Romans 14:1-4
Welcome those who are weak in faith but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 2 Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3 Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat, for God has welcomed them. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on slaves of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Do you remember being a middle schooler and being a young teenager? I remember feeling so incredibly self-conscious all the time. I tried so hard to fit in, was so mindful that my clothes fit in, and I felt like everyone was looking at me all the time. I felt like I had to do what everyone else was doing and I didn’t want to stick out. With each passing year, I feel like I appreciate the differences of others more and more. I love seeing people who are into a craft or a particular hobby. When you meet a car enthusiast that knows the ins and outs of different vehicles, it is amazing to see how much they know. When you meet someone who is a quilter and can see these amazing things that they have created, I sit in awe of their talent. And, when I meet someone who is a reader, I am always blown away by the volume of books that they have amassed in their lifetime. There are so many different and amazing things in this world to be a part of. If we had stayed in the juvenile mindset of always having to fit in, we would never see the talents and amazing gifts of others in this world.
There are many things that we are called to do as Christians, but one constant reminder is that we are to abstain from judgment. God’s world is wide and big and there is room at the table for all. We welcome those who eat meat and those who only eat vegetables. We welcome those who are night owls and folks that rise before the sun. We welcome people who vote red, blue, and don’t vote at all. At the end of the day, the only one who is to judge the other is our God and our role is to welcome and to love.
P.S. This is one of those biblical passages that I shouldn’t show my kids or else they might take verse 2 out of context. They would delight in knowing that the Bible tells us that only the weak eat vegetables!
Prayer
God of endless welcome, you call us to be part of your family and to welcome the other. Help us to not judge others and rather to look for connections. With eyes wide open, help us to see the other as a child of God. In your grace, Amen.