Seeking Unity in Community

God Instructs the People of God

Listening for God in Changing Times:

Choosing a Community

Romans 14:1-9

The Message

Cultivating Good Relationships

 ¹ Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. ^2-4For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.
 ⁵Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
 ^6-9What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It's God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.

For Reflection
Living in the hollow of God's hand is living for the glory of God.  Each of us worships God in his/her own way in response to His grace.  God's grace has no rules.  God's grace is given freely to all who ask.  The only rule that matters is to serve God in love.  To me, this means leaving my judgment of others behind.  Judgment is God's domain.  We, indeed, are not answerable to each other.

Christian denominations have formed because groups of believers have similar worship preferences.  Because of this, Christianity has been able to survive and grow as an inclusive body of believers. The strength in Christianity is its ability to accept differences in worship style.  Love of God and each other is the only true standard.

Pray
that you find in the community of believers common threads of worship that are grounded in the love of God and each other.  Pray for the unity of all Christians.  Pray that you see beyond the style of worship into the core of Christian thought and deed.  Pray that  all Christians accept the differences among them as strengths in the body of Christ.