Disputable Matters or Matters of Doctrine?

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” (Romans 15:1-4 NIV)

In context, “the weak” were those Jewish Christians who could not let go of some of the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, and dietary laws and restrictions, which were no longer required of them under the New Covenant (see Romans 14:1-23). This seemed to be focused in two main areas, the first being the dietary restrictions of the Old Covenant versus the freedom to eat anything (pretty much) under the New Covenant. Secondly had to do with the keeping of the Sabbath, I believe. Some held on to regarding one day more sacred than others, while others considered every day alike.

Even though those people who held on to the Old Covenant dietary laws, and the keeping of one day a week as more sacred than others, were now free from having to do those things, under the New Covenant, they believed that they should retain them. And even though they were regarded, then, as weak in the faith, and not strong in faith as those who felt the freedom to not do those things, they were not chastised, but they were regarded as those who were doing what they were doing as to the Lord, the same as those who had the freedom to not follow those same Old Covenant laws.

The main point with this, though, was that they were not to stand in judgment, one against the other, for these issues were regarded as disputable matters, and not matters of Christian doctrine. Do we now have the freedom in Christ to not have to go by Old Covenant dietary laws? Absolutely! Are we, as Christians, required to keep the Old Covenant Sabbath day? No, we are not! In fact, we are encouraged, as the body of Christ, to meet together daily for the purpose of exhorting one another so that none of us are being led astray by deceitful desires (Hebrews 3:13).

So, if we have differences of opinion about things which are “disputable matters” of Christian practice, but which do not enter into the area of Christian doctrine, we are not to stand in judgment, one against the other. But we should be glad for one another that we are all serving the Lord in our lives in ways in which we believe we should, in reverential fear of the Lord, but never as a matter of pride or snobbery or feelings of superiority. And we should do what we know how to do to get along with one another and to be at peace with one another and not be at odds with each other.

But this does not enter into the area of Christian doctrine where there are definite rights and wrongs of lifestyle and practice, and where we definitely are told that we must live a certain way or we will not have eternal life with God. So we need to learn to differentiate between matters of opinion, which may be disputable and unsolvable matters which we must learn to be at peace with each other about, and matters of biblical doctrine and practice which will determine our relationships with the Lord and where we will spend eternity. That matters that we all agree, because our souls are at risk!

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

So, pleasing our neighbors for their good does not engage compromise of biblical truth and doctrine regarding faith, salvation, and eternal life. We don’t bend in these areas in order to please our neighbors, for remember this has to be “for their good.” And if we compromise truth in doctrine regarding the gospel of our salvation, we are not doing for anyone what is for their good, but only that which will harm them. But when we hold strongly to the truth of the gospel, we should expect that we will be insulted and persecuted and hated as Jesus was, and that can be a lonely existence. 

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-25,34-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

The Rock of My Heart

Lyricist: Bassford, Matthew W.; Psalm 73

Composer: Schales, Glenda Barnhart

My Lord, I need nothing beside You;

Without You, I could not have stood.

Your promise is my hope and my refuge;

Your nearness, my strength and my good.

When I was distressed and embittered,

By things I could not understand,

Your presence was continually with me;

You always took hold of my hand.

I know that Your counsel will guide me

In wisdom, devotion, and love,

And afterward You’ll call me to glory

To dwell in Your presence above.

My heart may be broken within me;

My earthly strength may depart.

But You are my portion forever,

You are the Rock of my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9SQe7t748Q

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Disputable Matters or Matters of Doctrine?

An Original Work / February 21, 2025

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love