One of our parishioners recently shared with me a reading from Romans 14:1-4 from a new modern translation that I also enjoy called The Message. I feel led to share this with you this month in my article. This is what she was studying:

“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 they are strong on opinions, but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.

For 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 all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terrible 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 connections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.”

St. Paul originally wrote these words to deal with a controversy in the early church over eating food offered to idols and which holy days to celebrate. The new believers carried no “history” with them about the rules and felt free in Christ, while the established believers wanted to enforce human rules and customs and were actually still enslaved by them. Paul called the new believers the strong ones and the rule-keepers the weak in faith. Needless to say, that lit a few more fires in those early fellowships.

Paul ultimately called both factions to task by reminding them God welcomes ALL of us at His table. Therefore, our calling is first to welcome ALL people, treat others gently, and trust that God is in control, and not us. A seemingly insurmountable task in these days of political correctness, violent disagreements over individual rights, and extreme anger over inconsequential things, when one looks at the “big picture.”

In my opinion, this anger and unsettledness are symptoms of a deeper spiritual disorder in most people’s lives. We can blame it on the economy, the stresses of the workplace, consumerism and greed, you name it. But if we were to truly live into our calling as believers in a Risen Lord, I think we would take seriously the commission to “welcome all, treat others gently, and realize that God is in control not us.”

I challenge us all to pray over this passage and ask for God’s guidance and direction in how to fulfill it in our daily walk.

See you in church!
Peace,
Pastor Ted D. Kerr III
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church - Ida