As Christians we are at war with the devil. In war people die, especially when their team does not work together. That is true for the spiritual war we wage. Without unity there will be spiritual casualties and deaths. What is worse is that if those who fall into spiritual death do not come back, their death will be eternal. We understand these things right? Then why do we vehemently oppose one another on matters of opinion that do not concern the spiritual kingdom of God? Does this add to or detract from ones position with God? No, because the just live by faith, and Christ does not profit from these kinds of things. (Galatians 3:11; 6:2, 6) Being a matter of personal discretion, how do we come to a conclusion that promotes righteous unity among Christians?

First and foremost, remember not to judge another’s slave. (Romans 14:4) You are not in the position to ascertain whether the eating of meat or vegetables or esteeming one day over the other is wrong for Christians to do. Why? “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:7, 8; Galatians 2:20). Let’s not ruin our righteousness by mistreating Christians, nor should we destroy the work of God in our conduct. (Romans 14:16, 17, 20) Are you going to let your liberty cause one to stumble? God’s word commands otherwise. (1 Cor. 8:9)

So, how do we unite? Remember our place as sinners before God. (Romans 3) To stay in unity we must be sensitive to our conscience, and that of our brothers and sisters. If it is a violation of conscience, it is sin. This will vary among us, so we must not violate one another’s conscience. Paul led by example by being all things to all men to save as many as possible. (1 Cor. 9:19, 22) If it causes your brother or sister to sin, do not do it! (Romans 14:21) This is a two edged sword. If we know something causes us offense, yet it does not bother others, we must not make an issue of it. We need to be humble in our opinions, and often keep them to ourselves. (Romans 12:16-18, 22)

Finally, remember that it is love that conquers all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) We must get to a point where it truly doesn’t matter if one eats vegetables over meat, or esteems one day over the other, has one opinion on vaccinations versus another, or even how we go about raising a child. We live by the spiritual law of liberty, but we must not use that liberty to hang our brothers and sisters. Romans 14:19, 20 advise, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. [20] Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.”

Truly, in all love,

Ryan Herring