“The Mouth should not quarrel with the Hand”

Romans 14:1 – 15:13

We are instead to be peace-makers and bring

reconciliation.

God’s Solution to save the world

1. Choose the Elect (Calling)

2. Transform His Children (Character)

3. Empower His Church (“Charis” –

grace)

“Mouth” speakingto hand, foot, …

Back to Aaron speaking …

1 Corinthians 12:21 “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’”

Yet unresolved disputes and conflicts within the Body of Christ is a big reason why billions in the world and millions in Singapore still do not know or trust our God.

The Byzantine Empire – 330 to 1453 AD

Capital of the Byzantine Empire : Constantinople,today’s Istanbul, in modern Turkey

Why is it that there are conflicts in churches, between Christians, and even between Christian leaders ?

Why is it that there are conflicts in churches, between Christians, and even between Christian leaders ?

It is because the church is both divine and human.

Romans 141. As the church is also human,

disputes and conflicts are probably inevitable.

Romans 141. As the church is also human,

disputes and conflicts are probably inevitable.

Romans 141. As the church is also human, disputes

and conflicts are probably inevitable.

2. Disputes can arise out of spirituality.

2. Disputes can arise out of spirituality.

Romans 14:2 “One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.”

Disputes of Singapore Christians• Styles of worship – Tradition vs

Contemporary vs Charismatic; Organ vs Guitar vs Drums

Disputes of Singapore Christians• Styles of worship – Tradition vs Contemporary

vs Charismatic; Organ vs Guitar vs Drums

• Day of worship – Sunday vs Saturday vs Another day

Romans 14:6 “Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”

Disputes of Singapore Christians• Styles of worship – Tradition vs Contemporary

vs Charismatic; Organ vs Guitar vs Drums

• Day of worship – Sunday vs Saturday vs Another day

• Dressing – Sunday best vs Casual (bermudas) vs Relaxed (slippers) vs Trendy

Disputes of Singapore Christians• Styles of worship – Tradition vs Contemporary

vs Charismatic; Organ vs Guitar vs Drums

• Day of worship – Sunday vs Saturday vs Another day

• Dressing – Sunday best vs Casual (bermudas) vs Relaxed (slippers) vs Trendy

• Designs (of T-shirts, Church logo, Church Building, etc).

Disputes of Singapore Christians• Different interpretations of parts of

the Bible

Water Baptism – Full Immersion vs Sprinkling?

Disputes of Singapore Christians• Different interpretations of parts of

the Bible Water Baptism

Baptism in the Holy Spirit – are all Christians already baptized in the Holy Spirit once they believe in Christ, or is it a second experience which God gives to those who earnestly seek it?

Disputes of Singapore Christians• Different interpretations of parts of

the Bible Water Baptism Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Women leadership (over men) – does the Bible encourage it, simply permit it, or forbid it?

Leadership structure Congregational (like Brethren or Baptist

– “every church member has a say”) Synod (like Presbyterian – local

churches have their own leadership, but they subscribe to a general assembly with other similar churches)

Episcopal (like Anglican – hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a group of churches resting in a bishop, and the authority over a local church with the pastor appointed by the bishop)

Romans 141. As the church is also human, disputes

and conflicts are probably inevitable.

2. Disputes can arise out of spirituality.

3. We must not have disputes over “disputable matters” (verse 1)

What are disputable matters ?

• Issues which are non-essential. Essential truths are those core beliefs that are taught in the Bible usually many times. For example – “Jesus died on the cross for our sins”, or “God is One but He has revealed Himself to us in Three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

What are disputable matters ?

• Issues which are non-essential. Essential truths are those core beliefs that are taught in the Bible usually many times.

• Issues which are more customary, ceremonial and preference rather than moral standards of the Bible.

Disputes of Singapore Christians• Styles of worship – Tradition vs Contemporary

vs Charismatic; Organ vs Guitar vs Drums

• Day of worship – Sunday vs Saturday vs Another day

• Dressing – Sunday best vs Casual (bermudas) vs Relaxed (slippers) vs Trendy

• Designs (of T-shirts, Church logo, Church Building, etc).

• Different interpretations of parts of the Bible.

What are disputable matters ?• Issues which are non-essential. Essential truths are those

core beliefs that are taught in the Bible usually many times.

• Issues which are more customary, ceremonial and preference rather than moral standards of the Bible.

• What if one person insists that a certain theological position he holds is a core belief? Check church history Check what churches in the world believe on

this matter

“In essentials, let there be unity;In non-essentials, let there be liberty;In all things charity.”

– St Augustine(The above phrase has also been attributed to Rupert Meldenius and John Wesley, though in other forms.)

Romans 14:3-6, 12 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. … So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Romans 143. We must not have disputes over “disputable matters”.

4. Even if there are disputes, they must not be unresolved nor lead to conflicts and disunity. Get the issue resolved.

Romans 14:19-20a“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God …”

4. Even if there are disputes, they must not be unresolved nor lead to conflicts and disunity. Get the issue resolved.

i. Romans 14:13 “let us stop passing judgment on one another”.

4. Even if there are disputes, they must not be unresolved nor lead to conflicts and disunity. Get the issue resolved.

i. Romans 14:13 “let us stop passing judgment on one another”.

ii. Romans 14:13b,15-16 – For the sake of love, let’s be willing to suffer loss on our part (1 Corinthians 6:7), so that our brother/sister is not stumbled.

Issues that can cause Christians to stumble are usually areas which society might condone but church is against or not comfortable with.

What if no one would be stumbled regardless of the outcome of the disputed issue ?

And both sides are just as convicted to insist on resolution of the matter in their favor.

Romans 144. Even if there are disputes, they must not be

unresolved nor lead to conflicts and disunity. Get the issue resolved.

5. Biblical models to resolve disputes before they become conflicts and hurt the unity of the Bodya) Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-

35) – get the issue resolved through the established leadership structure of your church.

Romans 145. Biblical models to resolve disputes

before they become conflicts and hurt the unity of the Bodya) Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-

35) – get the issue resolved through the established leadership structure of your church.

b) Part ways just like Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40)

Romans 145. Biblical models to resolve disputes …

b) Part ways just like Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40)

Acts 15:36-40“Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.  

39They (Paul and Barnabas) had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.”

Romans 145. Biblical models to resolve disputes before they

become conflicts and hurt the unity of the Body

a) Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35) b) Part ways just like Paul and Barnabas

(Acts 15:36-40)

2 Timothy 4:11

“Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”

South Africa’s Era of Apartheid 1948 – 1994

President Willem de Klerk,also leader of the National Party

Willem de KlerkNelson Mandela,leader of the AfricanNational Congress (ANC)

Henry KissingerLord Carrington

Washington Okumu

Washington Okumu

Michael Cassidy, Founder of African Enterprise

“We will pray for you – you carry on the job.”

King’s ParkStadium, DurbanSouth Africa

Breakthrough in early Apr 1994

Rwandan Genocide :800,000 killed between April – July 1994

Romans 15 – “5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,6so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God… 13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 12:1-2

“1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s m____, to offer your b_____ as living s_________, holy and p_______ to God — this is your spiritual act of w______.

2Do not c______ any longer to the p______ of this world, but be t__________ by the renewing of your m___. Then you will be able to test and a______ what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and p______ will.