Exploring Christ's Spiritual Laws
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Rom 12:16a . . Live in harmony with each other.
It isn't necessary to be in 100% agreement with others on everything in
order to comply with that command. But it is necessary to practice courtesy,
tolerance, and patience, i.e. make every effort to avoid feuding, one-upmanship,
and debating.
For some people, every disagreement is an act of war to be won at any cost.
That's not harmony, that's hostility. It's far and away better for Christians to
be diplomatic than to be right all the time.
"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be,
and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be
quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance
and disorder." (2Cor 12:19-20)
_
Rom 12:16a . . Live in harmony with each other.
It isn't necessary to be in 100% agreement with others on everything in
order to comply with that command. But it is necessary to practice courtesy,
tolerance, and patience, i.e. make every effort to avoid feuding, one-upmanship,
and debating.
For some people, every disagreement is an act of war to be won at any cost.
That's not harmony, that's hostility. It's far and away better for Christians to
be diplomatic than to be right all the time.
"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be,
and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be
quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance
and disorder." (2Cor 12:19-20)
_
Brother, I don't hijack you, but I see thruogh your messages you personal don't like to hear what others have to say, but thruogh this you show you what to hear what you what to hear.
Calling me "Sir" show very clear you personal don't want to follow the techings of Lord Christ from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in general from Matthew 23:7-12.
Do you know the history of the world "Sir" and what is the correct English word ?
We the christians follow, obey the teachings of Lord Christ, for that we are called Christians and we study every second of our life upon this Earth, but you don't like to study the word(s) of Lord Christ.
I love to study, I love to argue too, but from that argument I love to learn, because I am a Christian, namely a follower of Lord Christ.
Calling me "Sir" show very clear you personal don't want to follow the techings of Lord Christ from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in general from Matthew 23:7-12.
Do you know the history of the world "Sir" and what is the correct English word ?
We the christians follow, obey the teachings of Lord Christ, for that we are called Christians and we study every second of our life upon this Earth, but you don't like to study the word(s) of Lord Christ.
I love to study, I love to argue too, but from that argument I love to learn, because I am a Christian, namely a follower of Lord Christ.
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Rom 12:16b . . Don't be elitist, but willing to associate with people below you.
Years ago I attended a Church singles' group meeting in a private home where everyone was seated on the floor chatting when I arrived. All the really cool people had gravitated together and left this rather geeky fellow sitting all by himself with no one to talk to. Well; I wasn't all that cool myself so I sat with the geek and as we conversed, I began to realize that in spite of his appearance, he was actually a pretty bright guy; but he and I were marginalized because the others didn't want to be seen with us
_
Rom 12:16b . . Don't be elitist, but willing to associate with people below you.
Years ago I attended a Church singles' group meeting in a private home where everyone was seated on the floor chatting when I arrived. All the really cool people had gravitated together and left this rather geeky fellow sitting all by himself with no one to talk to. Well; I wasn't all that cool myself so I sat with the geek and as we conversed, I began to realize that in spite of his appearance, he was actually a pretty bright guy; but he and I were marginalized because the others didn't want to be seen with us
_
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Rom 12:16 . . Don't be wise in your own conceit.
Webster's defines "conceit" as excessive self-appreciation of one's own worth
or virtue.
Conceit is uncivil, untrainable, and intolerable. It truly believes nobody
beneath its dignity could possibly have anything to tell that it doesn't already
know; and if it doesn't already know, then that's because the information
possessed by those beneath its dignity isn't worth knowing.
Those kinds of people will interrupt you right in the middle of your sentence
and begin talking about their own perspective as if your voice is nowhere to
be heard in the whole room. You know why they do that? Because they
sincerely believe that nothing you are in the midst of saying is nearly as
important as what they have to say. In other words: you, and your
thoughts, are both superfluous.
