Approval that Brings a Blessing

²² So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. Romans 14:22

Where did your convictions come from?  How much was caught by the environment that you grew up in?  How much does your religious traditions impact the values that you hold so dear to your Christian faith?  Have you thought much about issues like the mode of baptism, worship style, or unclean meats?

In this chapter Paul addressed differences in opinion regarding the freedom to eat meat that Jewish law declared unclean.  For many of the Jews this was a stumbling point in fellowship.  Their whole life before Christ was consumed in observance to the law of not eating or even coming in contact with a meat like pork.  How did becoming a Christian reverse what God had so clearly defined?  In Peter’s vision, he refused to eat the unclean meat in which God was now declaring clean.  He struggled to understand how God would change this command.  But God placed him at Cornelius’ home…a gentile who ate this unclean meat.  God superseded Peter’s objections.

Back to my original question.  How were your convictions developed?  Paul is giving a clue as to how to have a peaceful mind.  He says that one who lives convictions based on faith does not stand condemned.  James says a person that does not live by faith wavers constantly like a ship on the ocean driven and tossed by the wind.  James says this person is unstable in all of his ways.

Peace comes first in knowing why you believe.  Faith is our response to a truth that God has revealed.  If we believe that baptism is by immersion, then we would expect to be baptized in this way.  If by sprinkling, then be sprinkled.  Not because someone else told you that this is the only way.  But, because you prayed and are trusting (faith in action) God that this is the right mode.

Second there is a peace that comes when you know that you don’t have to convince others about your convictions especially when they differ from you own.  If they ask how you derived your opinion, then share it with them.  By not judging or arguing with them to make them believe as you do, opens a path for yourself that is a blessing.  This verse does not mean that you have to be quiet about your conviction.  Be ready to share or defend your thought processes.  But so much freedom comes from knowing that God is able to make his point of view known to them at the appropriate time or change your viewpoint if necessary.

Father, help us to ground our convictions in your word.  Help us to make room for those who believe differently, that you love them equally as much as you do us.  Help us to expect to give grace to others as we need grace extended into our lives as well.  Help us to identify true convictions and not fear of what other people think.  We don’t want to live in the shadow of the fear of men, but in the lighted path that you lay before us.  In Jesus Name, Amen.