SOME GUIDELINES FOR CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

A continuing challenge to the Lord's church is that of maintaining fellowship between brethren when matters of disagreement arise. Paul provides us with divine guidelines in Roman chapters 14 and 15. It is important to note that he is speaking about disagreements over matters of opinion which are inconsequential in themselves. He uses as illustrations the eating of meat and the observance of special days (Rom. 14:3,5). These things are neither right nor wrong in themselves.  It would be a mistake to seek to apply Paul's advice in this context to disputes about serious doctrinal matters or questions of Christian morality.

I. If a weak brother holds some peculiar but harmless view, we are to receive him, but not to quarrel about his eccentric opinion (14:1).  Rather than concentrating on the point in dispute, we should concentrate on receiving a brother whom Christ has saved. In 15:7, Paul says, "Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God." Christ saved me in spite of my ignorance, superstition and false notions.  Surely we can fellowship a brother who is in the same condition we were when first saved.

II. We have no right to criticize another man's servant.  A servant answers only to his own master (14:3-4).  Each Christian is a bond-servant of Christ (Rom. 6:18).  As such, he answers to Christ for his thoughts and deeds (II Cor. 5:10).  It is wrong for us to meddle in another brother's matter (I Pet. 4:15).  We are not masters of our brother's conscience. If Christ will accept him with his kooky views or habits, it is not our prerogative to try to force him to change.

III. Whatever course we follow in life, we must be fully persuaded in our own mind that we are doing right (14:5b). This is our personal duty, and we must respect the same in other brethren. The preacher or the elders of the congregation cannot make every decision for us personally.  We must think and act for ourselves and be responsible to our own convictions of conscience.

IV. Remember that it is impossible for Christians to live isolated lives.  Our lives, of necessity, involve others (14:7-8). The first consideration is how does our belief or action affect Christ?  Does it please him? Secondly, we ask, how will our conduct affect others, especially our brothers in the church?

V. We have no right to judge other brethren, because we ourselves are men under judgment (14:10-11).  If we ponder the seriousness of the this point, we will be sobered by the need to work on our problems. This will leave little time for most of us to be examining our brethren's words and deeds.  Judging of Christians is God's exclusive right (Jas. 4:11-12).

VI. Each one of us must answer to God for our faith and practice (14:12).  It is a great temptation to preachers to want to make other brethren answer to them personally. Such is unwarranted. If God is pleased to accept a disciple, so must we.

VII. Rather than criticizing our brother, we must concentrate on placing no stumbling block before him (14:13).  This rule would defuse most brotherly disputes.  Granted, it is not nearly as much fun for some folks, but it is far more productive for the kingdom.

VIII. Christian freedom and Christian love most always go hand in hand (14:15). While a given thing may be lawful, our love for our brethren and the church will cause us to limit ourselves rather than hurt them or endanger our fellowship. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor" (Rom. 13:10).

IX. Our weak brother's soul is more important than our liberty to do a given thing (14:15b).  Like Paul we must be willing to become all things to all men if by any means we can save them (I Cor. 9:19-22).

X. We must make sure that our good conduct is not evil spoken of (14:16).  The author once lived in a community where it was considered a great sin to fish on Sunday, even between worship services. Although such violated no scripture, he abstained for their sake and what it would do for his reputation.  We must always "take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men" (Rom. 12:17).

XI. The kingdom of God is more important than all non-essential items such as what we eat or drink (14:17). It is more important than our opinions, traditions and culture; more important than preachers, elders and people. Things of secondary importance must never be allowed to disrupt the unity of the body (Rom. 16:17-18).

XII.  We must pursue those things that make for peace between disciples, things that will edify the church (14:19). Unity in God's family is not a natural occurrence.  We must seek peace and pursue it, said Peter (I Pet. 3:11). All must abound in edifying the church ( I Cor. 14:12).

XIII. Strong brethren must carefully avoid causing a weak brother to stumble and sin. "For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.  And thus sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ" (I Cor. 8:11-12).  Thoughtlessness in such matters could cost us our soul.

XIV. We who are strong must never flaunt our freedom in the face of a weak brother (14:22).  It is always wrong to provoke another of God's children by our conduct (Col. 3:21).

XV. We must never encourage a weak brother to violate his conscience.  For him to do so is sin (14:23).  This is a cardinal point that must never be forgotten.

XVI. The strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak (15:1).  Rather than scorn and shame the weak brother, we who are strong are responsible to try and salvage him.

XVII. Rather than think of our rights and privileged, we must always seek to "please" our brother in a way that would strengthen him, even as Christ did (15:2).

XVIII. We must receive every child of God on the same basis as the Lord accepted us (15:7). We were weak, ungodly sinners (Rom. 5:6-8).  We were walking in ignorance and error, yet his grace and love saved us and nurtured us from infancy to the maturity wherein we stand.  Oh, how the church desperately need that same loving concern manifested to all her children.. May God hasten the day when these precepts will guide us in every brotherly  relation.