By Pastor Stephen Hess –
The year 2020 will forever be remembered as the year that began with the coronavirus pandemic and introduced us to a set of questions that most of us had never wrestled with in our lifetimes. Churches, too, have had to wrestle with new and complicated questions such as: When is it safe to reopen our doors? What modifications should we make to our worship and ministry in light of the virus? How much should we utilize safety precautions such as masks and social distancing in our gatherings? The list of questions keeps growing and seems endless.
Sadly, in some cases these questions have stirred up animosity among Christians and even divided churches. As I have spoken with other pastors, I have heard painful stories of members fighting over reopening plans and even leaving churches because they disagreed with the leadership’s decisions. All of this brings up the age-old question: What should we do when Christians disagree? Here are four Biblical principles that I find extremely helpful:
First, distinguish between “essential matters” and “matters of indifference.” Essential matters are things about which the Bible is clear, and which all Christians should agree upon. Matters of indifference are generally things about which the Bible offers no clear, definitive teaching. Consequently, matters of indifference are things about which Christians often come to different conclusions. In the early church, Christians disagreed about what foods it was appropriate to eat. When the Apostle Paul addressed the issue (see Rom. 14 & 1 Cor. 8) he didn’t take a side, and by not taking a side he clearly put this debate into the category of “matters of indifference.” It seems to me that many of the practical questions that churches are struggling with today related to the coronavirus are also matters of indifference.
Second, do not pass judgment on your brothers and sisters. When Christians disagreed about what foods to eat in the early church, Paul told them not to pass judgment on one another. He said, “Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him” (Rom. 14:3). The principle here is clear: We should not go beyond Scripture when making judgment calls about particular issues. Sadly, in our current situation, I have seen too many people in the American church passing judgment. Some are judging fellow members for wearing masks. Some are judging fellow members for not wearing masks. Some are judging church leaders for what they consider unwise decisions. In the midst of all this we need to heed the Biblical call to refrain from judgment in matters of indifference.
Third, do not offend your brother or cause him to stumble. The Bible teaches that when it comes to matters of indifference, there is freedom to act according to one’s own Christian conscience. However, before we act, we must also consider how our actions will affect our brothers and sisters in Christ. If, by taking a particular action, it would cause one of our brothers or sisters to be offended or stumble in their faith, then we should strongly consider not doing it. Paul counseled the church “never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Rom. 14:13). In this way, “freedom” is not the end all be all in Christian decision-making. In certain cases, Paul said we should set aside our freedom out of concern for others (1 Cor. 8:13). Freedom must be regulated by love, which brings us to our final principle.
Fourth, do everything in love. In 1 Corinthians 16:14 Paul says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” As the church struggles with how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, I would suggest that the question we should be asking is not, “What are my personal preferences and desires?” Rather, the central question we should ask is, “How can I best love God and my brothers and sisters in Christ in the midst of this pandemic?” Or to use Paul’s words, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Rom. 14:19).
Christians won’t always come to the same conclusions about matters of indifference. But when we disagree, I pray that we can do so without passing judgment, always pursuing that which builds up our brothers and sisters in love rather than causing them to stumble.