Conceited folk are generally very picky about their influences too; in other
words, even if somebody is a Spirit-gifted Bible teacher, but are neither
published, accredited, or properly educated, then forget it. That Spirit-gifted
somebody is eo ipso undeserving of conceit's intellectual attention right out
of the box.
Conceit is not only stuck on itself; but very critical of others too. I've seen it
to happen time and again that when a Spirit-gifted Bible teacher comes
across with a personality like Elijah's or John the Baptist's that conceit
summarily brushes them off as "unloving" no matter even if they speak as
the very voice of God. In other words; conceit disdains to be taught; rather,
conceit seeks to be accommodated.
_
Rom 12:16 . . Don't be wise in your own conceit.
Webster's defines "conceit" as excessive self-appreciation of one's own worth
or virtue.
Conceit is uncivil, untrainable, and intolerable. It truly believes nobody
beneath its dignity could possibly have anything to tell that it doesn't already
know; and if it doesn't already know, then that's because the information
possessed by those beneath its dignity isn't worth knowing.
Those kinds of people will interrupt you right in the middle of your sentence
and begin talking about their own perspective as if your voice is nowhere to
be heard in the whole room. You know why they do that? Because they
sincerely believe that nothing you are in the midst of saying is nearly as
important as what they have to say. In other words: you, and your
thoughts, are both superfluous.
Conceited folk are generally very picky about their influences too; in other
words, even if somebody is a Spirit-gifted Bible teacher, but are neither
published, accredited, or properly educated, then forget it. That Spirit-gifted
somebody is eo ipso undeserving of conceit's intellectual attention right out
of the box.
Conceit is not only stuck on itself; but very critical of others too. I've seen it
to happen time and again that when a Spirit-gifted Bible teacher comes
across with a personality like Elijah's or John the Baptist's that conceit
summarily brushes them off as "unloving" no matter even if they speak as
the very voice of God. In other words; conceit disdains to be taught; rather,
conceit seeks to be accommodated.
_
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Rom 12:17a . . Never reciprocate evil with evil to anyone.
That is a really tough command to follow; for example: when someone
makes a demeaning comment about us, the urge to bounce back with a
rejoinder in kind is very difficult to resist.
Rom 12:17b . . Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
The koiné Greek word for "right" is a bit ambiguous. It can mean: honorable,
decent, sensible, mature, conforming to social norms of decency and
propriety, beautiful, virtuous, honest, having worth, fitting, and/or
appropriate. Those are all good qualities and should be practiced not only
inside church, but outside too.
_
Rom 12:17a . . Never reciprocate evil with evil to anyone.
That is a really tough command to follow; for example: when someone
makes a demeaning comment about us, the urge to bounce back with a
rejoinder in kind is very difficult to resist.
Rom 12:17b . . Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
The koiné Greek word for "right" is a bit ambiguous. It can mean: honorable,
decent, sensible, mature, conforming to social norms of decency and
propriety, beautiful, virtuous, honest, having worth, fitting, and/or
appropriate. Those are all good qualities and should be practiced not only
inside church, but outside too.
_
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Rom 12:18 . . If possible, so far as it in your power, be at peace with all
men.
Assertive, defensive, demanding, fault-finding, imperious, judgmental,
confrontational, argumentative, bossy, spirited, hard-nosed, implacable,
moody, thin skinned, vindictive, abrasive, spiteful people are not allowed in
heaven. Why? Because heaven is a place of peace (Matt 5:9, Rom 14:17).
Disagreeable people who fight at the drop of a hat simply don't fit in heaven
and besides, not only would they be a fish out of water; but it wouldn't be
fair to the others to let difficult people in to heaven where they would surely
turn it into the same kind of hell to live in that they've made the earth.
Christians should not be difficult. Of all people on Earth, they should be the
easiest to get along with.
_
Rom 12:18 . . If possible, so far as it in your power, be at peace with all
men.
