Romans 14:14-21
The Law of Love
“I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 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. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.“
In regard to our worldview and that of Christianty or any tenat, at the core there are Absolutes; foundational principles that are required to be included in the group, basic essentials.
Then there are Convictions; strongly held beliefs. Lastly there are Preferences; our opinions and likes about certain aspects of the subject.
Misguided liberty takes Absolutes and acting as if they are Preferences. Legalism is the opposite, making Preferences to be Absolutes. Wisdom is knowing the difference while applying these concepts accurately.
This is a great quote by a theologian, “In essentials; unity, in non-essentials; grace, and in all things; charity.”
Open mindedness is appropriate in preferences but not in absolutes, unless the absolutes we hold are flawed and unfounded.
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