Fellow believers in Jesus Christ...?

Miss Mama I think you are correct in how you have put the question.

We are not to argue amongst ourselves about laws or anything that doesn't matter, as these things only bring in the fruit of contention and separate the family of God. We are to have the harmony that God desires us to have. We are to edify each other and build each other in the grace of our Lord Jesus. Thus honoring God. Christians are to be known for their love for one another. This is the outstanding evidence that God wants to bulid in His church. So the world can see us and know Him through our love.

We don't argue with each other period. We honor all brothers/sisters in the Lord weather they are weaker or stronger in the faith. If w have disagreements they should be handled lovingly. Paul's exhorting us to handle ourselves here in a Godly manner.

Some Christians have a stronger commitment to Christ than others, we are all part of the family of God and the body of Christ. God's goal for us is to compliment one another and build each other up! We all must respect this.

With our conscience. Sometimes we just all need to examine our hearts with regards to our reasoning and ask ourselves.... Is what I am doing following Gods type of reasoning and consceince?

How are we as Christians to relate to one another when we have honestly differing views and opinions as to what is right and wrong? In Romans14: 1-12 Paul lays down for us some suggestions. We should learn to be more tolerant and less judgemental toward each other's point of view.

a. since we as Christians are all trying to obey God.

He's our boss, so all of our efforts should go into trying to

please God...which means we we should stop judging one another and maybe not try so hard to please each other in the matters of God. Let us, "Let God do the judging!"

The second part of this Rom: 14: 13- 23 Paul deals with the Christian's responsibility to our weaker brother or sister in Christ.

a. We need to ask ourselves. Are we a stumbling block or a stepping stone to our weaker brother or sister?

This is a matter for our conscience: We don't want to be a stumbling block. In cases where ther are no specific commandments or instructions in the bible for or against these issues, it's left up to each individual Christians to make up his own mind BASED on what his conscience tells him is right and wrong. Verse 15: Paul basically tells us " If your brother is being INJURED by what you eat (and this can be anything with a consience question, not just what you eat), you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause THE RUIN of one for whom Christ died." Do not let your brother stay in a distressed state. Do everything in your power to restore peace,harmony and unity.

Paul takes us that step further,especially those of us who are mature and stronger Christians.

This is just not milk Paul is giving us here, he's giving us some meat of the Gospel to chew on.

Paul is saying: The mature and loving thing to do is not to offend or "injure" the conscience of a weaker brother or sister.

Paul's advice is quite clear: "It's the mature Christian's duty to think of everything he does and says, not only as it affects just ourselves as we relate to God, but also as it affects others, especially our brother or sister who is weaker in the faith.

this subject is so deep...and there is so much involved when someone offends us...we just need to hand it over to the Lord and ask Him to give us his grace and His forgiveness and we need to show a tender heart and settle our differences. And not let a night pass with anger!

Most often Paul is reminding us to love and handle ourselves as pleasing to God. God bless you and ty for the question.

We need as servants of God to take Paul's advice to heart by avoiding the following tangents:

Pre-occupation with methods rather than with spiritual realities. For example, the ancient debates over whether to use fermented wine or grape juice, leavened or unleavened bread, a common cup or individual cups - as if there were important questions in the Bible!

Quibbling over words.

Majoring on one truth, or even one aspect of a truth, to the exlcusion of all else.

Allegorizing the Scriptures until they become absurd.

Theological nit-picking that edifies no one.

Wandering from the word into political by-paths and into Christian crusades against this and that.

What a tragedy to spend precious time on these things while a world is perishing.

You're missing the point of the line. They are all connected by "foolish". An argument is an argument. But a foolish argument is something different entirely. Do you see? Read it like this:

"Avoid foolish questions, foolish genealogies, and foolish contentions, and foolish strivings pertaining to law, for they are useless and worthless."

It's good advice to avoid anything foolish, so this is sound advice :)

edit: It's hilarious how everybody's going so deep about this quote, when the original problem she was encountering was merely mis-reading it.

OK well according to the dictionary...striving means - "to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete."

So Paul may have been telling the Christains of that time not to have fights and debates over the Law. Such debates would be in vain.

It mean,s to not ask foolish thing,s and listen to babbling,s

that people make about God,they do not profit us

and the law in in old time,,we are now under Grace

and not the law,, to ignore those who tell us God lie,s

and thing,s are not as God say,s,,these are the thing,s that

are unprofitable and vain.

Law vs Law is as Loser vs Loser, Divided Against Itself. Any kingdom, house, or person divided against itself shall fall to desolation: Mt 12:25; Ml 3:24, 25; Lk 11:17.

Not to mention we are delivered from the law: Romans 7:6; and we are to mark and avoid them causing divisions: Romans 16:17.

Muslims also have a similar teaching. it creates divisiveness in the community to argue about minor little things. the important thing is that we share the same beliefs in our religion as far as being a Muslim matters. after that, there's a lot of things that are open to debate and when you start debating, you also narrow what you can do: e.g. a story from the Quran

2.67 And when Moses said unto his people: Lo! Allah commandeth you that ye sacrifice a cow, they said: Dost thou make game of us ? He answered: Allah forbid that I should be among the foolish! 2.68 They said: Pray for us unto thy Lord that He make clear to us what (cow) she is. (Moses) answered: Lo! He saith, Verily she is a cow neither with calf nor immature; (she is) between the two conditions; so do that which ye are commanded. 2.69 They said: Pray for us unto thy Lord that He make clear to us of what colour she is. (Moses) answered: Lo! He saith: Verily she is a yellow cow. Bright is her colour, gladdening beholders. 2.70 They said: Pray for us unto thy Lord that He make clear to us what (cow) she is. Lo! cows are much alike to us; and Lo! if Allah wills, we may be led aright. 2.71 (Moses) answered: Lo! He saith: Verily she is a cow unyoked; she plougheth not the soil nor watereth the tilth; whole and without mark. They said: Now thou bringest the truth. So they sacrificed her, though almost they did not. 2.72 And (remember) when ye slew a man and disagreed concerning it and Allah brought forth that which ye were hiding. 2.73 And We said: Smite him with some of it. Thus Allah bringeth the dead to life and showeth you His portents so that ye may understand. (Quran)

"the law" means here the MOSAIC law.

Rules that are not valid anymore like circumsicion and kosher food-laws.

to all those hoo respond in love...

this a song for you...

this is a song for us all...

(in the spirit of love)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1bSlS6OWTs

ohh our Creator is Awesome.

SubhanAllahi wa biHamdihi!

Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

Praise be to you LORD.

amen.

striving is fighting, battle