We must be careful to always understand that our journey with God is directed by God. We are striving for the unity of faith, but His workings in us are done by Him in Him time. We must do all we can to ensure that we encourage our brothers and sisters who are at different places in the walk with Christ. We are to “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.” (Romans 14:1–2, NIV84)
These disputable matters really are anything except the issue of Jesus is Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus Christ died for our sins. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. There is no other way to heaven. “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ” (Romans 10:9–10, NIV84)
Examples of disputable matters are all the reasons we have so many denominations. Can I dance in church? Does God like drums? Should my hair be long or short? Is God offended if I wear jeans to church? Should I speak in tongues? Is healing for today? How can we pray for the sick? The list goes on and on.
There are people who say the follow Christ. However, they walk in a spirit that neither encourages or edifies other Christians in their walk with Christ. Our walk with Jesus is personal. Yes we must be Biblical, but we must also understand that no one has yet arrived and the journey is about the process of becoming Christ like.
I am grateful that the things in me that Jesus is working out in me are not the things he corrected in me 20 years ago. I would not have understood or responded to the correction of Jesus then. 20 years ago, Jesus talked to me about anger. 20 years ago Jesus talked to me about the people I was hanging around with. Today Jesus speaks to me about other things. He is working in me a deep love and compassion for people. He is always looking for more surrender and greater intimacy. It is in this process of growth that we must encourage people to pursue God.
Jesus spoke about the people who would not encourage others. He said, “”To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ” ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ ” (Matthew 11:16–17, NIV84) These are people who want to acknowledged as being right. If they speak, we must listen. If they play, we must dance. If they are feeling sad, we must mourn with them. Their understanding of the Bible is the only correct understanding.
These people then will always find a reason to judge and condemn those who are not walking with them. Jesus continued, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” ” (Matthew 11:18–19, NIV84) The point of Jesus was that it did not matter if there was eating or drinking, if those with a critical spirit did not like it, they would condemn the messenger.
Here is my encouragement to all who say they follow Christ. “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2–4, NIV84)
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