2001.12.30. Washingtonians(30) - Rev. Young Jin Cho

Love In Spite of Differences

Romans 14:1-23

An eventful year of 2001 is gone by. During this 50th anniversary year, I have been preaching with the title of "Washingtonians" which contained Paul's letters to the Roman Christians. From his letters, I tried to convey God's intended messages for us. The first week of the year began with the book of Romans and we are closing the year with the same book. Today's 30th sermon will be followed by four more sermons next year until the closure.

When I started at seminary in Korea long ago, an advice given by a professor is still in my mind. At that time, there were demonstrations targeted for religious bodies and social justice system. He said the conviction is precious and important but should have an open-mindedness. Conviction with closed mind may produce self-righteous individual and block one's maturing process. His advice of 30 years ago still lingers in my mind.

One of the most painful problems of the Korean churches in America is the "break-up" which has implanted scars deep into our hearts of ministers and lay people as well. It has become a main stumbling block of churches becoming role model.. Whenever the division is mentioned by the American ministers whose churches are shared by the Korean congregation, I get very embarrassed. Often the cause of division is very trial rather the serious and essential nature. The division attributed from the essential dogma of Christian faith is very rare. Most of the time, insignificant procedural differences or issues with other probabilities promote the division. Somehow, the people are reluctant to accept and tolerate the differences. Thus, an unity with differences is very difficult to achieve.

I

According to today's reading, the Roman churches experienced similar situations and there were two reasons for their division; eating and observance of special days. In Roman churches, there were Christians living strictly by the Jewish laws not eating meat and seriously observing Sabbath day and other sacred days. In those days, the meats sold in the market were left-over from the offering tables for the Roman idols. For that reason, they could not consume. Moreover, they were uncertain as to the kind and nature of the meats sold, compelling them to become vegetarians. Paul called them as "the weak in faith."

On the other hand, there were another group of people who proclaimed that they were freed through the gospel, therefore the laws imposed on eating and sacred days could be ignored. They believed that those laws had no relevance to salvation, and continually emphasized the freedom of Christians. Consequently, in the Roman churches, the conflict and dispute prevailed between the two groups. The Christians, advocating the freedom, despised the weak ones and the weak ones reciprocated. Although, they served the same God in same church, they did not accept each other but despised. Friends ! Was this problem confined only to the Roman churches ? How about the churches of today including our own ?

This problem exists in Washingtonians living in 21st century, especially among the Korean churches. The recent issue includes the implementation of the contemporary worship style; whether the gospel songs should be sung during the worship. There are people believing that only quiet and solemn style is the genuine worship. On the other hand, there are people believing that clapping hands and singing the gospel songs represent the true worship. These differences break up the churches. Some believe that shouting during prayer is the only meaningful prayer whereas the ones with opposite views criticize them by replying that God is not deaf, therefore there is no reason to shout. The confrontation resulting from the difference of views, pervaded not only in Roman churches but also in churches of today including the ones in Washington area.

II

Friends ! For the solution of this problem, what is today's reading trying to offer ? What is God's will in dealing this type of dispute ? As churches of Christ and His people, how can we overcome this problem ?

(1) First of all, we must remember that as God's people we live a life of flexibility (gray area). The bible may not prescribe a detailed solution for all problems because of its trivial nature rather than its essentiality. If one believes that his conviction is the only legitimate one, the problem already exists. The Roman Christians claimed that they did not eat meat because they believed in God while the opponents claimed oppositely. They criticized and despised each other. For that very reason, Paul advised in verses 1-2; "Receive him whose faith is weak without passing judgment. One man's faith allows him to eat everything but another man whose faith is weak eat only vegetables." The word to "receive" means to accept or embrace. Different views may prevail while serving the same God. If that happens, accept them all. Lets read from 14: 5; "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God." As we live to the same Lord, a flexibility exists in eating meat and observing special days. We can clap hands, sing the gospel songs and worship quietly also. We can pray both loudly and quietly. We can reach Washington, D. C. through 66 or by the way of George Washington Pkwy. As we worship together, we must accept the differences. We should not criticize nor despise others because of that reason, for it is not God's will. An exclusive self-conviction can lead to self-righteousness which can be a dangerous attribute in Christian living.

