Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Romans 14--Harmony of the Brethren

Romans 14 has a wonderful message promoting harmony of the brethren. Believers are told not to get up in another believer's face, wagging a finger at him for having a difference of opinion regarding certain conduct. For example, one believer may choose to eat meat sacrificed to idols and another may not. One may drink wine, but another may not. One may celebrate religious holidays; another may not.

Romans 14 instructs the believer not to impose restrictions on another believer in an area of conduct where Christ has given freedom. This type of criticism and pressure to conform to man-made (rather than God-made) restrictions is a form of legalism for which Jesus castigated the pharisees (strict religious leaders.)

With that said, however, the believer should be charitable enough to restrict his own conduct while in the presence of another believer who is offended by that conduct. For instance, a charitable believer may choose not to offer wine or drink wine where there are other believers who are offended by wine-drinking.

A believer should be sensitive to the appearance of impropriety and not give others an opportunity to slander his name. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Ro 14: 17.)"

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