Accepting Other Christians....

Romans 14:1-13

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 

 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants?

They are responsible to the Lord, so let Him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive His approval. 

In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 

Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor Him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 

For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.  

So why do you condemn your brother or your sister? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, 

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.’” 

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

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Notes on the Scripture

Christians sometimes pass judgment on other Christians; they may criticize others in their own church, or may condemn the practices of people who worship in a different denomination. Paul here states that criticizing other Christians because of such matters is completely unacceptable. Every person's relationship with God is a matter that exists only between that person and God.

Do we seek to put ourselves in God's place and make judgments for Him? Where Christ has forgiven sinners, who are we to judge their forgiveness? Many priests, ministers, pastors, and other church leaders, pass judgment on other denominations of Christianity, disputing their interpretation of the Bible. 

Sometimes this rises to the level of official policy of the denomination. When listening to the doctrine of your church or denomination, perhaps you may find it better not to criticize or question, or perhaps you may accept it. But, by all means, I would encourage you to meditate and pray on the Scripture quoted today, in seeking out your personal beliefs.

Before you go to Worship check your attitude towards others then go Worship with a clean heart!! 

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Let Us Pray.....

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live together in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen