Paul's Advice on "Disputable Matters"

Living with Differences in the Body of Christ

If you read 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 14.1–15.7 you will notice that Paul often has to negotiate between different consciences and convictions. In most cases, this applies to topics like food offered to idols, vegetarianism, wine, or observing holy days.

Of course, Paul regards some issues like adultery and sex with prostitutes with moral resolve and a stern inflexibility. So it is important to have a triage about essential matters, matters that require careful discernment, and also matters of conscience, things which are disputable.

Several years ago, the Ridley faculty and some friends produced a book called Mending a Fractured Church which deals with how to learn to live with differences when you have different convictions on any number of things. It also talks about the things that differences should not be tolerated on! Check out this video featuring myself, Scott Harrower, and Brian Rosner on “disputable matters.”

The real challenge is: how do you respect other people’s views without imposing your own view, but also without being bullied by the convictions of others?