Romans 14: Disputable Matters

Romans 14: Disputable Matters

Romans 14 addresses the issue of disputable matters among Christians. The chapter’s opening words set the tone: “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.”

The first word, “accept,” provides the basis for this issue. There are the foundations of the faith, then there are the disputable matters. On the disputable matters, we are to be accepting, knowing where we believe yet showing grace to others. The goal is not to place any “stumbling block” in the of those whose faith is weak.

The issues Paul addressed included what foods a person ate and the celebration of special days or holidays. Whether vegetarian, vegan, kosher, halal, or meat-lover, we are called to allow grace. Whether a person celebrates Christmas, the Fourth of July, Cinco de Mayo, Easter, Lent, or the Chinese New Year, we are called to allow diversity. While Paul spoke primarily in the context of those who disputed whether to observe Jewish dietary laws, the Sabbath, and Jewish holidays, the principle applies to our culture today.

Further, it can apply to a myriad of other disputable matters, ranging from drinking alcohol to whether to keep your business open on Sunday (ala Chick-fil-a). Let us allow grace, with the goal of helping all grow in their faith in Jesus Christ.

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Dillon Burroughs is the author or co-author of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of all 31,173 verses of the Bible at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.


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