Let every man be fully convinced

“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” - Romans 14v5

(Apologies, I inadvertently jumped over chapter 14 yesterday)

In the classic novel "Watership Down" there is a scene where one of General Woundwort’s officers, Chervil, is explaining policy to a possible new officer. Woundwort’s warren is a very tightly run community where everyone feels safe and secure, but liberties are a bit wanting. While he is describing the rules for burying hraka he makes a very telling statement, “You can nearly always find someone to punish if you look hard enough.”

As Romans 14 opens Paul is still addressing the issue of judging and unity which he has been referring to through the entire epistle. He starts with words to this effect. “Receive the person who is weak in the faith, but not for the purpose of questionable debates. Some people eat only vegetables, some eat meat. Don’t be so quick to judge those who differ from you. How can you judge another man’s servant? He is responsible to his own master. Each man is going to answer to God for his choices. Just make sure that you are fully convinced in your own mind”

Obviously Paul is not taking about Biblical principles; he is discussing those extra-biblical or abiblical issues. God’s people have taken to questioning, judging, and even punishing over these issues. I am amazed at the things we fight over; silly, ridiculous, and trite non-issues have become primary. They are some who seem to have Chervil’s philosophy towards others in the body, “You can nearly always find someone to punish if you look hard enough.”

Why is it that our focus is so often on “doubtful disputations” instead of rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep? Why is it that we are out on patrol looking for someone to punish instead of edifying the body and reaching the lost?

When it comes to the extras, isn’t it time that we “let every man be fully convinced in his own mind,” instead of trying to fully convince him of our minds?