Two Billion Opinions

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 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. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14:1-9 ESV). Currently, Christianity has over two billion adherents divided into three great movements: Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. And the Protestants are divided into over 600 separate denominations. With that kind of diversity, it’s inevitable that there will be disagreement over many doctrines within the whole of Christianity. Sometimes it may even appear that there are two billion opinions about a single point of belief.

But when it comes to the central issues, what we believe about Jesus, most are in solid agreement. Most Christians, regardless of denomination, regardless of language, no matter their nationality believe in the most basic principles of our shared faith. We believe Jesus was born of a virgin; He is both fully God and fully man. Christ paid the penalty for our sins when He died on the cross. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven and is reigning at the right hand of the Father. We know that He will come again one day, and when He comes, it will be judgment on the ultimate and final anti-Christ, and all of his followers, as well as a moment of the ultimate salvation for those who follow Jesus. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? I am convinced that while there may be differences on secondary doctrinal issues, most Christians, regardless of “denomination,” have these core convictions. We have much more in common than not. So, why is there such dissension and difference among believers? It may be that we have not really learned how to be present with the Lord. Most of our disagreements will be sorted out once and for all when Jesus comes. I need to believe Jesus is the Son of God, Savior of mankind, and coming King of all creation. Of course its fine to disagree on the rest of theology, just don’t divide over the doubtful things.