"Living with Our Differences" by Pastor Robert Furrow of Calvary Chapel Tucson

If you look around, you might not have noticed that people are different. They look different, act different, even smell different and even though we have a tendency to surround ourselves with people that think like we do, there are even differences between us. In fact, if you and I agree on everything, then it means that one of us is not thinking and since I know I am thinking, I dont know what that means about you!

The question is what do we do with these differences? How do we treat each other when we find a subject we dont agree on? What do we do if you believe it is ok to do something and I think it is wrong? We are not talking about the black and white issues of Scripture. We have been given clear instruction as to things that are wrong and we need to stay away from them and things that are ok and we are not to restrict them. These are clear.

We are talking about the grey areas that you can't find in Scripture; areas that the Bible is silent on. In our day these would include watching TV, movies, secular music, cable TV, coffee, cigarettes, etc... In the days that Paul was writing of the book of Romans, they had those "greys" as well. Was it ok to eat meat? How about meat that had been sacrificed to an idol? How about whether or not you could eat food that was not kosher or should you eat only vegetables? What day should you worship on?

Romans 14 gives us great detail on how to live with these differences, and several reasons we are not to get into disputes over doubtful things and judge those who see things in a different way they we do. Paul tells us to rise above our differences with our brothers and sisters. In those grey areas we are to walk in love with one another because we all one day will answer to God. So stop worrying about your brother. You have enough to answer for before Jesus.

This full teaching on Romans 14:1-12 is available online a calvarytucson.com or at either Calvary Tucson bookstore on CD and DVD. You can watch our weekend services live on the internet 6:30pm Saturday or 8 and 10:20am Sunday MST. Our mid-week services are live streaming as well at 6:00pm Wednesday evenings.

Category:

Education

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• Romans
• bible
• Christian
• food
• vegetarian
• meat
• sin
• Jesus
• Apostle
• Paul
• 14
• Calvary
• Chapel
• Tucson
• Robert
• Furrow