Can you win an argument with yourself? If one is not persuaded in one’s own mind there is conflict and vacillation on where one truly stands with an issue or belief. The Bible counsels us this way concerning things such as drinking wine, eating certain foods or celebrating certain holidays.
If a person is persuaded that drinking wine is wrong and they drink, then it is counted as sin to them. But if he is not convicted that drinking is sin and he drinks then he has not committed sin.
Yeshua drank wine and did not sin, and John the Baptist made a vow to God not to drink and kept his vow and also did not sin.
Therefore, let each man stand before God in obedience to his own convictions. We must accept one another and not judge others based on our personal convictions and individual understandings. It is God who convicts and places before each one the next step to know Him. Sometimes our positions and beliefs change. God imparts judgement and grace as HE wills. We all must strive to draw closer to Him, grasp more understanding and seek more revelation as we walk through this world.
We must not concentrate on our differences but allow each person to live in obedience to the revelations that God is bestowing in their hearts at the time. When I was a young teenager, I knew God in a very limited way. I understood He loved me and wanted me to learn more about Him by reading the Bible. I also understood the importance of prayer before meals and bedtime and giving Him offerings. That was the extent of it. But it was the beginning of my walk, and He patiently led me down a path of grace to where I am now. Many seasoned Christians might have judged me as I failed and succeeded through the many years to my current state and position in Him. He brought many weaknesses to my attention along the way. He showed me many flaws that were buried in my soul. And many times, I had to undergo the same test only to fail again. But God is persistent, and He delivers us when we finally submit and when we are ready for the next glory in Him.
I eventually learned my walk wasn’t supposed to be like everyone else’s. We all have different challenges, and we are all at different levels. Be patient with one another – God is not finished with any of us yet!
True unity in the Spirit considers many diversities. We must realize our different giftings, callings, perspectives and levels of understanding. Sometimes certain people must fall to tragic loss before they turn to God. Others simply notice there’s some good in the world and desire to know the God of goodness and seek Him. We don’t appraise and measure one another based on what we ourselves know. God meets each person at their point of need and readiness. His Spirit develops us and leads us in understanding and truth in our own timing and at our own pace.
We must not push our convictions on others. It’s not our job to push God on anyone. That’s the Spirits role. God leads to truth. It is, however, a blessing when He allows us to come along side of Him and offer some Biblical counsel, plant seeds of faith or nurture others along in the faith. But God is the actual guide. His Spirit pursues. His Spirit convicts. His Sprit reveals.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
As you help others see God through your testimony or His Word, you will find there are no cookie cutter answers. Everyone starts on a different platform of experiences, past influences, issues and perspectives. Find some common ground, meet them where they are and just share in love.
I have found something that often gets the attention of many a person. Introducing or re-introducing Yeshua in His Jewish context, often leads to captivation and intrigue. Reminding others that Yeshua’s faith was practiced long before Catholicism, the Reformation and the western Church causes desire for further examination. It is becoming clear that discovering Jewish roots is a providential movement of God for our time. We must exegete the scriptures from a Hebraic context. Realize, all of us Christians were torn from our Jewish mother. This tearing away has given us (through the centuries) an identity crisis – we struggle with our Greek upbringing trying to understand our Hebraic adopted family.
It is essential for the health of the church to be restored to its Jewish roots. The Lion of Judah is coming to establish His throne in Jerusalem and restore Israel and the Torah will go out to all the Nations. (Is. 2:1-4) We all need to learn the ways of our coming Jewish Messiah.
All denominations will stop comparing their doctrinal differences when the Messiah begins to reveal His Hebraic revelations. And mark my word – He will and He’s doing it even now. Many churches are desiring to know about Passover and the feasts. They are reading prophecy and realizing the role of Israel as the news brings these prophecies to light! The Unity we seek is not a spirit of unity but rather the unity of the same Spirit. He’s the agent and facilitator and He will do it.
I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Eph. 4:1-6.
And if He is over all and revealing His One faith to us then we can watch and stand in awe, as He unifies His true Church in His Spirit and not in our doctrines.