Assertive, defensive, demanding, fault-finding, imperious, judgmental,
confrontational, argumentative, bossy, spirited, hard-nosed, implacable,
moody, thin skinned, vindictive, abrasive, spiteful people are not allowed in
heaven. Why? Because heaven is a place of peace (Matt 5:9, Rom 14:17).
Disagreeable people who fight at the drop of a hat simply don't fit in heaven
and besides, not only would they be a fish out of water; but it wouldn't be
fair to the others to let difficult people in to heaven where they would surely
turn it into the same kind of hell to live in that they've made the earth.
Christians should not be difficult. Of all people on Earth, they should be the
easiest to get along with.
_
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Rom 12:19 . . Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave it to the
wrath of God, for it is written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay; testifies The
Lord.
The focus is upon one's "own" revenge; in other words: if the matter can't
be settled legally; let it go rather than take it upon yourself to be
prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner. Those who seek justice outside the
justice system are no less criminals than the people they seek to punish.
Rom 12:20 . . If your personal enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is
thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his
head.
Way back when the television show SURVIVOR was in its second or third
season, two of the women fell out of sorts and one vowed that even if the
other were lying in the street near death from thirst, she'd walk right past
and not give her so much as a drop of water.
Bad form. Christians have to remain civil and not permit detestable people
to dictate the way we treat our fellow men. It is far better for Christ's
followers to exemplify humanitarian principles than satisfy a grudge.
Rom 12:21 . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Compliance with that particular command requires some self control on our
part because human nature's impulses usually steer us into the wrong
course of action when coping with evil.
_
Rom 12:19 . . Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave it to the
wrath of God, for it is written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay; testifies The
Lord.
The focus is upon one's "own" revenge; in other words: if the matter can't
be settled legally; let it go rather than take it upon yourself to be
prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner. Those who seek justice outside the
justice system are no less criminals than the people they seek to punish.
Rom 12:20 . . If your personal enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is
thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his
head.
Way back when the television show SURVIVOR was in its second or third
season, two of the women fell out of sorts and one vowed that even if the
other were lying in the street near death from thirst, she'd walk right past
and not give her so much as a drop of water.
Bad form. Christians have to remain civil and not permit detestable people
to dictate the way we treat our fellow men. It is far better for Christ's
followers to exemplify humanitarian principles than satisfy a grudge.
Rom 12:21 . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Compliance with that particular command requires some self control on our
part because human nature's impulses usually steer us into the wrong
course of action when coping with evil.
_
Paragraph 4 sounds similar to me to many Conservatives now days,, note I said many. not most or all.
They follow the doctrine of Ayn Rand and profess themselves to be Christians all the while clinging onto to selfishness and greed. They call us Socialists when we oppose them .
A Christians responsibility to uphold the teachings of Jesus above all others. I'd rather be crucified for obeying the Lord than be exalted for exalting the teachings of an antichrist like Rand.
They follow the doctrine of Ayn Rand and profess themselves to be Christians all the while clinging onto to selfishness and greed. They call us Socialists when we oppose them .
A Christians responsibility to uphold the teachings of Jesus above all others. I'd rather be crucified for obeying the Lord than be exalted for exalting the teachings of an antichrist like Rand.
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Rom 13:1-5 . . Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
. . . For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
There are Christians who honestly believe that capital punishment is wrong, but according to the passage above, and the one below, capital punishment is divine.
"And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." (Gen 9:4-6)
Rom 13:1-5 is a fair warning to Christians that should they break the law; to expect neither favoritism nor immunity. So then, if you can't do the time, then don't do the crime.
Christians that commit capital crimes should expect their heads to roll just like any other capital criminal's head; and that goes for lesser crimes too, e.g. J-walking, illegal U-turns, feeding parking meters, drifting through stop signs without coming to a complete halt, exceeding the speed limit, unsafe lane changes, road rage, disturbing the peace, littering, trespassing, shoplifting, civil disobedience, animal abuse, etc.
