Walking in Love

Romans 14:13-19

“Therefore, let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

What Paul was addressing, was their Vegan believers and every time someone was eating a Lambchop they got all upset!  Close, but no cigar, and yet it is not a bad analogy, in that the Jewish followers of Christ believed that eating meat sacrificed to idols was sinful and many of the Gentiles saw it as a source of cheap meat.  So we have the apostle Paul telling both groups to be mindful of their brothers in Christ, for the ones who say it is bad to stop passing judgment on the ones who were eating and to not treat them as less of a brother for doing so.  And then he shares the reason for this position; “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.”  In sales we had a saying “Perception” is 100% to the person who has that view.  But now he addresses the idol meat eaters, “For if your

brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.  By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Now listen, for this is the key to having unity and unity is the condition of being one, or of one mind.  If you are a follower of Christ, and go by the title of Christian and your desire is to live a life of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ponder on this verse: “Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” If you are serving Christ and not your comfort, your belief about should a person have a glass of wine, should a person wear a suit to church, should the choir sing only hymns?  Those perceptions will take a backseat to loving and caring for your brother and sister in Christ. 

We all come into the local church with our comfort zones, what we think is of importance, but when those frivolous items like wearing a suit to church, or I do not like any songs but hymns, and have the attitude if you do your wrong, and that list goes on and on.  Last week Jan and I attended an adult class where one of the members made light of anyone who was not a Republican, and he did not care that he might be hurting the feelings of another person.  That is “no longer walking in love” and has no place in the body of Christ followers.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice