It Is important to remember that every church contains a diverse mixture of people. For example, there are believers of mature faith in Christ and believers who are new in serving the Lord. These differing levels of spiritual maturity can be a factor that challenges harmony and unity. Yet nothing will build harmony and unity better than love.

Question: “What do you think Paul meant in referring to disputable matters or Opinions in Romans 14:1?"

This phrase might be literally translated “judgment of thoughts", Warning Christians against imposing their convictions on others. Instead, believers must lovingly strive to relate well with others rather than passing judgment on them.

Paul recognized that some Christians still struggled with matters of legalism in following the Law. These were described as Weak in faith, a term that should not be seen as an insult but as an indication that they were new to the faith or it needed growth (verse 2).

Such people may have struggled with justification by faith and attached significance to matters that did not impact their salvation. In this instance, they struggled with eating certain kinds of foods. Paul noted that the situation posed two major dangers.

One: a group of Christians might grow impatient with those who set limitations to what should and an should not be done. The other group could become judgmental of those who did not share their convictions. Either way, unity and harmony would be disrupted in the church. Paul was careful to urge believers to accept one another in spite of their differences, avoiding problems of disunity (verses 3-4).

Question: “According to Paul, what does love dictate that we do with regard to differing views between believers?”

Note how Paul dealt with the issue. He did not put the strong Christians in bondage to the convictions of the weak, nor did he undermine the scruples of the weak. Instead, he called on all to establish attitudes that would allow them to live in harmony. This would be accomplished by practicing ‘ ChrIstIan love '

Question: “How should Christians address disagreements over disputable matters today?”

Paul gave us good instruction in verses 6-8, as he noted that there were other disputable matters (verses 6-8). We must keep in mind that every Christian is ultimately a servant of Christ. He or she is accountable to God for matters of conscience. Instead of the strong despising the weak and the weak condemning the strong and hurting one another in the process, we must examine our own hearts and look to the Lord. We are not our own, for we belong to the Lord. Since our lives and even our deaths find meaning in Him we are wise to keep eternity in view. Then, disputes such as these will fade.

(B) Love Avoids Passing Judgment (Romans 14: 9-12)

Paul emphasized that there is good reason to avoid passing judgment on fellow Christians: God's judgment (Romans 14:9-10). Christ observes all that we do and will hold us accountable for our actions. The issues Paul addressed were not moral issues but matters of personal conscience. Christians are accountable to God for their actions and attitudes, and God desires His people to live in unity with fellow believers who share different opinions on these nonessentials. Christian love should deter us from passing judgment upon others.

In verses 11-12, Paul quoted Isaiah 45:23 in reminding us that everyone will eventually bow before the Lord to give account of their lives. This is a sobering reality. Having judged others in this life, the judgmental Christian will one day stand before God in judgment. it is better to have lovingly refrained from judgment in this life than face the prospect of His judgment on that day.

Seek Peace, Not Conflict

(A) Love Seeks Agreement (Romans 14:13-18)

It has been said that the weak in faith live by conscience, the strong in faith live by knowledge (or understanding), but the most mature in faith live by love. Even though Paul confronted the problem of those with weak consciences for passing judgment, he placed the greater responsibility for establishing healthy relationships on the strong. Christ like love seeks to establish unity in the church and among all believers.

Question: “In what way were the stronger in faith to build healthy relationships?”

Paul called on them to set aside all temptation to judge fellow Christians. In this way they would avoid hurting them (Romans 14:13). In Paul's example, that would include setting aside personal rights and refraining from activities that would cause fellow believers to stumble.

Paul was extremely concerned with the proper use of Christian liberty. Just because an activity is entirely lawful as Christians have been delivered from the Law, doesn't mean a Christian has a right to take part in it. On this point Paul made two arguments (verses 14:6). First, if a person regards something as wrong, then to that person it is wrong. The issue of liberty is no longer relevant in determining whether or not he or she can partake; to do so would be wrong.

Paul's second point was that believer must be willing to sacrifice personal liberty for a fellow Christian. A believer's liberty is laid aside for the sake of the weaker Christian's conscience. This stronger Christian should feel compelled by love to ensure that the weaker is not tempted to do wrong based on what they observe in the stronger. At its foundation, Christian love puts the interests of another ahead of the interests of self.

God's kingdom involves matters far greater than these unnecessary differences (verses 17-48). We should strive to uphold matters that foster harmony, not division, within the body of Christ. ‘

(B) Love Does Not Condemn (Romans 14:19-23)

Christian liberty is important, and it is to be valued. However, liberty carries distinct responsibilities that are rooted in the command to love. Love should compel us to edify one another, building each other up each others faith.

In contrast to the wrong exercise of liberty, Paul explained how liberty was to be used in the right way (verse 21). Christians act properly when they choose to build each other up rather than harm each other. In essence, Paul was exhorting Christians to avoid acting in a way that would undermine the God, whether in a church or in the lives of individuals within that church, over non-essential matters.

Believers can cause problems when they use liberty in a way that causes harm to a fellow Christian’s walk with God. In every decision, it is God's instructions that count not our opinions or the opinions of others.

Paul told Christians to conform their Convictions and actions to God's instructions laid cut in His Word (Verses 22-23). Any action not done in faith is sin (verse 22 KJV). The faith in view in this verse speaks to the firm conviction that an activity (in this case eating meat) aligns with God's Will.

Paul indicated that outright disregard of God's clear instructions is not the only sin, however if we have concerns that our actions are contrary to God's will, we should abstain, for by acting against our conscience we would be sinning. In the same way, then, we are to respect the consciences of others, for they, too, are called to abide by their convictions, even if we disagree with them.

In conclusion

Take some time to examine the most important relationships in your life, your family, your fellow Christians at church, and your coworkers in the workplace, for example. Think about how well you demonstrate God's love in each of these relationships.

There are a number of ways we can become divided or alienated from one father. Disagreements and other issues can subtly undermine our relatioships with others and violate God‘s command to love. Think about how you can put Christ's love into practice in all of your relationships.

^cheers!