Let's open the Word by the Spirit and refresh our minds with the Mind of Christ here. Let's read the whole chapter:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+14&version=NKJV
Take your time with it. I'll be here waiting....
OK you've read through the chapter?
Great! Let's continue.
Verse 13 is very key when dealing with outward appearances and surface matters (non-salvation issues). V17 is also very crucial. Paul teaches us how to handle the surface stuff that Christians always seem to disagree on: Food, drink, holy days, circumcision, and more recently, masks and cleaning supplies etc etc. Your personal faith on these outward matters is good! But what is NOT good is using it to condemn or trip up fellow saints. I can tell you that it displeases the Heavenly Father to see His children taking hurtful jabs at each other and calling each others' faith into question. That is terrible, and it breaks my heart. It doesn't matter what "side" you take. Both "sides" have merit. In this coronavirus situation, I know people with weak immune systems that need to wear a mask. So wear it. Have your faith before God (v22).
I also know people who have special health conditions that prevent them from wearing the mask or suffer anxiety from it. Or they simply believe God will keep His word (Mark 16:18) and see God as their protection in the midst of working their essential services job. But they take still take other health precautions like others do. So those people don't wear a mask. Have your faith before God. (v22) Just don't use your personal convictions (whatever they may be) as a clubbing weapon against other dear sisters and brothers in Christ. Respect differences using the Love of Christ.
SO what does matter is acting in love and respecting our brothers and sisters in Christ. They don't have to agree with you on every issue. We only need to agree on Christ and on the key doctrines of salvation such as John 14:6. So out of mutual love and respect, we must sometimes graciously agree to disagree and move on.
The common misconception I sometimes observe with us Christians is that we all have to agree on the surface issues. No we just need to agree to love and respect each other as Jesus commanded us. :) Love meaning we care for and have godly affection for each other (agape), and respect meaning we recognize each other's inherent worth in Christ. Christ paid His pure sinless priceless BLOOD for you and for your brother and sister in Christ. That automatically means that YOU, and your siblings are of worth. Respect means we treat each other as someone of worth, and that we don't allow the temporary issues of the day (such as masks) to cause us to loose sight of this.
Just let the Word minister life to you and to your Christian siblings. We can all agree as Christians on this:
I also know people who have special health conditions that prevent them from wearing the mask or suffer anxiety from it. Or they simply believe God will keep His word (Mark 16:18) and see God as their protection in the midst of working their essential services job. But they take still take other health precautions like others do. So those people don't wear a mask. Have your faith before God. (v22) Just don't use your personal convictions (whatever they may be) as a clubbing weapon against other dear sisters and brothers in Christ. Respect differences using the Love of Christ.
SO what does matter is acting in love and respecting our brothers and sisters in Christ. They don't have to agree with you on every issue. We only need to agree on Christ and on the key doctrines of salvation such as John 14:6. So out of mutual love and respect, we must sometimes graciously agree to disagree and move on.
The common misconception I sometimes observe with us Christians is that we all have to agree on the surface issues. No we just need to agree to love and respect each other as Jesus commanded us. :) Love meaning we care for and have godly affection for each other (agape), and respect meaning we recognize each other's inherent worth in Christ. Christ paid His pure sinless priceless BLOOD for you and for your brother and sister in Christ. That automatically means that YOU, and your siblings are of worth. Respect means we treat each other as someone of worth, and that we don't allow the temporary issues of the day (such as masks) to cause us to loose sight of this.
Just let the Word minister life to you and to your Christian siblings. We can all agree as Christians on this:
Rom. 14:13 NKJV 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.
In other words, do you have a brother that believes Jesus' promise of divine protection (Mark 16:18)? Great! let him believe!! Coercing him to wear a mask against his faith is sin. (v23). But if a Christian's faith DOES include wearing a mask, then for them specifically, taking it off is also sin. Whatever is not of faith is sin. So you can see the issue for God is that we need to respect each other, especially online. And don't let the minor issue take the place of the main eternal focus. Why? Because....
In other words, do you have a brother that believes Jesus' promise of divine protection (Mark 16:18)? Great! let him believe!! Coercing him to wear a mask against his faith is sin. (v23). But if a Christian's faith DOES include wearing a mask, then for them specifically, taking it off is also sin. Whatever is not of faith is sin. So you can see the issue for God is that we need to respect each other, especially online. And don't let the minor issue take the place of the main eternal focus. Why? Because....
Romans 14:16-18
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Nothing in my own personal convictions is more important than my brother's faith in Christ. Nothing in his personal convictions is more important than my faith in Christ. Christ is the One Door to Heaven (John 10:9). On this we can all agree, and by abiding in His love, we can love one another.
Rom. 14:21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Nothing in my own personal convictions is more important than my brother's faith in Christ. Nothing in his personal convictions is more important than my faith in Christ. Christ is the One Door to Heaven (John 10:9). On this we can all agree, and by abiding in His love, we can love one another.
Rom. 14:21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak
John 15:9-12 NKJV
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Another word for respect is "honour". We need to honour all people, including those we disagree with in the Christian community! This is because God bestows WORTH on every human being. He sent His Son to die for them. Even if they do NOT yet believe Him, they still have worth to God. This is important for us to remember.
SO what does this honour/respect and love look like? Well, sometimes out of love and respect, we choose not to bring certain topics up if we know it will cause unnecessary contentions. We choose to bypass certain comments and instead, choose to EDIFY them with good encouragement. People matter to God. So here is a key passage on honour... a word that also refers to respect in its definition.
1 Peter 2:17 NKJV Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
I myself am still learning and growing in this as the Holy Spirit has to keep me on track! I hope that you will join me in this lifetime journey of learning and growing in Christ's love and respect/honour.
God bless you!
Pastor Curtis
Mon May 18 2020 1:16am EST
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Another word for respect is "honour". We need to honour all people, including those we disagree with in the Christian community! This is because God bestows WORTH on every human being. He sent His Son to die for them. Even if they do NOT yet believe Him, they still have worth to God. This is important for us to remember.
SO what does this honour/respect and love look like? Well, sometimes out of love and respect, we choose not to bring certain topics up if we know it will cause unnecessary contentions. We choose to bypass certain comments and instead, choose to EDIFY them with good encouragement. People matter to God. So here is a key passage on honour... a word that also refers to respect in its definition.
1 Peter 2:17 NKJV Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
I myself am still learning and growing in this as the Holy Spirit has to keep me on track! I hope that you will join me in this lifetime journey of learning and growing in Christ's love and respect/honour.
God bless you!
Pastor Curtis
Mon May 18 2020 1:16am EST
