He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. (Romans 14:6)
Different Christians have their own convictions about customs, practices, and traditions. For example, not everyone who believes in Jesus Christ celebrates Christmas the same way, but that's okay. Paul, however, reminded us here in Romans 14:6 that our worship and practices should be unto the Lord, not unto our personal traditions.
In the times of the early church, believers grappled with questions about specific practices: What day should we set apart for worship? What should we eat or not eat? Throughout his epistles, Paul gave guidance to help with those questions.
Paul emphasized that what matters most is not what specific customs or practices we individually adhere to, but that our devotion is to the Lord. For those who observe certain days or dietary restrictions, they need to ensure they are doing so as unto the Lord. In the same way, those who do not adhere to these traditions also do so as unto the Lord.
In some countries, it’s traditional to drink a glass of beer or wine with the meal at church, or after the church service. They pray over it; they thank God for it. So, when I get invited to speak in some of these countries, they have set the same in front of me and then said, “Oh wait a minute. You are an American Pentecostal Christian.” They respect my culture and put it away for me. That’s what Paul was talking about.
Remember that our diversity of traditions does not mean we should be divided. We may have varying customs, traditions, or convictions, but our shared foundation is that we all worship Christ and glorify Him as Lord.
Practical Application
How can you honor someone that doesn’t have the same background as you? How can you extend mercy and love to those around you this week in practical ways?