Disagreements? In Church? By Coty Pinckney<\/p>\n
[This devotion is based on a talk given October 14 at the Treasuring Christ Together<\/a> 2020 retreat. An earlier version of the paraphrase of Romans 14 is in this blog post<\/a>. These two sermons from 2018 (first<\/a>, second<\/a>) provide more of the biblical foundation for the principles discussed here.]<\/em><\/p>\n Christians are one in Christ. God makes us one.<\/p>\n But although we are one, we differ. We disagree on trivial matters \u2013 should the Dodgers or the Rays win the World Series? But we also disagree about deeply held convictions: On political matters \u2013 should Christians vote Republican, Democrat, or neither? On education \u2013 should Christians send their children to public school, private school, or home school? On Christian behavior \u2013 how should we dress? What should we consume? On LGBT issues \u2013 how should we interact with family members who come out?<\/p>\n Furthermore, we not only disagree about such issues. We even disagree on whether such disagreements are important!<\/p>\n What does Scripture tell us about such disagreements?<\/p>\n The most helpful passage is Romans 14:1-15:7. Let\u2019s draw five principles for how we handle disagreements from this great text.<\/p>\n Upon a cursory reading, we might conclude the passage doesn\u2019t deal with our important disagreements, because the specific issues the Apostle Paul addresses seem to us to be trivial. We don\u2019t disagree among ourselves about eating food purchased in the marketplace (that may have been offered to an idol); we rarely disagree about honoring one day above another.<\/p>\n But in Paul\u2019s day, these disagreements loomed large \u2013 as large as our disagreements appear to us. So the same principles that Paul brings out apply to us also.<\/p>\n In an attempt to bring out the importance of these principles for us, consider the following rendition of Romans 14:1-21 in which I substitute our political disagreements for the first century disagreements Paul deals with. I\u2019ve arbitrarily labeled one side Democrat and the other Republican \u2013 feel free to reverse the labels if you wish. Verse 14 moves furthest from the original text, while verses 7-13, 18, and 19 are all unchanged.<\/p>\n As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions, or to convince him of your opinion.\u00a0\u00a02\u00a0One person believes he should vote Democrat, while another votes Republican.\u00a0\u00a03\u00a0Let not the one who votes Democrat despise the one who votes Republican, and let not the one who votes Republican pass judgment on the one who votes Democrat, for God has welcomed him.\u00a0\u00a04\u00a0Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.<\/p>\n 5\u00a0One person esteems one party as better than another, while another esteems all parties alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.\u00a0\u00a06\u00a0The one who supports a party, supports it in honor of the Lord. The one who votes Democrat, votes in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who votes Republican, votes in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.\u00a0\u00a07\u00a0For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.\u00a0\u00a08\u00a0For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord\u2019s.\u00a0\u00a09\u00a0For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.<\/p>\n 10\u00a0Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;\u00a0\u00a011\u00a0for it is written, \u201cAs I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.\u201d\u00a0\u00a012\u00a0So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.<\/p>\n 13\u00a0Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.\u00a0\u00a014\u00a0I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that one party is better than the other, but it would be wrong for another believer to support that party to please me if he is convinced otherwise.\u00a015\u00a0For if your brother is grieved by your political advocacy, you are no longer walking in love. By political advocacy, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.\u00a0\u00a016\u00a0So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.\u00a0\u00a017\u00a0For the kingdom of God is not a matter of political advocacy but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.\u00a0\u00a018\u00a0Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.\u00a0\u00a019\u00a0So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.\u00a0\u00a020\u00a0Do not, for the sake of politics, destroy the work of God. One party is indeed better than the other, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by political advocacy.\u00a0\u00a021\u00a0It is good not to support a political party \u2013 or to do anything else \u2013 if that causes your brother to stumble.<\/p>\n Principle 1. We All Are in Fact One in Christ<\/em><\/p>\n Paul\u2019s exhortation is not, \u201cBecome one!\u201d Rather, he tells us, \u201cYou are<\/em> one in Christ \u2013 live out that reality!