Romansනියැදිය

Romans 14
United in the Essentials, Gracious in the Rest

What does it look like for the church to be united when we disagree on the practical parts of our faith?

Romans 14 paints a powerful picture of unity—not built on sameness, but rooted in love. In the early church, believers were wrestling with real differences. Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus clashed over what they could eat, what days they should observe, and which traditions still mattered. These weren’t small debates for them. These were deeply held convictions, shaped by culture, upbringing, and faith experience.

Yet Paul’s instruction isn’t to fight it out until someone wins. His solution is far more radical: “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong” (v. 1). He doesn’t insist that everyone land on the same page. Instead, he invites the church to remain unified even in disagreement.

It’s not about who’s right or wrong on every issue. Paul’s challenge is to ask a better question: Are we doing this unto the Lord? “Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind,” he writes. The person who chooses to eat—or chooses to abstain—is honouring the Lord through their choice. That’s what matters.

And it’s that mindset that protects us from judgement. When we recognize that others are acting out of faith and a desire to honour God—even if it looks different than what we would do—it reframes everything. It moves us from a posture of pride to a posture of grace.

Paul reminds us we’re not each other’s judges. “We will all stand before God’s judgment seat” (v. 10). That means we can lay down the need to critique every differing view or choice. Unity in the church isn’t built on uniform practices—it’s built on a shared allegiance to Jesus.

Imagine a church that lived this out. Where differences weren’t buried or ignored, but where people were loved, welcomed, and honoured even when they didn’t agree. That’s the kind of unity that reflects the heart of God.