Do no harm to others!

Paul deals with the tragedy of turning preferences into principles in Romans 14:1-12. In the reminder of Romans 14, Paul addresses the harm of putting Christian liberty over the spiritual well-being of other Christians. William Barclay gives a clear statement to the focus of this passage, ...a great many things are not essential parts of life and conduct but belong to what we might call the extras of life. It is Paul's conviction that we have no right to give offence to those who are more scrupulous about such things by doing them ourselves, or by persuading them to do them.

Consider that when we put our freedom above another Christian’s conscience, we are endangering the well-being of one for whom Christ died. Also, our Christian testimonies are harmed when we demonstrate a lack of love for other believers because of differing opinions on personal preferences. Grant Osborne declares, Too many unbelievers say, “Why should I be a Christian? You don’t get along with each other, so why should I think being a Christian will bring me peace and happiness?”

Paul puts Christian liberty in proper perspective by comparing it to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not about preferences but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Consider the words of Warren Wiersbe, If each believer would yield to the Spirit and major in a godly life, we would not have Christians fighting with each other over minor matters.

Join the study of Romans 14:13-23 under the Books of the Bible tab. Preferences are fine as long as we don’t put them above the spiritual well-being of others. Dig deep into God’s Word. It is worth the effort.

The Gospel of John - Backstory of Christmas

This is a most special time of year as we remind ourselves of the importance of the birth of Jesus. When we select a passage to read before Christmas dinner, it normally comes from the Gospel of Luke or maybe the Gospel of Matthew. I encourage you to consider the Gospel of John.

It is refreshing to view Jesus in the context of His heavenly family. I am sorry Mary and Joseph aren’t included but John is revealing the heavenly side of the incarnation. The word incarnation comes from Latin, meaning in the flesh. John takes the Christmas story back in time before Bethlehem and to before time began. He gives more details that define why the Christmas story is so important. He explains the three things needed for incarnation in chapter 1. First, God chose to enter His creation in human form. Second, we are told how God chose to enter His creation. Third, John gives the reason why God chose to enter His creation. Let’s take a brief look at the backstory.

First, God chose to enter His creation out of love, John 3:16, For God so loved the world. . . He did it because He loves you as John noted in his epistle, 1 John 4:10, In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us. . . God does not need us but, amazingly, He wants us!

Second, God chose to enter His creation by sending His Son, John 1:1-3, 14, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. The ever-existent Creator of the universe, God the Son, came to Bethlehem through Mary and placed His divinity into humanity. Consider the miracle of Jesus, God the Son. Jesus was born in a manger but He existed before Abraham. Jesus is God but He was the son of Mary. Jesus died on the cross but He is the resurrection and the life. An understanding of John’s backstory gives an eternal dimension to sweet baby Jesus.

Third, God chose to enter His creation to save it, John 1:12, But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Many misunderstand Jesus’ purpose on earth. Some believe He was a religious fanatic confused by His zeal. Some believe He was a good man who is an example of how we should live. Christians believe He is God the Son Who came to save us from our sins. It has been said, He came to pay a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.

A view of the cross paints a painful picture of what Jesus endured for you and me. Below the surface, there was pain much deeper than the physical torture Jesus endured. The deepest pain was the spiritual break in fellowship between the Father and the Son. Jesus cried out in deep agony, Mark 15:34, And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" For the only time, past, present or future, the Father turned from the Son, eternal fellowship was broken because Jesus became sin for you and for me.

The most wondrous thing took place a few moments later when fellowship was restored. Jesus proclaimed, It is finished and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. His payment for sin was accepted by the Father and forgiveness of sins is available based on Jesus' work. J. I. Packer, The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.

How should we respond to this message from eternity past to this very moment? Let me give the one imperative. Receive the gift of Christmas by faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ, John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. According to James Kennedy, The great tragedy of the Christmas holiday is not so much its commercialization ..., but its trivialization. How tragic it is that people have forgotten Him to Whom they owe so very much. Don’t let that be you! Have a glorious Christmas in our forever Savior, Jesus the Christ.

The tragedy of turning preferences into principles!

Paul tackles a very relevant issue in Romans 14, Christian liberty. In Romans 14:1, he speaks of the need to not quarrel over opinions. Another word for opinions is preferences. There are still many church members who are motivated by preferences instead of principles. It might be said that numerous Christians major on minors instead of majoring on majors. More time can be spent on disputing types of music, styles of worship, political affiliations instead of pursuing clarity of the Gospel.

The primary principle of the passage is that we are not to judge other believers on preferences when only God is the one to judge. God’s acceptance is not based on keeping or not keeping dietary rules or observance of special days but based on placing faith in Christ alone. According to Grant Osborne, Paul is calling for unity in the midst of diverse beliefs, a search for truth that reflects acceptance of one another and our differences without judging each other. We should debate doctrinal issues; we are always searching for truth. But unless we are dealing with the core truths of the faith, we must be "iron sharpening iron" and accept differences without judging, realizing we could be wrong and respecting other views.

I encourage you to study Romans 14 under the Books of the Bible tab. Clearly proclaiming and living the Gospel is so much more important than fighting over nonessential preferences. Spiritual maturity is not based on how many fights I win but how I love others unconditionally and let God be the judge.