DON’T MAJOR IN THE MINORS

Some people are tall, some are not. Some people, like me, are “chunky,” some are not. Some people are photogenic, some people look better on the radio. Some people make a point of saying a prayer before their meals, even in public forums, but other people don’t worry about praying before they eat, whether they’re eating in or dining out. Some people serve drinks when they host a church group, but others won’t do that, even though they may drink when their company is gone. Some people are black, some are white, and some are somewhere in between, Some read daily devotionals and attend Bible studies, some don’t consider doing either. Some people try their best to actually tithe, some people are quite comfortable giving what they feel like giving. Different strokes for different folks.

In Paul’s day, the church consisted of people who had spent their lives as Jews… and people who had grown up as Greeks and Romans. And he wanted all of them to focus on their new lives in Christ, and so in our passage today (Romans 14), Paul addresses them with these words: “Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.  Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. ³Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. ⁴Who are you to pass judgment?  ⁵Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.¹⁰Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

Paul, a reformed Pharisee himself, is calling all members of the church to keep their eyes on the number one thing, which is Christ crucified and risen! In Paul’s day there were dietary laws that obedient Jews followed religiously, but Paul believed that converts to the church didn’t have to live with these restrictions. Some of those who showed up at church events would only eat vegetables, others would eat their fill from the entire buffet. If you’re part of the crowd that eats freely, don’t make fun of those who don’t, and if you’re in the crowd that only eats vegetables, don’t judge those who eat more… because we’re not here for dinner, we’re here to worship and praise our Lord. Quit judging. Quit undermining someone else’s faith. Keep your eyes on Calvary’s cross!

Some churches are entirely liturgical, others have a loose format. Some churches sing hymns, some don’t, and of those who sing hymns, some prefer oldies and some like newer ones. Some people love the sound of an organ, others like a piano, and still others feature guitars. Some worshipers dress up, some believe that dressing up is passe. In some churches. People lift holy hands in the air, other congregations wouldn’t even consider it. Some churches have communion every Sunday, some once a month, and some quarterly. Some churches refuse to serve communion to gay people, others encourage the LGBTQ+ commmunity. Some churches maintain that Christ is the only way to God, others insist that God wouldn’t be so exclusive. Some churches hold that there is no hell, others use hell as a reason to behave.

How about you? What practice or belief is absolutely essential to your notion of what it means to be a Christian. Would your faith be damaged if your pastor smoked? Would you have trouble relating to a Christian who doesn’t believe that Christ wasn’t born of a virgin? What makes a Christian… Christian? Baptism, attendance, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, being active in church leadership? Does it matter what you believe, how you worship, or what you do after church? I remember two deacons who did an excellent job, but they sold tobacco and adult magazines in their store? I also recall a wonderful couple who gave their all to our youth ministry and also gave generously, but they lived together and they were not married. I’ve mentioned a small church who held a hurry-up meeting of their session… so that they could vote not to serve communion to a gay couple who were likely to attend that Sunday? Where, if anywhere, do you draw the line?

Don’t major in the minors! Do worry so much about what others do and believe that you forget to worship and serve our Lord. I’m biased because I came to Christ through grace alone. I wasn’t even trying to be good. I wasn’t even considering repentance, but people were praying for me and they welcomed me, and they were sure that my sins,  though they were many, were entirely forgiven by Christ. Grace, grace, grace… is my first pillar, and the 2^nd is this: Christ crucified and risen! I don’t worry much about people of other faiths and other denominations, or hymnals, or dress codes, but if Christ didn’t die for me, my sins are not covered… and if Christ didn’t rise in victory, it wouldn’t matter anyway because death would be the winner! Amen.