Accept one another.

Read Rom 15:1-13

One of the religious groups Jesus confronted more often were the Pharisees. He usually called them “hypocrites”. Why? They were imposing on others “heavy burdens on people’s shoulders burdens, but they themselves were unwilling to move them even with so much as a finger” ().

They were an exclusivist group that considered themselves the only right ones. Everybody else was wrong! Therefore, they did not accept those who were not like them.

They did not accept those who were not like them.

I have seen the same Pharisaical attitude in some churches where they measure spirituality based on extra-biblical rules: dress, watching TV or going to the movies, to the beach, and to other wordly places...

That attitude creates a spirit of criticism, false spirituality, and breaks the unity of the church.

The N.T. church was an accepting church, but not a condoning church.

What are the main obstacles to accepting one another? There are two:

Judging one another.

We shouldn’t judge others on controversial matters or personal opinions.

Romans 14:1–2 NASB95

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

Sometimes we discriminate others because their opinions are different than ours. Personal opinions, not God’s commands! Some are of the opinion that eating vegetables only is healthier; while others believe that meat is necessary for good health. There is nothing in the Bible that commands to do either.

Jesus’ disciples were criticized by the Pharisees because the disciples didn’t wash their hand before eating and because they were picking and eating heads of grain on Sabbath. They were not picking the harvest, which would be considered work, only fulfilling their need.

We must learn to differentiate between opinions and commandments.

The mature must not despite the immature.

Romans 14:3 NASB95

The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

In other words, accept each other regardless of your differences of opinion.

That was one of the problems of the Pharisees; they wanted to impose their opinions on others. Jesus described those opinions as “precepts of men”.

The mature must bear the weaknesses of the weak.

Romans 15:1 NASB95

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

Rom 15:1

It is not talking about physical strength, but spiritual strength, maturity! The main responsibility of acceptance is on the shoulders of mature because the immature is like a child in Christ. Why do you think that the laws are harsher on adults than on children?

Let’s not judge on areas that the Bible does not condemn.

Some, wrongly, think that we should not judge at all; and they quote that verse, “Do not judge so you will not be judged”. ()

But Jesus also said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” ()

Is Jesus contradicting himself? Never!

Pointing to or denouncing someone’s sin is not judging.

But if a person does something that the Bible does not condemn of forbid, Who are we to condemn it?

Observe the ending of , “For God has accepted him.”

If God accepts the person, Who are we to not accept him?

We must not be stumbling stones to others.

Romans 14:13 NASB95

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

Some refuses to come to church because a church member was a stumbling stone to them.

I remember a case of a man who rejected our invitation after he asked us if a person by the name ____ attends our church. When we responded, he said, “I do not want to attend! That person owes me money and refuses to pay it back.”

On a recent case, some member was seen drinking (not necessarily getting drunk) and his actions made younger believers to stumble.

We must accept each other in Christ’s love.

The basis of acceptance is love!

Romans 14:15 NASB95

For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.

Accepting others must go beyond an obligation. We must accept them as Christ has accepted us.

Accepting others must go beyond an obligation. We must accept them as Christ accepted us.

Accepting others must go beyond an obligation. We must accept them as Christ accepted us.

Slide “Loving as Christ loved us

Some say, “It is hard for me accept that sister or brother...!” Do you love her/him as Christ has loved you?

The second obstacle to accepting each other is discrimination among Christians.

Discrimination among Christians.

To God all His children are equals.

Sli

Slide “Without partiality”

Slide “Without partiality”

James, the brother of Christ and pastor of the church in Jerusalem, denounced those who were not accepting others of different economic status.

James 2:1 NASB95

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.

Jam 2:1

The wealthy were treated differently than the poor. Have you seen believers that treat the wealthy better?

Paul also denounced discrimination based on social status:

Romans 12:16 NASB95

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

It reminds me of “Doña Florinda” instructing her child “Kiko”, “Do not associate with the lowly!” (“No te juntes con la chusma”).

And discrimination based on nationality or ethnicity:

Ephesians 2:14–16 NASB95

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

To God all His children are acceptable.

The apostle Peter got surprised when God sent him to Cornelius, the Roman or Gentile Centurion. I can imagine him saying, “Me, visiting a Gentile?” But God had showed him a vision to understand the request:

Slide

Slide “What God has cleansed”

He went, as instructed, and when he got there talked to Cornelius, saying,

Acts 10:28 NASB95

And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.

Acts 10:28

It is a sin to show favoritism.

He was even more surprised when Cornelius and his household received the Spirit and were saved.

He was even more surprised when Cornelius and his household received the Spirit and were saved.

Peter came to a conclusion:

Acts 10:34–35 NASB95

Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.

Act 10

It is a sin to show favoritism.

It is a sin to show favoritism.

James 2:9 NASB95

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Why is it a sin? Think about this:

Favoritism carries the sin of pride or feeling superior to others, when we discriminate other ethnic group or nationality.

It may carry the sin of ambition, if you favor the wealthy.

It may carry the sin of lack of mercy, if you discriminate the weak.

But, anyway, the main reason it is a sin: God says it is a sin! And that’s enough reason!

In God’s church, titles, money, and social status should mean nothing. We all have been bought for the same price and we all have been accepted by Christ. => Let’s accept one another!