Romans 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother?
Romans 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Regardless of your position on the gray areas, you are not to judge your brother; he is your brother, even if you do not agree on these areas that are not as clearly defined in the Bible.
Notice the word the Holy Spirit uses. Why do you show contempt or set at naught your brother? That is done from both sides. The one who feels that he can eat meat and not respect the same days believes that somehow he is more spiritual, more free, and has a right to think less of his brother in Christ.
On the other side, the one who has taken a strict view will do the same. He will say that his brother doesn’t love God, isn’t separated or clean, etc. He will show contempt. The Holy Spirit wants to know why we do that.
Could it be that we do not understand that we will all stand before the real judge, and we aren’t needed in that capacity? Could it be that we do not understand that God is the only one who can call one of us into account for our lives?
What a great truth! Do not judge your brother. Do not show contempt for him. Realize that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Realize that we will all give an accounting to Him!
The primary lesson here is: don’t have a bad attitude towards your brother, not if he takes a weaker or stronger stand than you do.
We can live together as a family and love each other. We can shock the world with our love for one another. We have been known for too long as being judgmental.
Let’s be known for what we are for more than what we are against!