God has given government the right to play God; any Christian who opposes government's right to play God, is playing the Devil. God forbid! Christians really ought to be the most law-abiding people on Earth; but unfortunately, many are shamefully guilty of conduct unbecoming.
"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men." (1Pet 2:13-15)
_
Rom 13:1-5 . . Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
. . . For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
There are Christians who honestly believe that capital punishment is wrong, but according to the passage above, and the one below, capital punishment is divine.
"And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." (Gen 9:4-6)
Rom 13:1-5 is a fair warning to Christians that should they break the law; to expect neither favoritism nor immunity. So then, if you can't do the time, then don't do the crime.
Christians that commit capital crimes should expect their heads to roll just like any other capital criminal's head; and that goes for lesser crimes too, e.g. J-walking, illegal U-turns, feeding parking meters, drifting through stop signs without coming to a complete halt, exceeding the speed limit, unsafe lane changes, road rage, disturbing the peace, littering, trespassing, shoplifting, civil disobedience, animal abuse, etc.
God has given government the right to play God; any Christian who opposes government's right to play God, is playing the Devil. God forbid! Christians really ought to be the most law-abiding people on Earth; but unfortunately, many are shamefully guilty of conduct unbecoming.
"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men." (1Pet 2:13-15)
_
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Rom 13:6a . . Pay your taxes
While it's true that tax dollars often get wasted on fraud, graft, pork, bail
outs, ear marks, and such things; by and large taxes are essential if we're to
expect services like schools, parks, national defense, law enforcement, fire
protection, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, foster care, endowments,
reparations, flood control, TANF, and the maintenance of infrastructure, etc.
Taxes are also used to pay government salaries, wages, and benefits.
Though they are not holy people in the religious sense, they should probably
be regarded as such: maybe even as angels.
"The authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing."
(Rom 13:6b)
Rom 13:7 . . Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay
taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then
honor.
There is currently throughout America a wave of hate, discontent, and
disrespect for the current U.S. President the intensity and hysteria of which
is unlike anything I've ever seen in my 74 years on this planet. I should
hope that none of Christ's followers get caught up in it. We don't have to
particularly like Mr. Trump, but we do have to honor his position. Don't be a
Mordecai-- Esther's uncle is not a suitable role model for Christ's followers.
Rom 13:8 . . Owe no man anything.
Some have construed that command to mean it's a sin to have a mortgage,
a car payment, and/or a credit card balance. However, the koiné Greek word
for "owe" is opheilo (of-i'-lo) an ambiguous word with a number of
meanings, one of which is to fail in duty; viz: fail to meet your obligations.
In today's world; debt is pert near impossible to avoid; but debt is okay for
Christians just so long as they pay their bills on time. Christ is neither
pleased nor honored when his followers are known as deadbeats.
_
Rom 13:6a . . Pay your taxes
While it's true that tax dollars often get wasted on fraud, graft, pork, bail
outs, ear marks, and such things; by and large taxes are essential if we're to
expect services like schools, parks, national defense, law enforcement, fire
protection, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, foster care, endowments,
reparations, flood control, TANF, and the maintenance of infrastructure, etc.
Taxes are also used to pay government salaries, wages, and benefits.
Though they are not holy people in the religious sense, they should probably
be regarded as such: maybe even as angels.
"The authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing."
(Rom 13:6b)
Rom 13:7 . . Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay
taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then
honor.
There is currently throughout America a wave of hate, discontent, and
disrespect for the current U.S. President the intensity and hysteria of which
is unlike anything I've ever seen in my 74 years on this planet. I should
hope that none of Christ's followers get caught up in it. We don't have to
particularly like Mr. Trump, but we do have to honor his position. Don't be a
Mordecai-- Esther's uncle is not a suitable role model for Christ's followers.
Rom 13:8 . . Owe no man anything.
Some have construed that command to mean it's a sin to have a mortgage,
a car payment, and/or a credit card balance. However, the koiné Greek word
for "owe" is opheilo (of-i'-lo) an ambiguous word with a number of
meanings, one of which is to fail in duty; viz: fail to meet your obligations.
