In concluding his teaching to who he describes as strong and weak Christians, Paul says to the strong that they should not impose what they believe and practice on those who don’t at that time have the same faith as them.
“So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14 v 22-23)
Church is not a group of people who all agree on matters that are largely unimportant. Neither is it a community where a part are trying to convince the other part to be more like them. Paul is in the strong camp, he has understood the freedom of the Spirit and the work of Christ’s forgiveness.
We live in a world which preaches rights. Though these are certainly important. Within the Church the gospel is that anyone has the right to act and speak so long as they have one understanding eye on others who may not hold that position without condescension or judgment on either side. Let’s pray that this is the case in the church we are part of.
Missions Paul 