Passing Judgment

Readings:
Esther 6
Romans 14:1-12

Focus:
Romans 14:10a: "You, then, why do you pass judgment on your fellow Christian?"

In this part of Romans, Paul is talking about how some people feel it's wrong to eat meat, which in that particular part of the world, at that time, was usually sacrificed to idols before it was sold, and others have no problem with it because they don't believe in the idols anyway. Paul is saying that for those who believe it's wrong, it's wrong, because they violate their consciences if they go ahead and eat it; and for those who don't believe it's wrong, it's not wrong. And neither one should judge the other.

This is different from moral issues such as murder, rape, theft, selfishness, unkindness, etc. These things are unequivocally wrong. But when it comes down to issues like this, people can be sincerely divided, and it's not a matter of life or death; not a matter of who is a true Christian and who is not.

It is important for us to remember these things when we are talking with other people, or when we hear about other people, who disagree with us on some issues such as how to solve problems of poverty in the world or how to best manage national health care. We can sincerely believe in different ways and yet all have in mind the same love of God and concern for his oppressed and poverty-stricken people. We must not judge each other on the basis of different opinions.