In today's world; debt is pert near impossible to avoid; but debt is okay for
Christians just so long as they pay their bills on time. Christ is neither
pleased nor honored when his followers are known as deadbeats.
_
.
Rom 13:12 . . Put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of
light.
Among the first things that God created for the cosmos was natural light
(Gen 1:3). He didn't have to create natural darkness because darkness as
per Gen 1:2 is just simply the default condition in the absence of light.
At that time, God made a distinct difference between light and darkness
(Gen 1:4). I think it is very notable that God labeled the light "good" but He
didn't label the darkness good.
I believe Gen 1:4 set the stage; in other words: from that point on in the
Bible; darkness typically represents something harmful and/or distasteful;
while light always represents something tasteful and/or beneficial. So then
we could label the deeds of darkness as deeds unbecoming Christ's
followers, and we could label the armor of light as deeds befitting his
followers. In other words: deeds befitting Christ's followers are their first line
of defense in a world gone mad with evil.
"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he
must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against
those who do evil." (1Pet 3:10-12)
_
Rom 13:12 . . Put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of
light.
Among the first things that God created for the cosmos was natural light
(Gen 1:3). He didn't have to create natural darkness because darkness as
per Gen 1:2 is just simply the default condition in the absence of light.
At that time, God made a distinct difference between light and darkness
(Gen 1:4). I think it is very notable that God labeled the light "good" but He
didn't label the darkness good.
I believe Gen 1:4 set the stage; in other words: from that point on in the
Bible; darkness typically represents something harmful and/or distasteful;
while light always represents something tasteful and/or beneficial. So then
we could label the deeds of darkness as deeds unbecoming Christ's
followers, and we could label the armor of light as deeds befitting his
followers. In other words: deeds befitting Christ's followers are their first line
of defense in a world gone mad with evil.
"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he
must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against
those who do evil." (1Pet 3:10-12)
_
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Rom 13:13 . . Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and
drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and
envy.
The Greek word for "envy" is somewhat ambiguous. It includes-- along with
envy --jealousy, indignation, and outrage,
The Greek word for "strife" is somewhat ambiguous too. It includes-- along
with strife --quarrelling, wrangling, contention, debate, and a whole other
bunch of ugly stuff associated with variance.
"in the day" probably refers to daytime when the sun is up as opposed to
nighttime when the sun is down; which is usually when people are out
partying, drinking, and picking each other up for one night stands.
Though strife and envy can be seen during both day or night, they're
listed as nighttime behavior due to their being shameful.
NOTE: What I find interesting about Christ's commandments is that his
followers have to be instructed how to "properly" conduct themselves; viz:
it's never assumed they can be trusted to instinctively and/or intuitively
know how.
_
Rom 13:13 . . Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and
drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and
envy.
The Greek word for "envy" is somewhat ambiguous. It includes-- along with
envy --jealousy, indignation, and outrage,
The Greek word for "strife" is somewhat ambiguous too. It includes-- along
with strife --quarrelling, wrangling, contention, debate, and a whole other
bunch of ugly stuff associated with variance.
"in the day" probably refers to daytime when the sun is up as opposed to
nighttime when the sun is down; which is usually when people are out
partying, drinking, and picking each other up for one night stands.
Though strife and envy can be seen during both day or night, they're
listed as nighttime behavior due to their being shameful.
NOTE: What I find interesting about Christ's commandments is that his
followers have to be instructed how to "properly" conduct themselves; viz:
it's never assumed they can be trusted to instinctively and/or intuitively
know how.
_
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Rom 13:14 . . .Clothe yourselves with The Lord Jesus Christ
Clothing one's self with a personage was a colloquialism many years ago
which would correspond in our day to "emulation" which Webster's defines
as trying to be like someone or something you admire.
