God’s House Rules
I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14:14-19
I have always held a deep admiration for the mothers of my friends. Their strength, wisdom, and nurturing sprits have often left an impression on me. I recall a particular gathering with family and friends. One of their mothers, who naturally was a take charge personality, needed assistance. She asked if I could help move an item for her, and without hesitation, I replied, “Yes, ma’am.” My friends looked amused by my response. But for me, it reflected the values my mother instilled in me. She taught me the importance of respecting authority figures, and in that moment, it was my friend’s mom. Her face lit up with a smile across her face as a silent acknowledgment of the respect I had shown her. Now, one might think that was sucking up. However, I see it as honoring the house rules.
We all have places and environments where they may do things quite differently than how we normally would. In some cases, they might have customs that are quite different from us, and it may bring into question our faith. One might ask would we be honoring God by doing this or not? This can be really dicey when we are faced with other Christians who may see things differently than we would. Considering we worship the same God, exactly which rules do we follow? Ours or theirs?
In our journey of faith, honoring God transcends all earthly rules and traditions. Today’s scriptures give us very clear guidelines on how we as Christians are to behave in diverse environments. For instance, though I have never been Catholic, I have no issue in attending mass and saying ‘Hail Mary’ during the service. The practice is not about determining who is right or wrong. It is about whether are we serving God or merely ourselves. An attitude of humility is a direct result of the Holy Spirit within us. It reflects our trust that God knows best. As Romans 14:17 reminds us, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Our lives, focusing on Jesus Christ, supersedes all other rules, and as such, are allowed the freedom to act accordingly.
We are not on a mission to prove who is the better or more righteous Christian. In fact, we are called to humble ourselves in the words of Paul in Philippians 3:9 that says, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”
Paul’s words are to be taken to heart. We should strive to be more righteous and loving in our interactions with fellow believers and those who may yet to know Christ. Just as He transformed the heart of a tax collector, He can work through us to touch the lives of others. If we focus on pleasing God, we will naturally draw others to His light while also building bridges of understanding and compassion. Today, let us remember the profound teachings of Christ, who personified gentleness, love, and humility. Where can we build bridges to others through Paul’s words today? How can we seek God’s righteous above our own need to be right? My prayer is that when conflicted by different rules, we focus on God’s house rules. Amen.