The Gospel Expressed Week 21 Welcome Others

WORD

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ROM 15:1-2, 7

Paul, speaking to the Roman believers, explained that those who were “strong” (or more open-minded) must bear with the weak (those who were more bound by the law) when it came to convictions and beliefs. While there are some things that the Bible definitely calls sin, there are many observances and rituals that developed in our search for God. Not everyone follows these same principles. In Paul’s time, the Jewish and Gentile believers would not mingle for this reason. Paul wrote to address this. By welcoming one another’s convictions and opinions, we build each other up. How can we be welcoming to others, even with our differences?

Photo by fauxels from Pexels

1 Be considerate of others’ convictions.

1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Behold, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened the weak hands. JOB 4:3

Behold, you have instructed many—Who multiplied words; you admonished them and instructed them.

And . . . weak hands—Of those who feared the retribution that came upon them. You used to strengthen them and say, “Fear not, for that is the divine standard of justice.”

2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. ROM 14:1-2

29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. GEN 1:29-30

Photo by Elina Sazonova from Pexels

Sanhedrin 59b:13

Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Meat was not permitted to Adam, the first man, for consumption, as it is written: “And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant that brings forth seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree that gives forth seed in its fruit; for you it shall be for food, and for every animal of the earth, and for every bird of the heavens and for everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, every green plant for food.’ And it was so” (Gen 1:29-30). It is derived God told Adam: Eating vegetation is permitted to people and beast, but eating the beast of the earth is not permitted to you.

Paul spoke clearly about the differing beliefs that people held in that day. Some respected certain days as holy, while others didn’t. Some ate meat and others didn’t. But Paul reminded the church not to quarrel over opinions. It’s the same today; people’s convictions differ. But one individual’s conviction doesn’t have to be another’s. In fact, Paul warns that we may be causing those in our church community to stumble by making them violate their own convictions (Rom 14:21). However, we are also told to speak the truth in love to each other, to help one another become more Christlike (Eph 4:15). Sometimes an action is a personal conviction; other times it is something the Bible calls sin. How should we respond to either?

Photo by Jonathan Borba from Pexels

It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. ROM 14:21

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ . . . EPH 4:15

2 Do not be judgmental.

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. ROM 14:4

Paul reminded the church in Rome that the only true judge is God and we will all stand before the judgment seat of God (Rom 14:10). Each person’s convictions are between oneself and God (Rom 14:22). If for them that conviction, action, or decision is holy, then it is holy to God. On the other hand, if a person believes that a certain action is sinful, and they still do it, then they have betrayed their convictions and in their hearts, sinned against God. Only God knows our true motives and so only he is fit to judge. How have you grown in the skill of welcoming the differing opinions of others? What do you do when you find yourself being critical of others? What does Pro 16:2 say about our actions?

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit. PRO 16:2

But the Lord weighs the spirit—And weighs the hearts; who is the good one, and who is the bad one.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God . . .

For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. ECC 12:14

Chagigah 5a:12

The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the end of that verse: “Whether good or evil” (Ecc 12:14)? This verse indicates that God judges man harshly even for the good deeds he performs. The Sages from the school of Rabbi Yannai say: This verse is referring to one who gives charity to a poor person in public. Although he performed a good deed, he embarrassed the pauper, as in this case of Rabbi Yannai, who saw a certain man who was giving a dinar to a poor person in public. He said to him: It would have been better had you not given it to him than what you did, as now you gave it to him and embarrassed him.

22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. ROM 14:10, 22