They say that imitation is the highest flattery. Well; if you'd like to flatter
The Lord; adopt his integrity, his principles and his core values. But don't
guess at them; learn them, from someone that the Lord has empowered to
teach for him as per Eph 4:11-15.
_
Rom 13:14 . . .Clothe yourselves with The Lord Jesus Christ
Clothing one's self with a personage was a colloquialism many years ago
which would correspond in our day to "emulation" which Webster's defines
as trying to be like someone or something you admire.
They say that imitation is the highest flattery. Well; if you'd like to flatter
The Lord; adopt his integrity, his principles and his core values. But don't
guess at them; learn them, from someone that the Lord has empowered to
teach for him as per Eph 4:11-15.
_
.
Rom 14:1 . . Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on
disputable matters.
A strong faith consists of the elements of knowledge, confidence, assurance,
and conviction. A weak faith can be defined as vacillating; viz: one that's not
all that sure whether something is wrong for a Christian; or even that
something is right; in other words, a weak faith lacks the elements of
knowledge, confidence, assurance, and conviction.
Disputable matters are matters of opinion rather than matters of fact.
Opinions are often subjective, biased, and arbitrary, rather than objective,
unbiased, and by-the book. Opinions inevitably invite perpetual debating
that never really gets to the bottom of anything; which, in matters of
spiritual significance is strictly forbidden within the context of the 14th
chapter of Romans; because debatable matters are not matters of doctrine;
but rather; matters of conscience.
We're not talking about black and white doctrines and principles here. Those
are not open to debate. We're talking about gray areas.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" is black and white; while issues like video
games, music, fashions, foods, cosmetics, movies, self defense, gambling,
swim suits, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, fasting, religious art, crucifixes,
couture, and holy days of obligation are debatable. In regards to those
areas; let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind rather than
somebody else's mind.
Those are things about which each has to decide for themselves according to
the dictates of their own conscience; and God forbid they should impose
their personal dictates upon others and thus become dictatorial because
that's playing God and usurping Christ's sovereign prerogative to make the
rules for his own church.
_
Rom 14:1 . . Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on
disputable matters.
A strong faith consists of the elements of knowledge, confidence, assurance,
and conviction. A weak faith can be defined as vacillating; viz: one that's not
all that sure whether something is wrong for a Christian; or even that
something is right; in other words, a weak faith lacks the elements of
knowledge, confidence, assurance, and conviction.
Disputable matters are matters of opinion rather than matters of fact.
Opinions are often subjective, biased, and arbitrary, rather than objective,
unbiased, and by-the book. Opinions inevitably invite perpetual debating
that never really gets to the bottom of anything; which, in matters of
spiritual significance is strictly forbidden within the context of the 14th
chapter of Romans; because debatable matters are not matters of doctrine;
but rather; matters of conscience.
We're not talking about black and white doctrines and principles here. Those
are not open to debate. We're talking about gray areas.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" is black and white; while issues like video
games, music, fashions, foods, cosmetics, movies, self defense, gambling,
swim suits, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, fasting, religious art, crucifixes,
couture, and holy days of obligation are debatable. In regards to those
areas; let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind rather than
somebody else's mind.
Those are things about which each has to decide for themselves according to
the dictates of their own conscience; and God forbid they should impose
their personal dictates upon others and thus become dictatorial because
that's playing God and usurping Christ's sovereign prerogative to make the
rules for his own church.
_
.
Rom 14:2-4 . . 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, for God has
accepted him.
If you sincerely believe that fast food, GMO, high fructose corn syrup, non
organic produce, processed foods, grain-fed beef, raw oysters, sushi, and/or
anything fried in lard is sinful; well; more power to you; but God forbid you
should condemn others who disagree.
So then; whether or not to eat grass-fed beef or grain-fed beef is your call;
although in my judicious estimation; you run a much higher risk of
contracting E.coli 0157-H7 by eating grain-fed beef. But the choice to run
that risk is yours alone; not mine. The important point to note is that either
way, God will accept one's diet just so long as they are convinced in their
own mind it's not a sinful diet.