\u201d We violate our true unity when we look down upon one another because of disagreements.<\/p>\n Principle 2. We Will Disagree About Important Issues<\/em><\/p>\n Paul is not surprised <\/em>at their disagreements. Indeed, he doesn\u2019t instruct them to avoid disagreements. Many of our challenging disagreements \u2013 in his day and in ours \u2013 result from God bringing together into one Body those from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, and different classes. Our coming together across such differences can and should glorify God. But inevitably we will disagree about matters that are important to us.<\/p>\n Principle 3. Disagreements Can Easily Foment Division<\/em><\/p>\n Disagreements are inevitable; division is not. Disagreement is not division. But disagreements easily lead to division.<\/p>\n When we disagree about important matters, we are tempted to identify with those who agree with us, and to consider those who disagree as Other. In effect, when this happens, we have divided into tribes or cliques, leading to bitterness, anger, and separation.<\/p>\n Paul tells us that for those truly in Christ, our identity in Christ trumps any other identity. If I am in Christ, I am more at one with a fellow believer who disagrees with me on politics, education, behavior, and LGBT issues, than I am with a non-Christian who agrees with me on all those matters.<\/p>\n Thus, we must take care how we treat those who disagree with us. The Gospel is at stake.<\/p>\n Principle 4, part 1: Conviction on Important Issues is Good!<\/em><\/p>\n Given the danger of division, we might be tempted to label all such areas of disagreement as unimportant, arguing that we shouldn\u2019t even have strong convictions on these issues. But Paul says the opposite: “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5).<\/p>\n We need not have an opinion about who should win the World Series. But on these important matters, we should pray, search the Scriptures, interact with others, and come to firm convictions. That is good. That is right. That is God-honoring.<\/p>\n Principle 4: Conviction on Important Issues is Good, But<\/u> Loving Your Brother is More Important Than Having Right Opinions<\/em><\/p>\n To take the political example: In this election, it may be difficult to discern what vote will glorify God. But it is not<\/em> difficult to discern how you should treat fellow believers who vote differently! Romans 14:3 and 10 both tell us: We are not to despise, look down upon, regard with contempt, pass judgment on, condemn, or criticize such people.<\/p>\n Understand: If you are fully convinced in your own mind that the course of action you choose is most to the glory of God, you will <\/em>think that these other believers have made the wrong choice. You will<\/em> have a strong conviction that they are in the wrong.<\/p>\n When \u2013 not if! \u2013 you think that, don\u2019t look down on them. Don\u2019t pass judgment on them.<\/p>\n By all means, you can have a discussion. You can point out how you arrived at your decision, bringing out biblical principles and texts. But when you do so, realize: Your goal should not be to make the other person agree with you<\/em>. Rather, you approach the discussion like this: \u201cHere we are, both trying to live to God\u2019s glory. This is how I have come to my conclusion. Perhaps that will be helpful as you wrestle with these issues. If you\u2019ve come to a different conclusion, I would like to hear your reasoning.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s the loving attitude. We should avoid having theoretical discussions that end up with each tribe saying to the other, \u201cNo Christian should do what you are doing!\u201d Instead, we want to help one another in a loving way to think through decisions we must make on important issues.<\/p>\n Principle 5. Your Primary Responsibility to Others: Be a Conduit of God\u2019s Grace<\/em><\/p>\n Paul says in this text: “Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Romans 14:19). Ephesians 4:29 elaborates on that idea: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).<\/p>\n This should be our goal in every interaction with those in Christ: For God\u2019s grace to flow through us to them, so that they are built up in Him. That is love.<\/p>\n Consider these four corollaries based on this fifth principle:<\/p>\n Corollary 1: So Welcome One Another As Christ Welcomed You<\/em><\/p>\n Paul says this explicitly in Romans 15:7: “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”<\/p>\n How did Christ welcome you?<\/p>\n He did not welcome you because you agreed with Him. Nor because you obeyed Him. Nor because there was anything attractive in you. He welcomed you in your rebellion, in your ignorance, in your arrogance.<\/p>\n Just so, welcome one another.<\/p>\n Corollary 2: Love One Another as Christ Loves You<\/em><\/p>\n Love your brothers and sisters in Christ:<\/p>\n Love those who disagree with you!<\/p>\n\n