You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. Romans 14—15:13 (NIV)
Some friends of ours are Christians who have come to Christ out of their Hindu background. Having been vegetarians their whole lives, they continue the practice of not eating meat – but as one of them says, “Of course, now that we follow Christ we could eat meat if we wanted to.” I appreciate the way he states the matter – although he no longer is under the laws of Hinduism, he now neither is forced to eat meat nor forced to abstain. He has freedom in Christ.
Paul was concerned about the division in the church at Rome, mainly between the Gentile and Jewish Christians and how the former were looking down on the latter for sticking to their lifelong practices of following the Jewish dietary laws. Paul has words of exhortation to both parties – to the Gentile Christians he says stop showing contempt, and to the Jewish Christians he says don’t judge those who eat everything. After all, God alone is our Judge and we should leave the pronouncements to him.
We might find ourselves falling into bad habits of judging in little, subtle ways – perhaps we don’t shop on Sundays but we know other who Christians do. Or we hold to a doctrine of belief that others disagree with, and we’re certain that we are right and they are not. Whatever the matter, we can follow Paul’s instruction to seek the kingdom of God, which is filled with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (v.17) as we “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (v.19).
For reflection: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
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