We Are Not To Impose Our Personal Convictions Or Standards On Others

As Christians, we are to love others, and especially those who are also Christians.  When we love someone, we respect their opinions, even when we disagree.  We don’t try to force them to accept our opinions, or  think they are stupid for having a different opinion.  I Corinthians 13:4-5 tells us, “…charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up… seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”  Unfortunately many Christians get the idea that they are the only ones who truly know what God wants and demand others believe and do exactly as they do,   It was a problem for the church at Corinth, as Paul points out in I Corinthians 14:36-38,  “What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.”

Paul is quite clear that if a person is truly spiritual he will acknowledge what he has written are in fact God’s commands, and anyone who does not recognize them as such, who isn’t sure doesn’t really understand God or his word.  II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  If we have the scriptures, we have all the information we need to please God completely.  We don’t need some new book or special revelation to teach us what Christians are supposed to do. 

It is with this in mind that Paul wrote, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations,” in Romans 14:1.  Convinced they have some special anointing from God people often began to impose their own convictions, opinions and feelings on others even though there is some question whether that is truly what God meant or said. 

In Paul’s day there were some who believed it was okay to eat whatever was set before you while there were also vegetarians and vegans who would not eat animals, either because they considered it wrong to kill animals, or because they did not trust God to take care of their health, just as there are today.  We are not to judge their Christianity by such practices, as Romans 14:2-4 tells us.   For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

 If we begin to demand that people live by such standards, we have departed from the true faith, just like other false teachers, as Paul told Timothy in I Timothy  4:1-3.  “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

In Paul’s day there were also some who believed the Christians should not celebrate certain holidays such as Christmas or Easter or Independence Day, just as there are today.    Paul addresses this issue in Romans 14:5-9.  “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”As Paul points out, it is not the celebrating or not celebrating the holiday or whether we eat or don’t eat meat that matters, but our attitude in what we are doing.   

Since we are not God, and cannot fully understand a person’s attitudes and motivations, we need to leave the judging to God, as Romans 14:10-12 tells us.  “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”   We need to remember none of are perfect, and we will all have to stand before God.   We will be judged according to what we have done, not for what others have done or not done.  Instead of worrying about what others are doing, we need to make sure we are doing what God wants.