Passing Judgement

Good Morning,

Romans 14:1-8 (NIV)
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

I must admit that I am much like many others in my judgement and even condemnation sometimes of those who believe somewhat differently than me. I guess we humans are just like that and it takes some work on our part to get away from what might be considered "normal" by many.

"Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." Paul is being very clear on this subject in what we read today. Simply put, we are NOT to be judgmental about how people worship and serve God.

What does it matter, in the grand scheme of things, if some people observe the Sabbath on Saturday and then others on Sunday? I mean, really! Or, as we hear in a popular TV commercial, "Come on!" So there are those who still want to observe old, Jewish food traditions that Peter was told no longer needed to be observed. Why in the world should that make any difference to me? As Paul writes here, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God." The important thing to consider, especially among ourselves and in concert with some denominational differences, is that what we do is done "to the Lord" and for the glory of God.

Yes, I'm guilty of saying, "How in the world can those folks over there worship that way?" I sometimes find it difficult to understand other congregations and all of the minute details they have to deal with. But, thank the Lord, God has spoken to me about these things in the past and I'm now able to put aside these feelings and thoughts now. When those times come to me I just stop and remember that there is only ONE Church, although there may be many "churches," and that the important thing is the fact that those other folks love the Lord just as I do and that unity in the Body of Christ is of tantamount importance.

As long time readers of these words I send along know, I am very passionate about the unity of God's Church and the fact that there is, truly, only one Church. So, today, when I read these verses from Romans, I was reminded that we haven't really spoken about it for a while. I guess today is the time that we mention it again.

We need to put aside our differences and do more to try to work out our differences with other congregations. We need to see ways that we can work together with Methodists, Catholics, Baptists, and all other believers in Jesus Christ to the greater good of God's One Church: The Church that Jesus established on this earth. We need to do as God tells us in these verses and "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters." We need to stop making our differences in "disputable matters" the issue among various congregations. We need to focus on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, dead, buried, and risen again for the salvation of ALL MANKIND!

My friends, we all love God. We all understand that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. We all believe in God's plan of salvation. Those are the things that are important. Those are the things that we ought to be using in our efforts...concerted efforts I might suggest...to get the work of God done in a more efficient manner.

I don't care where you attend your services. I love you. God loves you. We all ought to love one another and learn to work together for God's Kingdom.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David