Page 5 - Demo

They're not arguing about the divinity of Christ like they were in Colosse. They're not talking about the sufficiency of atonement. They're not arguing about the authority of apostles like they were in Galatia. They're not arguing about the role of baptism. They're not talking about the abuses or neglect of the Lord's Supper like in Corinth. There is just tension over different ideas that different cultures have.The following shows how trivial some of these ideas were. \without passing judgment on disputable matters. a. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, forGod has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. b. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanksto God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.\Do you see the two issues they're disagreeing about?a. Should we eat meat? Apparently, the context indicates the meat might have been sacrificed to idols. Should we just not touch any meat then and go ahead and eat vegetables?b.Canwe observe certain days as special days that we just want to celebrate as holidays as holy days? They argue and tension builds over, \can eat that.\The issues are not very important. What is important is the unity that Jesus prayed for could be destroyed by the Roman Christians if they don't learn to live together in peace. So after they understand the problem Paul gives them the principles to live by. These are the same principles he wants us to live by. %up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.\\ us therefore make every effort\what leads to peace and to mutual edification.\That's easier said than done because the devil is going to keep things stirred up. He'll use weapons like competition, jealousy, suspicion, and distrust. He's going to make it awfully difficult, not just for the church in Rome, but for any church to keep from judging one another and sniping at one another. How on earth are we going to live by those principles? How are we going to quit casting judgments on one another about petty things, about things going beyond the Word of God, simply my opinion verses your opinion? How on earth are we going to make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification?