The matter of the church is a great thing. Many desirous<=
/span>
Christians have sought to practice it.&nbs=
p;
However, many of them did not pay adequate attention to the practical
guidelines laid out in scripture. Consequently, they ended up forming groups
and movements that were not expressions of the universal
Romans 14:1--One of these guidelines calls for the believers to receive=
one
another. That includes receiv=
ing
those who are “weak in faith.”=
This does not refer to being weak in believing in the Lord. Being “weak” means hav=
ing sensitivity
toward certain things like diet and special days and by extension, many oth=
er
things not considered central to the Christian faith. The “strong” refers to=
those
who live in a greater spiritual freedom, only controlled by the central ten=
ets
of the Christian faith.
Our receiving should not be “for the purpose of passing judgment =
on
his considerations.” Th=
at is,
we do not receive other believers with a hope to confront them concerning t=
heir
views or to straighten them out.
This only hardens “those who are weak in faith” and makes
them obstinate. That kind of
“receiving” can actually foster division. Biblical receiving, however, promo=
tes
oneness among the believers.
Romans 14:3--The problems most likely to surface in the church life are
judgments and despising. The =
strong
typically despise the sensitivities of the weak. The weak typically condemn the fre=
edoms
of the strong.
Romans 14:3-4; 15:7—The most fundamental reason for receiving the
other believers is that God and Christ has received them. When we are tempted to reject anyo=
ne
based upon dissimilar views, we should ask ourselves “Who am I?”
just as Romans asks us, “Who are you?” Christians that judge other Christ=
ians
are assuming the place of the master.
Romans 14:5-8—These verses are full of personal judgments, heartf=
elt
persuasion, and living before the Lord.&nb=
sp;
We should honor these things in one another, as they refer to issues=
of
conscience and fellowship with God.
Things that we are commanded not to receive—heresy (2 John 7, 10),
immorality (1 Cor. 5:1, 6-7), Division (Rom. 16=
:17).