I work at Chick-fil-a, and we call ourselves a quick-service restaurant (same as fast food, just cleverly disguised under a fancier description). We serve chicken filets, chicken nuggets, chicken strips, chicken salad, chicken salad sandwiches, and sometime this year we will be getting a spicy chicken sandwich! What I find interesting, though, isn't the food we serve, but rather the people who serve it.
During my time at Chick-fil-a, there has always been employees who waltz right in the door and start barking orders as if they're somebody special. How does everyone else respond? They hate him/her (in my store, it's generally been a guy). They ignore that individual because even though he/she may have great ideas, he/she does not understand how authority has been structured at Chick-fil-a. In short, these bossy butts (yes, I actually used "bossy butt" in a sentence...) have no right to say half of the things they say, yet they try to act as if they are some sort of authority figure.
What does this have to do with faith? Everything.
In Romans 14, believers are instructed to "accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment." If someone believes it is wrong to eat meat, one who eats meat should not judge the other man/woman. What rights do we have to pass judgment on a child of God, who He has called righteous in His sight? They are His servant, not ours. They answer to Him, as will we. We'd do better to make sure we are walking in a manner pleasing to our Master.
Also, think about this. It is also written that "Christ died and returned to life that He may be the Lord of both the living and the dead." In other words, Jesus Christ is Lord of ALL. He reigns over every person who exists, existed, and will exist. All will be held accountable to Him, and no other. So why judge your brother for their weak faith, for whom Christ died? You will answer to the same Master as they.
Therefore, we need a shift in our mindset. It says in the same chapter that "the kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit," and all of these things come by faith. Further, "anything that does not come from faith is sin." Recall, "without faith it is impossible to please God." The issue is not whether eating meat or drinking wine is wrong - the issue is about the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is by faith that we received the righteousness of God; it is by faith that we have peace, in our position in Christ Jesus. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and that joy is found in Christ Jesus, received by faith. And this is what pleases the Lord - that which comes from faith.
So let's try our hardest to do what builds up and encourages everyone. But if we think we are in a place where we can judge others, that is what we will do. Yet the scriptures are clear - that place belongs to Jesus Christ alone, and we serve Him. Our faith, and the faith of our brothers and sisters is what matters.
So just like a store with people who do not understand the structuring of authority destroys working relationships, the same happens in the church, in families, anywhere. We do not need more people who think highly of themselves. We need to know Christ; I need to know Christ. Only then can we really know our lowly position, how imperfect we are and unable to judge another, how Jesus Christ is Lord of ALL. People, relationships, these are valuable to us and before God. Faith is what matters to God, not our ability to be "better" than the next man.
Praise God for sending us His Son! And for the freedom that comes from knowing Him, for righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. I pray that I might know Him more, and to know more fully what I have written, and that you too may know Him.
