leader must qualify what constitutes “the win” for a group working together. We want success and progress. But without a clear objective, the most enthusiastic team member may be working against the group’s goals.
In the body of Christ, the win is not getting your way or prevailing in some controversy. Differences of opinion are to be expected. We have varied backgrounds, unique personalities and different levels of spiritual maturity. All these factors color our perceptions and convictions. We should not be anxious when differences arise. We should know what to do (and not to do) when diversity disturbs the peace among believers. Internal conflict turns our focus inward and makes us forget the real mission of making disciples and seeking and saving the lost.
When Paul wrote Romans, the hot issues were diet and days. It’s easy to see why. Local churches across the Roman Empire were melting pots, where people from long-segregated cultures came together because of their mutual faith in Christ. Religious rules about dietary restrictions and holy days were deeply ingrained in these people, and they brought their cultural conditioning with them into the church. Dietary rules and holiday observances would be public enough issues to make the differences obvious. We do the same things, but many of us have been insulated in homogeneous culture for so long we think everyone is just like us.
The issues have changed through the centuries and around the world, but the principles for dealing with diversity remain the same. We are not in the body to quarrel about issues or to judge those with a different opinion. Although we enjoy great freedom in Christ, we are never free to do as we please without regard for others. My liberty is no license to pressure you to violate your conscience.
Paul reminded us we are all God’s servants, and the master is the one who will judge his servants. He doesn’t need our help to adjudicate our fellow servants. Paul knew people on both sides of a dispute may be sincere in their attempt to honor God by their actions. He insisted that we replace our tendency to police others with policing ourselves so we do not cause others to stumble.
Love should characterize all we do. It’s unloving to show callous disregard for the consciences of our brothers and sisters. When we pursue peace instead of division, and build people up instead of tearing them down, we’ll be more on task. Our kingdom agenda is righteousness, joy and peace— not dietary or calendar rules made into tests of orthodoxy. The win is loving one another, not controlling one another. The win is living with joy in the kingdom of God, not fighting over preference or tradition. Whose kingdom is it, anyway?
Much shameful division in the body of Christ has come from confusion about what constitutes the win. Ugly sectarianism could be avoided and healed if we would practice what Paul preached.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—April 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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