(2) Secondly, we can overcome the differences if we realize that our journey in faith contains various growth stages. Paul, personally, seems to favor the freed Christians and considered them as the "strong in faith." However, he disapproved criticizing and despising the weak ones because it contradicts to the Bible's teaching. He, emphatically, exhorts embracing and encouraging each other. As I have often mentioned, "believing" is not "being" but is "becoming". Believing is not stillness but is "dynamic". It has to grow, and no one begins with matured faith. Through the time, tribulation, training and efforts, the faith grows. Without an exception, once we all were weak in faith. Because our faith has grown a bit, we should not despise the weak ones. If he does, a definite problem is foreseen in his spiritual journey and has a long way to go. When I came to this church first time in 1979, I used to ask people how many years they had been living in this country. Most of them said 20 or 25 years. Since then I stopped asking because they were already comfortably established in contrast to my situation which necessitated many struggles including the language. I felt distant and different from them, however, their words of encouragement helped me overcoming my struggles. It is same in spiritual journey; matured ones need not be boastful and the forerunners don't have to despise the late ones. It is important that we embrace each other with open mind. Instead of criticism, give encouragement, instead of reprimand, show forgiveness, and instead of looking down, place yourself at his situation and try to understand him.

(3) The third point I like to emphasize is to accept and understand the weak ones in faith and the ones with different views. Why do we have to accept them ? The reason is they also are the creation of God, and the Lord died for them also (14:15). Briefly speaking, we should possess different perceptions when we confront the people with different views. If you focus only on his differences, you discover only different attributes and he may appear to be a stranger. In spite of weakness in faith and differences, he is God's child and the Lord died for him also. If you remember this truth, you will realize that every one is your brother and sister. Finally, your love and acceptance will begin to surface. Lets go to 14:3; both strong and weak ones were accepted and welcomed by God and their Lord is Jesus Christ and they belong to Him also. Then why criticize ? Whether he stands or falls, Jesus Christ is going to handle them. As in 14:10, they and we all will stand before God's judgment seat and will be judged. Therefore, should not criticize and despite because of the differences. We need to ignore this trivial matter and focus on character and subsistence of individual. People may have different opinions and views but they are still God's children and the Lord died for them also. We must remember that this is the main reason why we have to accept them.

(4) The fourth important point I like to convey is remembering the important essentials besides the trivial matters of difference. In many occasions, because of our preoccupation in trivial matters, we tend to ignore the more important and essential issues. "If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer in love (14:15)." And the verse 15 said "Do not destroy the work of God for the same of food." Often with the trivial matters, we hurt our brothers and destroy the work of God. Instead of advocating flexibility , the stubborness causes the break-up and pains. Something can be undertaken either now or tomorrow but insisting "now only" can destroy brothers. It can be done either by me or others but insisting by " me only" can bring division and pain.

What is more important ? Paul urges (14:17) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy spirit." We claim that our service is to the Lord, and if the righteousness, joy and peace are absent because of our closed mind, is God going to be happy ? If my retreat of one step backward brings the happy unity in church of Christ, shouldn't I be open-minded ? Of course there are some essential subjects which cannot be compromised. Lets examine the reasons of the division of the Korean churches today. How often does division occur due to the essential and important matters ? How often do we experience the pain because of the issues which cannot be compromised ? Doesn't the pain from non-essential issues cloud the love of Christ and the process of evangelization ? Occasionally, we encounter the people refusing to concede, although the decisions were wisely made by the official bodies of the church. If his view is not embraced, often refuse to cooperate. Friends! How would God think of this type of attitude ? If he keeps insisting his conviction, wouldn't it hinder the work of God ? A person with this attitude may miss bigger and more important opportunities. For that reason, Paul exhorts not to destroy brothers by eating issues. Eventually, it destroys the work of God.

III

The conflict existed in the Roman churches also prevails in us today. We need to understand God's will and solve according to His way. We can be different but nothing is wrong with it. We must remember that our faith is growing. He, with different views, is also a child of God and Jesus died not only for me but also for him. We need to focus more on essential and important issues. In early era of the Korean kingdom, there was a noble man of the premier status (Whang Hee). One day he was approached by one of the servants who was in dispute with others. This servant explained his justification, and after listening Whang Hee told the servant he was right. Later, the other servant came and presented an opposing view. Again, the Whang Hee told him that he was right too. Whang Hee's wife who was listening from the beginning told him that he should had decided who was right and wrong. After listening to her, Whang Hee told her that he agreed with her. Is this a story lacking a definite opinion or an attitude reflecting neither this nor that ? Or is it an example of an open-mindedness listening to everyone's opinion ?

During the Year 2000 National Convention of the United Methodist Churches , the slogan selected was derived from St. Augustine's pronouncement, " essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all thing, charity (love that cares and understand)." That is right; for essential, we need to unite and pursue whereas for non-essentials, be flexible with freedom. But in all thing, love is mot important. We need to love each other in spite of differences. Love is the greatest !