Let’s respect our differences

‘Let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.’ Romans 14:19 NLT

Paul wouldn’t yield an inch when it came to standing on the central truths of Scripture. But when it came to traditions, personal opinions, and personal preferences, he said, ‘… Let each be fully convinced in his own mind’ (Romans 14:5 NKJV). Under the law of Moses, being circumcised was considered equal to having a covenant between you and God. So when Gentile believers joined the New Testament church, Jewish believers insisted they too must be circumcised. Not as babies, mind you, but as adults! Were these Jewish believers sincere? Absolutely. But they were sincerely misguided.

When this issue threatened to split the church, the apostles met in Jerusalem, prayed about the matter, and issued the following opinion: ‘For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:’ (Acts 15:28 NKJV). Any time a tradition or personal preference becomes equal in authority to God’s Word, we have gone too far. Have you been upset with someone who doesn’t agree with you on some nonessential point of doctrine? Have you been critical of someone whose opinion differs from yours? Perhaps in insisting on your list of dos and don’ts, you have forgotten the most important item on God’s list: that we exhibit love. Jesus said, ‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ (John 13:35 NKJV). Our hearts can be in unity even when our minds don’t agree. We can walk hand in hand, even when we don’t see eye to eye. As theologians often say, ‘In essential things, unity. In all things, charity!’