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What can we learn from Paul’s response to the Jew/Gentile tension within the Roman Church in dealing with our own racial and cultural tensions within our local churches?

A Christian’s response to racial and ethnic tensions within their culture, specifically with regard to lifestyle and values, should be one of godliness, glory, and grace. When a response flows from such a context, grace is extended to people, glory extends to God, and godliness (reverence, divinity) is experienced by both the receiver and the giver.

A Christian’s response to racial and ethnic tensions within their culture, specifically with regard to lifestyle and values, should be one of godliness, glory, and grace. When a response flows from such a context, grace is extended to people, glory extends to God, and godliness (reverence, divinity) is experienced by both the receiver and the giver.

In Romans 14:1-15:13, Paul gives several principles for dealing with the clashing of cultures. Had Thomas Carlyle preceded the early Church, Paul might have just as easily posted a Carlyle quote on his Web site that read: “Men’s hearts ought not to be set against one another, but set with one another, and all against evil only.” Instead, Paul not only admonishes and encourages the Roman church through insight, he gives intentional instruction to their somewhat deliberate dissension. In particular, three principles stand out: acceptance (14:1), preference (14:5), and unity (15:5).

Acceptance – “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with – even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently” (14:1, MSG). In other words, accept people for who they are, regardless of what they know or don’t know, and in spite of what you agree or disagree with. The last part of verse three reads “for God has accepted [the man who does not do things the way the man who does]” (14:3b, NIV). Application: Accepting another culture with open arms does not dismiss differences; it enfranchises equality on the basis of humanity.

Preference – “None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to – all the way from life to death and everything in between – not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other” (14:7-9, MSG). Quit worrying about who eats or drinks or lives different from how you do. Choose to prefer people for who they are and who they are becoming in Christ, not for what they do that contradicts your own convictions and conscience. Application: Preferring people over their performance is what God really wants.

Unity – “May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir – not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!” (15:5-6, MSG). Paul says that we bring glory to God by being unified. “So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it!” (15:7, MSG.) Application: Unity for the sake of unity may not be a bad thing! Unity for the sake of community is even better!

The principles encouraged by Paul lead to compelling application for churches today. If the assumption that racial and ethnic tensions are not good is upheld, then certainly the eradication of their resulting behavior can only be achieved through action. Perhaps Paul sums it up best when he says,”If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong” (15:23b).

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