Romans 14:1

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

How do we determine who is weak in faith without being judgmental?

Let us for arguments sake put the shoe on the other foot.

How would you like it if someone said your faith was weak?

I would be resentful, but that is just me. I don’t get to answer that question for anyone else.

1 Timothy 6:3-6 English Standard Version

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,

As long as opinions are not elevated to the status of doctrine and are not being taught we should not judge those opinions that do no harm to the unity within our believing community. When it becomes an issue of division within the body we have a problem and those involved need to be brought before the elders for the sake of settling disputes.

If a person’s opinion is something you don’t agree with, evaluate the importance in the light of doctrine. Will it weaken your faith to hear it? If not perhaps it is not something that needs to be addressed openly within a group and spark contentions.

1 Corinthians 4:6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

Deuteronomy 29:28 King James Version

28 And the Lord rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.

I have had anger issues in my past. The very first sign to me from my sovereign God was when He took away my unwarranted anger. I did not know what I was angry about.

I know why I get angry these days. The why is beyond my control. My responsibility to my God is to not act out because of it. The Lord roots out the problem. I am not the right hand of God.

I see things and those things lead me to question my understanding. It is up to me to submit to His higher power, wisdom and authority.

This came to me a long time ago and I thought I knew what it meant, but now I am not so sure.

Righteous indignation is still indignation.

I thought it was because when mankind allows self-righteousness to direct action we are at odds with God’s will.

Today as I read His Word I see anger, wrath and indignation are listed as three separate issues here in Deuteronomy. I myself find it impossible to distinguish the differences. Perhaps it would be a wise thing to admit and let God handle the problem rather than acting on it myself.

I am on God’s side. I take orders from Him. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are One, they are in agreement. Who am I to argue with that?

True faith is all about submission to the one who is righteous and proven Himself to be true.

When I come to Him in anger, I have stopped listening. It is just that simple.

Trust and obey. To do that we have to be listening. Shouting at a problem doesn’t get it fixed.