Attitudes Towards Other Believers

“As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgement on him who eats; for God has welcomed him” (Romans 14:1-3).

This is a chapter about attitudes towards other believers. The basic premise is that a believer belongs to God and God receives him without looking down on him or condemning him and therefore we should also receive him in the same way. This is saying that there is something more important than “being right.” God allows us to think we are right; the next verse says, “Let everyone be fully convinced in his own mind.” He allows us to think differently, but He does not allow us to break fellowship because we think differently. Please read the rest of Romans 14.

You will notice that the “kingdom of God does not mean food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” God is more interested in the quality of our life than in the physical things we participate in. The first half of this chapter tells us not to dispute with one with whom we disagree. We are not to try to convince him that he is wrong and we are right. The second half of the chapter suggests that, without giving up our position, we do not participate in anything when that participation would cause a believer to stumble.

(Taken from Day & Night, 2005)

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