Sunday, September 14, 2014: Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35
Church folks will not always agree—nor should we.
The first fistfight I ever witnessed was in a church. An argument between two leaders escalated into a physical fight. This sort of physical outburst may be unusual, but it seems churchpeople have always had differences of opinion. There’s something comforting about this long history: despite the church’s divisions and internal turmoil, it continues to be a community of and for the faithful.
In Paul’s time, what you chose to eat or not eat could be quite controversial. Food still takes a primary role in our lives together as God’s church, but these days it usually brings us together more than it divides us. In its place, we have plenty of other things
that threaten to divide us instead. One thing I love about my Presbyterian tradition is that we discuss, debate, and vote on issues that have passionate supporters on both sides. Rather than running from conflict, we openly share our different points of view.
