Welcome PEOPLE, but NOT to QUARREL!

Major in majors...

The Apostle Paul said, "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions." (Romans 14:1 ESV)

Do you see it? The "major" here is welcoming the weak believer. Now, the one "weak in faith" is often that same one who is ready to "quarrel over opinions." Whew, that's tough, because, just see the logic here, the person quarreling over opinions is often divisive, offensive, and annoying.

It's certainly permissible to have an opinion. However, the best opinions come from those who have become educated on the subject for which they are issuing an opinion, and, if we're really honest, most of what we hear an opinion about comes from people who won't look at enough sides of an issue to become educated.

That being said, there is no provision for the flesh in Romans 14:1. The major issue of love we are to focus on here is to welcome weak believers, and welcome them for the opposite purpose of quarreling. That means the onus for not quarreling will be on the one (1) being welcoming on the basis of (2) not being weak. In case you miss what I mean, we are to welcome weak believers and do a lot of tongue biting while we are in the process of people loving.

Think about it, dear friends, we are actually commanded here to focus on the person and not the opinion. We are told to welcome people on the basis of what higher thing we hold together, which is Jesus, but not on the strength or depth of how we hold it.

Spend some time with this today; it's fairly deep, reaches far, and will cost much pride to deploy. One's sights will have to be set on eternity and on the higher law of love to embrace this teaching. Peace to all who read these words.