The Weak-Strong Brother. Or Sister...

 

Person A: "Bro, you can't eat meat sacrificed to idols. If you keep doing this then I cannot in good conscience be around you."

Person B: "Sure, I can. I have freedom in Christ. Idols aren't real. Check your facts, dude."

Blah, blah, blah. Bitterness. Fight. Threatens unity within the church. Paul writes Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 10 as a response to these types of debates.

Paul to person A: So, this “not eating food sacrificed to idols” thing is more important to you than fellowship with a brother in Christ? In your quest to be 'pure' you're willing to pass judgment on your brother?

Paul to person B: So, this “freedom to eat what you want” thing is more important to you than fellowship with a brother in Christ? In your quest to be 'free' you're willing to bring grief to your brother?

You realize, don't you, that if I am still obsessed with food-sacrificed-to-idols (or whatever the issue of the day) then I'm going to use Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 10 as a whip against my brother.

If I'm a freedom guy then I'll use it to whip out his being judgmental.

If I'm a purity guy then I'll use it to force my brother into obeying MY conscience instead of his own.

But this Scripture isn't a whip…it's a mirror. The point here is

not about food

not about wearing jewelry

not about masks

not about mandatory-vaccination

not about… whatever the dividing line is for us today.

It’s about the kingdom of God. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17

A few general principles I’m trying to apply in my own life:

- Don’t go against my conscience. But also, don’t make my conscience the guide for another believer.

- The greatest force in these texts is “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” Therefore, I must always be asking how am I best to love my neighbor in this disagreement/dividing point?

- The issue is usually not the issue but how we go about solving that issue together in righteousness, peace, and joy.

- Christlike character and His kingdom is what matters. 

This will lead to righteousness, peace, and joy. Is my life marked by these things? Am I about His kingdom? Or just about my understanding, my point, my rights, my protection, me, me, me ?...