Accept
the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 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. (Romans
14:1-4)
Disputable matters…gray areas…some people seem to think that everything is a disputable matter and that there is nothing either black or white. Back in Paul’s days, celebrations often involved sacrificing to some deity (including God,) after which the people feasted on what had been sacrificed. Some people thought that doing this meant they were worshipping evil gods. There’s an interesting parallel today. Some people believe that supplying cakes, flowers, photographs, or venues for a celebration of the “marriage” of two homosexuals is wrong because it expresses approval of something Scripture clearly states is sinful. Some people don’t see things this way.
I am of the former group, but when I was selling jewelry, I sold wedding bands to homosexuals. They were not buying rings that I had designed or made. They were not buying rings from me. They were buying them from the store for whom I worked. What’s more, anyone can buy a stock wedding band without having any intention of getting married. One of my customers bought them regularly. Had they asked me to design special rings for their ceremony that they could then say, “I got this at the Keil Jewelry Emporium,” it would be a different matter.
As in the days of imperial Rome, when those who refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods could face execution or used for bait in a colosseum, those who refuse to do what they consider participation in homosexual celebrations are subject to attack, and slandered in society. But it is not that sort of attack that Paul discusses in today’s passage. His issue is with the Christian who says “no” and the Christian who says “Yes,” or “why not?” and how they treat one another.
Here is where I’m going to get into trouble because to some, my argument for my side is too hard. It’s not “Here’s how I feel.” It’s closer to “Here’s what I think, here’s why I think it, and here’s why I think it’s right. Now prove me wrong.” I don’t take “feelings” as sufficient reason to change what I believe. I admit, I get zealous. But, you’ll notice that Paul never says that we are to give in and give the other perspective their way. He only says that we’re not to hold those who have the other perspective in contempt.
What you decide with regard to this, or other disputable or “gray” areas, is between you and God until or unless you decide to make it my business by raising the subject with me. At that point, I have a right to express my beliefs – strongly if I so choose. If I bring the subject up, you have every right to not respond or to respond as you see fit.
Disputable matters…gray areas…some people seem to think that everything is a disputable matter and that there is nothing either black or white. Back in Paul’s days, celebrations often involved sacrificing to some deity (including God,) after which the people feasted on what had been sacrificed. Some people thought that doing this meant they were worshipping evil gods. There’s an interesting parallel today. Some people believe that supplying cakes, flowers, photographs, or venues for a celebration of the “marriage” of two homosexuals is wrong because it expresses approval of something Scripture clearly states is sinful. Some people don’t see things this way.
I am of the former group, but when I was selling jewelry, I sold wedding bands to homosexuals. They were not buying rings that I had designed or made. They were not buying rings from me. They were buying them from the store for whom I worked. What’s more, anyone can buy a stock wedding band without having any intention of getting married. One of my customers bought them regularly. Had they asked me to design special rings for their ceremony that they could then say, “I got this at the Keil Jewelry Emporium,” it would be a different matter.
As in the days of imperial Rome, when those who refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods could face execution or used for bait in a colosseum, those who refuse to do what they consider participation in homosexual celebrations are subject to attack, and slandered in society. But it is not that sort of attack that Paul discusses in today’s passage. His issue is with the Christian who says “no” and the Christian who says “Yes,” or “why not?” and how they treat one another.
Here is where I’m going to get into trouble because to some, my argument for my side is too hard. It’s not “Here’s how I feel.” It’s closer to “Here’s what I think, here’s why I think it, and here’s why I think it’s right. Now prove me wrong.” I don’t take “feelings” as sufficient reason to change what I believe. I admit, I get zealous. But, you’ll notice that Paul never says that we are to give in and give the other perspective their way. He only says that we’re not to hold those who have the other perspective in contempt.
What you decide with regard to this, or other disputable or “gray” areas, is between you and God until or unless you decide to make it my business by raising the subject with me. At that point, I have a right to express my beliefs – strongly if I so choose. If I bring the subject up, you have every right to not respond or to respond as you see fit.
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