Paul’s discussion of our response to grace now takes a different path, for Paul is discussing different opinions among believers. He begins in 14:1-3. Verse 1 sets the tone for this discussion: Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. It could be that for many Christians, the concept of “disputable matters” is a little bit of a shock; yes, there are matters over which we can each have our own opinions!
Paul uses eating habits as an example; specifically over whether or not a person should eat meat, something that many discuss in our times. Who cares if someone else has a different opinion on eating meat? If you eat meat, good for you; if you don’t, good for you; there is nothing to fight about. Neither party is superior to the other, no matter what anybody says.
In verses 4-9, he raises the discussion up a notch: Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand (14:4). There is neither a brother nor sister in Christ anywhere on earth who is my servant; they are all servants of Jesus Christ just like I am, so how can I expect to be their judge? Our Lord will do the judging, and I must accept all of His servants, for if He has accepted them, and I must accept them in love.
Verses 10-12 bring this point all the way home:
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I think that I have enough to worry about without compounding matters by trying to place myself above anyone else.
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Surviving or thriving …?
“Paul’s discussion of our response to grace now takes a different path, for Paul is discussing different opinions among believers.”
Todays’ reality for all of us: different opinions among believers.
And the simple answer giving simply … ?
Let’s not just survive – let’s THRIVE!! 🙂
Moral observations, holding folks to Biblical standards, is valid – not above others. All have sinned and fallen short, but accountable to God, while saved by grace!
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Good post. How do you actually define “judging others” though? What do I do about God’s moral standards? Please respond if you have time, or perhaps you have already addressed this in an earlier post?
By judging others I mean to bring condemnation or retribution upon someone, just as Paul has said. To do so would place me firmly in violation of God’s moral standards.
You mean like, “Love the sinner, hate the sin”?
Yep, kind of like that. 🙂
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