Jesus Take the Reel

2000 years ago the church in Rome was one of the most divided, polarized group of Christians when it came to cultural differences between Jews and Gentiles. When they came to the Lord’s table to eat each week each group rolled their eyes at the opinions of the other when it came to their vastly different food habits.

Some preferred meat and some only vegetables, both for different reasons and each side thought the other side were idiots, causing a lot of strife and offense among these brothers and sisters in Christ. Go figure, each person had their minds made up and insisted on forcing their opinions on the other to the point that Paul had to waste precious time and ink to address their beef (pun intended). 

The more you think about it, this behavior sounds awfully familiar in the age of social media. Even among Christians it’s pretty common to see brothers and sisters publicly and adamantly airing their personal opinions on the daily. One side can’t resist the urge to rant to the other side about why they're wrong in front of God and strangers. 

The ancient church argued pretty heatedly over what food should Christians should be allowed to eat, yet neither side was willing to disarm because they were absolutely convinced they were right, to the point that were prepared to fight to the death for their rights to be upheld at the potluck on Sunday. 

Sound silly? 

Childish even?

Unfortunately, nothing is new under the sun. Christians seem more divided today than ever about lots of issues, many of which are actually a matter of personal opinion rather than morality. Even in Paul’s day many Jews felt that eating meat sacrificed to idols was in fact a moral issue, violating their conscience because they believed it was sinful. Gentiles disagreed, insisted on eating it anyway and felt fully justified, telling their Jewish brothers and sisters to get over it. 

Along comes Paul with some clarity and helpful guidelines for Christians on they should handle themselves in a world of opinions that tend to divide the Body of Christ. If Paul were here today it’s not hard to imagine him applying the same principles here to our use of social media today. 

1. Don’t Argue About Opinions Online (Romans 14:1) “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”

Arguing with others over opinions for the sake of airing our disagreements erodes unity and rarely leads to mutual understanding. 

2. Stop Condemning People You Disagree With Online (Romans 14:3-4)

“Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand…For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself…Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer.”

It's not our place to set others straight, at least not via social media. Even so, God specifically calls Christians not to "despise" or "judge" those who disagree with us. 

3. Resist Sharing Divisive Posts Online (Romans 14:13,15) “but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.”

Just because I have the freedom to post doesn’t mean I should if it means my opinion is likely to create offense. Christians do speak the truth in love when it comes to moral issues, however matters of personal opinion should be held back to minimize offense. We often sin when we focus only on ourselves and don’t consider others in what we post. 

4. We’re Not Obligated to Say Everything You Think Online (Romans 14:16, 21-22)

"So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil…Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. “The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.”

It’s not only possible to keep our personal opinions to ourselves, it’s actually encouraged! Just because we think it doesn’t mean we have to say it out loud and if it's intended to build someone else's faith it's better to delete it.

5. Be Patient With “Those People” Online (Romans 15:1-2, 6)
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up…May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,”

Paul said Christians have an “obligation” to put up with people we disagree with and not argue with them about why they are wrong. Why? Because often times loving them means choosing unity over uniformity.

Living in harmony means two different people can sing different notes at the same time and still produce a pleasant sound. When we disagree our goal should be to harmonize with the other side by focusing on where we agree rather than emphasizing where we don’t. 

Paul's concludes his guidelines to the church in Rome by reminding them of the Gospel (Romans 15:7) 

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

God welcomed us at our worst and didn't wait for us to change our beliefs before He extended His unmerited grace on our behalf. God's Grace should be the foundation of every interaction we have, especially online before an unbelieving world. 

We offer grace because Jesus gave it to us. If Jesus laid down His life for "the other side", surely we can lay down our opinions so that He can be glorified.