JUST A BLOG

Touching lives with the truth of God's Word.

My Photo
Name:
Location: Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Sunday, November 05, 2006

IN NONESSENTIALS! "LIBERTY"

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. ROMANS 14:1
We learn from this verse that, we are to receive the weaker brother in a cordial and gracious way, not with a spirit of critical analysis or an attitude of superiority. Paul says we are not to quarrel about issues that are matters of opinion. Differences in nonessentials should not be feared or avoided, but accepted and handled with love.
May I say, there are many questionable areas in the Christian life (gray areas) where there is no specific command from God's Word to guide us. For example; A believer may choose to be a vegetarian because he or she is of the opinion that red meat could harm the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Another believer may not share this view, believing the protein from red meat, within moderation, is necessary to maintain sound physical health, which would also glorify God. Again one believer might abstain from drinking alcohol, and another see nothing wrong with drinking in moderation. Who's right? Grace says there is liberty to do either!
Child of God, if you were to ask six believers to list 10 things they deem to be unacceptable Christian conduct, not directly addressed in God's Word, I believe you will find each list would differ dramatically. What one believer would find acceptable another would find unacceptable, which is fine, as long as they don't impose their convictions on another brother or sister in Christ. The text teaches; we are to respect one another's convictions even though they may not be the same as our own.
Sadly, many believers establish unspoken rules to measure whether or not others are spiritual. But spirituality is not trying to conform to someone's list of do's and don'ts. This is nothing more than a form of legalism! The spiritually-minded person is a person who desires for his or her life to be conformed to the image of Christ by the inward working of the Holy Spirit. When we are walking in the fullness of the Spirit our attitudes and responses will always be in line with the Word of God. We will consistently esteem others better than ourselves. We will value our freedom in Christ, yet be very careful never to misuse it. You think about that.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home