Unlimited: Keep Your Beliefs about Food and Drink between Yourself and God
Oct 26, 2023 714
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God (Romans 14:22a).
Some people make eating and drinking a fundamental matter of faith. Paul tells us here that we should keep whatever we believe about eating and drinking between us and God. I dare say that we should keep many of the things that we believe, which are not essential to salvation, between us and God.
Instead, throughout the history of Christianity, people have made these kinds of things the cause of divisions among their fellow believers. These kinds of attitudes are precisely what Paul is speaking against when he tells us to stop destroying God’s work in people’s lives.
It is important to remember the Christian adage:
In essentials, unity, in nonessentials, liberty, in all things, charity.
An important way in which we show charity is by keeping our beliefs about non-essential matters between ourselves and God.
What are “essentials”? Paul would define “essentials” as those things that are necessary for the Gospel. “Nonessentials” are those things that are not necessary for the Gospel, and on which Scripture does not clearly pronounce itself. There is always an element of personal conviction through our conscience, and for that reason, we are to show charity in all things.
An important way in which we show charity is by keeping our beliefs about non-essential matters between ourselves and God, so that we do not detract from, or even destroy, the work of the Gospel.
Spiritual Application
Do you feel a need to attempt to get everyone to believe exactly like you and adopt your lifestyle? Or are there things that you are happy to just keep between yourself and God?
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Ketch Winters
Oct 26, 2023
Hello, This is wise advice. So much strife is caused by arguing about the little things. Little nuances and interpretations have caused such huge problems within our church family. We really do need to consider what is important before we assign it to a command from God. The need for people to make others get in line with them is rampant in our church community today. I feel it stems from a trend where church leadership dictates the meaning of incidental matters. This has caused much animosity between church groups. Generally speaking, it seems it is the little details that cause the most divisions. Its got to start at the leadership level however. Many of these things are not a part of our 21st century culture and people do not think of these things until it is brought to attention by a sermon. The leadership of a church group can have a substantial effect on how the church body applies scripture. Most conflict is caused when a person of influence makes a statement that others do not agree with. These others then feel they need to defend their position and the fight is on. We need to be very careful about what we deem important enough for corporate messages, especially when these topics are meant to address issues of another culture. Seriously, we cannot apply messages that were meant for a first century Jewish community to 21st century American Christians. The cultural background is just not present and these issue then cause problems that were not there in the first place. Your devotions are the best I have read. Your insight is level headed and logical. More church leaders should present scripture as you do. Thank you for that. Ketch
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