_
Rom 14:2-4 . . 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, for God has
accepted him.
If you sincerely believe that fast food, GMO, high fructose corn syrup, non
organic produce, processed foods, grain-fed beef, raw oysters, sushi, and/or
anything fried in lard is sinful; well; more power to you; but God forbid you
should condemn others who disagree.
So then; whether or not to eat grass-fed beef or grain-fed beef is your call;
although in my judicious estimation; you run a much higher risk of
contracting E.coli 0157-H7 by eating grain-fed beef. But the choice to run
that risk is yours alone; not mine. The important point to note is that either
way, God will accept one's diet just so long as they are convinced in their
own mind it's not a sinful diet.
_
.
Rom 14:5 . . 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.
Common Christian holy days are The Lord's Day (Sunday), Solemnity of
Mary the Mother of God, the Epiphany, Solemnity of Saint Joseph Husband
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Ascension Trinity Sunday, Solemnity of
Saints Peter and Paul, Good Friday, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, All Saints, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas), and the
Sabbath. Some would probably include Easter and Ash Wednesday.
If your denomination, or your church of choice, rules that days like the
above are sacred, then for you they are. Whether God himself really and
truly rules them as sacred is irrelevant. What matters is whether you are
convinced He does.
_
Rom 14:5 . . 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.
Common Christian holy days are The Lord's Day (Sunday), Solemnity of
Mary the Mother of God, the Epiphany, Solemnity of Saint Joseph Husband
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Ascension Trinity Sunday, Solemnity of
Saints Peter and Paul, Good Friday, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, All Saints, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas), and the
Sabbath. Some would probably include Easter and Ash Wednesday.
If your denomination, or your church of choice, rules that days like the
above are sacred, then for you they are. Whether God himself really and
truly rules them as sacred is irrelevant. What matters is whether you are
convinced He does.
_
.
Rom 14:13a . .Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Within the context of the 14th of Romans, "passing judgment" pertains to
condemning and/or criticizing others for refusal to accept and/or comply with
your own gray-area beliefs and practices.
Rom 14:13b . . Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block
or obstacle in your brother's way.
The koiné Greek word translated "stumbling block" means a stub. For
example: one year I cut down a troublesome bush in my front yard and left
a bit of a stump sticking up out of the ground that later damaged my lawn
mower when I accidentally ran over it while cutting the grass; which had
grown tall enough to conceal the stump. In that respect, stumbling blocks
are hazards not easily detected.
Within the context of the 14th of Romans, I would equate stumbling blocks
to the clever sophistry that silver-tongued orators employ to persuade
people to do things contrary to their convictions and their conscience. In
other words; there are people out there with the skills to make a lie sound
like the God's truth (cf. Eph 4:11-14) and if you get pulled into a debate
with those people you'll probably lose.
NOTE: The Star Wars era spawned a pertinent colloquialism that goes like
this: "Let the Wookie win one." When it comes to gray-area disputes, that
colloquialism is pretty good advice.
_
Rom 14:13a . .Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Within the context of the 14th of Romans, "passing judgment" pertains to
condemning and/or criticizing others for refusal to accept and/or comply with
your own gray-area beliefs and practices.
Rom 14:13b . . Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block
or obstacle in your brother's way.
The koiné Greek word translated "stumbling block" means a stub. For
example: one year I cut down a troublesome bush in my front yard and left
a bit of a stump sticking up out of the ground that later damaged my lawn
mower when I accidentally ran over it while cutting the grass; which had
grown tall enough to conceal the stump. In that respect, stumbling blocks
are hazards not easily detected.
Within the context of the 14th of Romans, I would equate stumbling blocks
to the clever sophistry that silver-tongued orators employ to persuade
people to do things contrary to their convictions and their conscience. In
other words; there are people out there with the skills to make a lie sound
like the God's truth (cf. Eph 4:11-14) and if you get pulled into a debate
with those people you'll probably lose.
