Romans 14:1
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.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
The first thing that came to
mind for me when I read this passage was an image of someone with road
rage, gesturing wildly at fellow drivers...while sporting a Christian
fish magnet on their tailgate and a bumper sticker that advertised their
church or said “Smile...God loves you!” Makes you a little
crazy...doesn’t it?! I’m continually amazed at the “Christians” who get
so heated up over one political camp or another...particularly those
who stoop to name calling and other “unlovely” acts. I’ll admit, I find
it hard to welcome them with open arms when they spew venom on Facebook
in a post...and then two posts later talk about the upcoming services
at their church or how much God has blessed them – or worse, yet, talk
about how God blesses a particular group or those who think/feel a
certain way.
We don’t get to pick and choose, people! This is
not OUR universe! Moreover, our snap judgments about others have
unending ramifications. Your criticism of a certain group of people may
include the son or daughter of your best friend - or that person who
sits next to you on the pew every Sunday morning. When you cluck your
tongue about people on welfare, parents who don’t control their kids’
behavior, or the son or daughter who neglects his/her elderly loved
ones, you are essentially “writing checks you can’t cash”!
When
you declare that others are not serving in the church as much as they
should or sharing their Christian faith with others enough – or in the
right manner – you are operating in self-righteousness. Most likely,
you don’t have all the facts. You don’t know what the other guy has
endured or what his/her life entails. You might not know “the rest of
the story”. There is a very good chance that the other person is
playing his/her cards pretty close to the vest and not confiding in the
whole world...and neither are YOU, quite frankly! Few of us “air our
dirty laundry” to the world, so to speak.
Does this mean we are
not entitled to an opinion? No...it just means that we are not to be so
quick to share our estimations. We’re to study the model given to us
by Jesus. He didn’t greet others with admonitions of wrongdoing. Jesus
didn’t meet the woman at the well with a chastisement for her sins...He
didn’t say “Zacchaeus, you’re a cheater” when He saw him up in a tree.
Jesus treated others gently. He made them feel comfortable and
accepted. When the time was right, he lovingly pointed out the things
that He had observed. And sometimes, Jesus didn’t have to say a thing.
His demeanor and the way He demonstrated grace and mercy was enough.
Let’s
be honest...the “other guy” is not always wrong...and we’re not always
right! Only God can determine this with certainty. We can have
differing opinions...support different causes and policies...champion
different attitudes and groups of people...and still be born-again
Christians who love Jesus just as much as the next person! Let’s get
real...we ALL have work to do in the “faith” department! And I, for
one, am so glad that Jesus does not dole out His grace and mercy to me
based on my level of faith in Him on any given day! I still have a long
way to go toward full surrender...don’t you?
If we are counting
on Jesus to love us and offer us forgiveness, grace and mercy...in spite
of our shortcomings and faltering faith...how can we do any less for
the other guy? If we believe that Jesus loves each of us – warts and
all – how can we offer him/her anything other than acceptance,
compassion, and the benefit of the doubt? Is there someone you need to
treat more gently in Jesus’ name? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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