We're diving into Romans chapter 14 and the first part of chapter 15, and what Paul teaches us here is incredibly practical for navigating the differences we encounter with other believers. This is the kind of message that moves us from where we are to where God wants us to be.

Accept the One Whose Faith Is Weak

Paul doesn't mince words in Romans 14:1. He says, "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters." Right from the start, he acknowledges something many people don't want to admit: not all faith is the same. There are Christians with weak faith and Christians with strong faith. Now, he's not talking about saving faith, that comes only through the Holy Spirit. He's talking about the faith to live the Christian life with certain liberties.

Here's what's critical to understand: Paul introduces us to the concept of "disputable matters." These are the things we can have different opinions about while still loving Jesus and walking in obedience to Him. The problem is that most Christians want to turn disputable matters into indisputable ones. They want everyone to do exactly what they do, believe exactly what they believe, live exactly how they live.

The Food Fight That Wasn't About Food

Paul gives us an interesting example in Romans 14:2-3: "One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them."

God has accepted both of them. Let that sink in for a moment.

I'll never forget when I was in Nigeria over 20 years ago with my family. We were at someone's house, and they brought out this bowl with a dead minnow floating in it, eyeball staring right at me. Everyone was watching to see what I would do. I ate the whole thing and thanked them for it. Then came the bush meat. I eventually asked what it was and didn't really love the answer, but I ate it anyway because these were church leaders, and we were about to have a revival. What if I had offended them over food? We would have caused a rift not over doctrine, but over a disputable matter.

Cultural Differences and Sacred Days

"One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind" (Romans 14:5). This is huge. Some people celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday. Some celebrate on Sunday. Some view certain holidays as more sacred than others. Paul says each person should be fully convinced in their own mind.

Think about the diversity in our church family. We have people from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, different islands, different states, different backgrounds. Things that are precious in your culture might not even be on the radar in another culture. Some of us grew up Pentecostal where you couldn't go to movies or listen to secular music. Others grew up with more liberty but still loved Jesus deeply.

The Responsibility of the Strong

Here's where it gets really practical. Romans 14:13-15 says, "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister... If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love."

If you are the person with liberty, if you are the one with the stronger faith, the responsibility is on you to abstain in moments where your freedom might hurt someone else. You can eat meat on the way home. You can order a steak later. But in that moment, when you're with someone who doesn't share your liberty, you make room for them.

Years ago, we were doing a summer series where we took classic songs and performed versions of them on Sunday mornings. Someone on our music team reached out and said they weren't comfortable playing one of the songs. I could have told them, "When we make a decision to do something on Sunday morning, you're going to do it." But that's not what mature faith looks like.

I called them from California and listened to their heart. They explained their personal convictions about that particular artist. And you know what? I told them if stepping out of that service was what God was telling them to do, then that was building their faith. They didn't play that week, and it was fine. They weren't demanding everyone follow their conviction, and we weren't forcing them to violate theirs. That's how we maintain unity while navigating differences.

The Kingdom Is About More Than Rules

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). The kingdom of God isn't about eating and drinking, secular music and tattoos, or whether you watched that comedy special. It's much deeper than the little things. It's about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Stop making Christianity about all the minor things that don't really matter, and start focusing on what we can share in communion together. "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification" (Romans 14:19).

What's Disputable and What's Not

Let me be crystal clear about something: there are indisputable matters. God's Word being final and authoritative is indisputable. The Ten Commandments are indisputable. The inerrancy and divine authority of Scripture, the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement of Christ, and the bodily resurrection of Jesus are all indisputable.

Paul is not addressing sin. He's addressing differences. He's talking about food preferences, dietary restrictions, observance of sacred days, and cultural practices not tied to sin. These are not moral issues or core doctrinal issues.

If someone tells you they have the grace to sleep with whoever they want, that's not a disputable matter. That's sin, plain and simple. God will never call a Christian to live contrary to His Word. But whether you have a tattoo or listen to certain music or celebrate certain days? Those are disputable matters.

Three Approaches to Differences

There's the narrow approach: "My thought on this subject is the only right thought." I've met Christians who say if you don't speak in tongues, you can't go to heaven. At City of Life, we're Pentecostal. We believe in the gifts of the Spirit. I pray and speak in tongues. But I don't believe you have to speak in tongues to be saved. The narrow view takes your opinion and makes it the exclusive right opinion for everyone. That's truth without love.

Then there's the broad approach: "Everyone's right. Everybody does what's best for them." But that's just Western individualism masquerading as godliness. This is love without truth.

I've got a third option: be Christ-minded. That's truth expressed through love. I may disagree. I may hold a stronger conviction. But I choose to carry you rather than distance myself from you. Paul states his conviction clearly in Romans 14:14: "I am convinced that nothing is unclean in itself." Yet he doesn't use this to pressure everyone to believe like he does. He makes room for grace so no one is excluded.

Three Levels of Awareness

Most Christians never get beyond self-awareness. They're stuck asking, "Can I do this and still go to heaven?" That's the most immature level because it never looks beyond yourself.

The next level is others-awareness. This means understanding why people have the views they have. Sometimes that requires looking into someone's culture, background, and life experiences. Understanding someone doesn't make their perspective correct, but it helps you address it with grace.

The final level is Christ-awareness. This is asking, "How can I respond in a way that reflects Christ more than myself?" Maturity is seen when truth serves people rather than stands above them.

The Attitude of Christ

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had" (Romans 15:5). We should have an attitude toward each other that makes room for differences. We don't have to put everyone in their place or fix everyone all the time.

I can be confident in what I believe, and you can be confident in what you believe, and we don't have to talk about it constantly. There will be opportunities through relationship for hearts to be revealed, for perspectives to be shared, for iron to sharpen iron. But maybe we just live it two different ways, and God is with me over here and with you over there, and that's okay too.

Walking in Unity

Romans 15:1-2 says, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Paul straight up says he's one of the strong ones. He can do almost anything he wants to do. But he chooses to bear with those who don't have the same liberties.

That's the kind of maturity God is calling us to. Not a Christianity that beats everyone over the head with our viewpoint, but one that makes room for grace. Not a faith that distances itself from anyone who sees things differently, but one that builds bridges and carries people toward Jesus.

I'm so grateful that God loved me enough to rescue me. If I don't approach my Christian walk from a place of humility and gratitude for what God has done for me, I'll get puffed up and think my way is always the right way. I have to make room. I have to understand what God has done for me while leaving grace for others who don't see everything the same way.

That's what mature Christianity looks like. That's how we honor the Lord by honoring each other. That's how we live as the family of God, making room at the table for everyone Christ has redeemed.

-------------------------

This teaching is from our "My Roman Empire" series, which takes us through the book of Romans verse-by-verse.  Find more information here:  Romans 1-3, Romans 4-6, Romans 7-8,  Romans 9-11, and Romans 12-13.