NOTE: The Star Wars era spawned a pertinent colloquialism that goes like
this: "Let the Wookie win one." When it comes to gray-area disputes, that
colloquialism is pretty good advice.
_
.
Rom 14:14-16 . . I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of The
Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone
believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another Christian
is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't
let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be
condemned for doing something you know is alright.
For example: We may believe that there is nothing wrong with eating non
Kosher foods; but our dinner companion might feel very strongly about it.
Well; sure, we can get by with eating non-Kosher foods; but Rom 14:14-16
is saying don't. In other words; it is Christ's wishes that we restrain
ourselves from eating non-Kosher foods in front of our companions out of
respect for their feelings about it.
Rom 14:19 . . Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace
and to mutual edification.
The koiné Greek word for "edification" is oikodome (oy-kod-om-ay') which is
a word related to the building trades; and in this instance would be related
to structural improvements like a new wing, or a bedroom, or another floor;
and in many instances adds square footage to an already-existing structure
and/or improves its appearance, its value, and it's utility. Edification then,
builds up instead of tearing down.
Webster's defines "peace" as a state in which there is no war or fighting; viz:
harmony and mutual concord.
"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be,
and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be
quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance
and disorder." (2Cor 12:19-20)
_
Rom 14:14-16 . . I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of The
Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone
believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another Christian
is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't
let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be
condemned for doing something you know is alright.
For example: We may believe that there is nothing wrong with eating non
Kosher foods; but our dinner companion might feel very strongly about it.
Well; sure, we can get by with eating non-Kosher foods; but Rom 14:14-16
is saying don't. In other words; it is Christ's wishes that we restrain
ourselves from eating non-Kosher foods in front of our companions out of
respect for their feelings about it.
Rom 14:19 . . Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace
and to mutual edification.
The koiné Greek word for "edification" is oikodome (oy-kod-om-ay') which is
a word related to the building trades; and in this instance would be related
to structural improvements like a new wing, or a bedroom, or another floor;
and in many instances adds square footage to an already-existing structure
and/or improves its appearance, its value, and it's utility. Edification then,
builds up instead of tearing down.
Webster's defines "peace" as a state in which there is no war or fighting; viz:
harmony and mutual concord.
"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be,
and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be
quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance
and disorder." (2Cor 12:19-20)
_
.
Rom 14:20-21 . . Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All
food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone
else to stumble.
The critters that God lists in the Jews' covenanted law as unsuitable for food
aren't intrinsically unsuitable. They're only unsuitable for the Jews because
that's how God wants it for His people. But outside the covenant; and for
everybody else: whatever you'd like to eat can be eaten; all flora and all
fauna.
"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the
green plants, I now give you everything." (Gen 9:3)
"The voice spoke to him a second time: Do not call anything impure that
God has made clean." (Acts 10:15)
But still; you wouldn't want to invite someone over for dinner serving foods
that they sincerely believe wrong for them to eat. Prepare something else
that you both can eat. That's the Christian way to go about it.
Rom 14:22a . . So whatever you personally believe in debatable areas keep
between yourself and God.
_
Rom 14:20-21 . . Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All
food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone
else to stumble.
The critters that God lists in the Jews' covenanted law as unsuitable for food
aren't intrinsically unsuitable. They're only unsuitable for the Jews because
that's how God wants it for His people. But outside the covenant; and for
everybody else: whatever you'd like to eat can be eaten; all flora and all
fauna.
"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the
green plants, I now give you everything." (Gen 9:3)
"The voice spoke to him a second time: Do not call anything impure that
God has made clean." (Acts 10:15)
But still; you wouldn't want to invite someone over for dinner serving foods
that they sincerely believe wrong for them to eat. Prepare something else
that you both can eat. That's the Christian way to go about it.
Rom 14:22a . . So whatever you personally believe in debatable areas keep
between yourself and God.
_