Morning Musings: Romans 14:1

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”  (ESV)

So many fights in the church are over issues that are far less significant than we have made them.  Often someone has read something in the Scriptures (even in community) with a desire to apply what he’s seen, but, in his efforts to apply the Scriptures, he’s given too much power and position to the issue.  The result is an insistence on a certain behavior that, while not necessarily unwise, much less sinful, is an unnecessary restriction on the freedom we have available to us in Christ.   Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Proverbs 18:17

“The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.”  (ESV)

When we are on our own, our ideas almost always seem great.  We can convince ourselves of anything.  This does not, however, mean our ideas are always good.  In fact, if we are thinking entirely on our own, the likelihood that we are thinking off track runs pretty high.   Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Romans 13:13

“Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.”  (ESV)

Paul plays a mean trick on us here.  He starts listing off sins that those evil people (whoever they happen to be) commit under the cover of darkness.  And right from the start we’re tempted to cheer along with him.  Down with those evil people engaging in orgies!  Down with those drunks who are wrecking their lives and the lives of their families!  Down with those sexually immoral perverts!   Read the rest…