Correcting Over Matters of Opinion

Have you ever had someone correct you over something silly? I think we all have, especially anyone reading this who is in the public eye at all. We may have been corrected about how we dress, a small detail of a fact you got wrong, or maybe you were accused of doing something inappropriate at church. 

I'm a habitual corrector. I'm going to be preaching to myself more than anyone else here. When someone says something I disagree with or even thinks the right thing (my opinion obviously being the right thing) for the wrong reasons, it bothers me. I really have to hold back, because if I don't, I might alienate someone. Maybe you're the one who has a habit of correcting others, which is important to do when it really matters, but not over matters of opinion. Getting corrected is annoying, and correcting others too much can have a really negative impact on the church. 

In Romans 14, there were 2 issues addressed that were dividing the church. There were some religious/moral vegetarians who were offended by those eating meat (because it had to be bought at the market and may have been sacrificed to an idol), and there were those who celebrated holidays (and the Jews kept a LOT of them) that were judging those who didn't. Paul starts out by saying that whatever you're doing, do it in confidence! If you don't eat meat, don't despise the person who does, and if you celebrate religious holidays, you do it in honor of the Lord. In other words, you're arguing over opinions, and these people are God's servants. It isn't your place to judge them. It is God's! 

These matters of opinions threaten to divide a congregation of strong men and women, but Paul's focus is on the weak. We have to consider how correction makes a weaker Christian feel. When I talk about weaker Christians, a person is not "weaker" if they disagree with you. They aren't "weaker" if they will go to another congregation when they don't get their way. They are weaker if they are a Christian who is just returning to Christ, A Christian whose faith is weak and is just waiting for an excuse to leave, or a Christian who is new to the faith and hasn't developed the same superior sensibilities that you have. 

If you want to give these people an excuse to leave, find something silly to correct them over. Maybe their child was acting up during the sermon, and you were concerned that some people behind them may have been distracted. Maybe they wore jeans to church on Sunday morning, and you really feel like they should honor God more with the way they dress, because we all know God loves when people wear expensive clothes. Ironically, he doesn't seem to care on Wednesday nights. Maybe you saw they had a nativity scene at their house during the Christmas season, and you thought you might encourage them by telling them "you know Jesus probably was born in Spring, right?". Besides, you don't celebrate Christmas as religious, and they should adopt 100% of your opinions immediately. 

If we focus on what divides us instead of peaceful things that unite us as a congregation, we set a stumblingblock in the way of our weaker brothers and sisters in Christ. We give the opportunity to fall and another obstacle to their faith to overcome. Paul encourages us to not only keep our mouths shut, but to respect the WEAKER brother's opinion and even make concessions for him (Romans 14:21). If we love our weaker brothers and sisters in Christ, then we won't find opportunity to correct over matters of opinion. Instead, we will find opportunities to teach them the things that the Bible actually DOES teach on. 

I can't add anything to what is said in Romans 15:1-7  

"We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”  For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

Peace! 

Jeff Griffith