“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).
Diversity was present in the
church from its inception. Converts came from various backgrounds, customs, and
traditions. Such diversity sometimes contributed to differences of opinion and
conflict among the brethren. There were both Jews and Gentiles in the church. Some
were weak in faith regarding the matter of eating certain meats, according to
the law of Moses, while others regarded all food as clean. Paul’s teaching was
quite clear: Don’t judge the one who eats. Don’t regard with contempt the one
who does not eat. And don’t make choices that will put a stumbling block in any
brother’s way. Rather, “accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to
the glory of God” (Rom. 14:1; 15:7-13).
The body of Christ has always
been populated with folks from differing backgrounds and perspectives on life,
just as it was in the first century—rich and poor; slave and free; male and
female. The same is still true. The glory of the gospel message is that, in Christ,
we are reconciled in the one body. Our common heritage as children of God causes
all such differences to fade into the background, because we are all one in
Christ (Gal. 3:28).
But we are not to suppose that,
as Christians, all our differences will disappear, or that we will always agree
on everything or see all things from the same perspective. We are to accept one
another, even when we sometimes disagree. Our inability to do so is often the
result of divisive attitudes such as envy, jealousy, strife, arrogance, or
selfishness.
Accepting one another does not
mean the acceptance of sinful attitudes or behavior. Unfortunately, children of
God sometimes choose to follow after sin, or to encourage it through their
teaching. We can neither accept nor participate in such choices.
But we do accept one another as
brothers and sisters in Christ. Accept one another, regardless of social status,
race, gender, customs, or religious background. Accept one another, regardless
of disagreement on matters of opinion. Accept one another, regardless of one’s
level of spiritual maturity or knowledge. Accept one another, regardless of
one’s past or the baggage we may bring along with us.
And of course, Jesus is our
example—“just as Christ also accepted us.” Jews and Gentiles were to accept one
another in the same way that Christ accepted both groups. The Lord himself
invited anyone and everyone who was willing, to take up his yoke of
discipleship—the blind and lame; tax collectors and sinners; Pharisees and
rulers; rich and poor; the religious and the irreligious.
So, in the same way, we in his
church are to accept one another. The rich are to receive the poor, and the
poor the rich. The ignorant are to accept the learned, and the learned the
ignorant. Employers and employees, male and female, black and white—all are to
accept one another. We are to do so because Christ by grace has accepted us all.
Freely, lovingly, happily, and with great cost to himself, Christ has received
each one of us “to the glory of God.”
“Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”
Dan
Petty
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