Romans14:1-5
“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”
“In Romans 14 Paul is dealing with a first-order moral issue for which there were compelling scriptural arguments to be made on both sides. It was “disputable” because it was not a clear-cut case of right or wrong, biblical or unbiblical, moral or immoral. Rather, both sides were making reasonable appeals to Scripture and were convinced in their own consciences.” (Wilson)
A matter is disputable if is not vital to salvation, contrary to dogma (essential truth), or against doctrine (central teaching). A disputable matter is not to cause division or disrespect amongst the brothers and sisters. We are to agree to disagree in all loving gentleness and kindness. I would also like to add that if we find ourselves engaged in such disputes that we reframe judging the other as the “one whose faith is weak.” If we are satisfied in good conscience and faith in our view, that is all that is needed. No labels (especially the scandalous labeling of liberal or conservative).
Disputable matters are not just those mentioned by Paul in Romans14:1-5. Another disputable matter that was causing a good deal of disagreement at that time was whether to circumcise or not. Down through the centuries there have been numerous disputable matters and many of these were not treated by either side with loving gentleness and kindness, such as sprinkle or immerse for baptism.
What happens in these disputes is that those on either side of the issue do not see it as disputable and often make it for their group a matter of doctrine, a central teaching. An example of this today is the Rapture. There are those, like myself, that see the Rapture as not at all biblical and even dangerous. Then there are those who believe in the Rapture but cannot agree on the timing: is it pre-, mid-, or post-Tribulation? And they argue for their point as if salvation depended on it. Another two examples go hand-in-hand in a way, and that is whether Christians are under the Ten Commandments or not and if there is a Sabbath Day.
For me, love is the whole purpose of truth. Love is always foremost in any and all of our affairs. That’s the law! God is love, so love never fails…for the heart that gives or receives it. What distinguishes a Christian? That they love one another. If we are not demonstrating this love, we have taken leave of the kingdom of God. Shalom.
“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”
“In Romans 14 Paul is dealing with a first-order moral issue for which there were compelling scriptural arguments to be made on both sides. It was “disputable” because it was not a clear-cut case of right or wrong, biblical or unbiblical, moral or immoral. Rather, both sides were making reasonable appeals to Scripture and were convinced in their own consciences.” (Wilson)
A matter is disputable if is not vital to salvation, contrary to dogma (essential truth), or against doctrine (central teaching). A disputable matter is not to cause division or disrespect amongst the brothers and sisters. We are to agree to disagree in all loving gentleness and kindness. I would also like to add that if we find ourselves engaged in such disputes that we reframe judging the other as the “one whose faith is weak.” If we are satisfied in good conscience and faith in our view, that is all that is needed. No labels (especially the scandalous labeling of liberal or conservative).
Disputable matters are not just those mentioned by Paul in Romans14:1-5. Another disputable matter that was causing a good deal of disagreement at that time was whether to circumcise or not. Down through the centuries there have been numerous disputable matters and many of these were not treated by either side with loving gentleness and kindness, such as sprinkle or immerse for baptism.
What happens in these disputes is that those on either side of the issue do not see it as disputable and often make it for their group a matter of doctrine, a central teaching. An example of this today is the Rapture. There are those, like myself, that see the Rapture as not at all biblical and even dangerous. Then there are those who believe in the Rapture but cannot agree on the timing: is it pre-, mid-, or post-Tribulation? And they argue for their point as if salvation depended on it. Another two examples go hand-in-hand in a way, and that is whether Christians are under the Ten Commandments or not and if there is a Sabbath Day.
For me, love is the whole purpose of truth. Love is always foremost in any and all of our affairs. That’s the law! God is love, so love never fails…for the heart that gives or receives it. What distinguishes a Christian? That they love one another. If we are not demonstrating this love, we have taken leave of the kingdom of God. Shalom.
