Have you ever heard anyone talk about the “crux of the matter?”
What’s the “heart of the matter?”
What’s the purpose or end goal of whatever path you’re walking down?
It turns out “crux” is Latin meaning “cross.” So, when the “cross” becomes the “crux” of your life, everything else will fall into place and you’ll end up at the “foot of the cross.”
But how do you get there?
At the heart of everything is the “bottom line” defined as “knowing what is and isn’t important.” The “bottom line” is the essence of a thing, the stain at the bottom of the cup after the coffee is gone.
The “bottom line” strips away the distractions, the non-essentials, and the unimportant.
And in Romans 14, the “bottom line” is Paul’s insistent call to avoid judging other Christians and instead focus on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.”
— Romans 14: 10
There was an election in our area last Tuesday. There were winners and losers, but if you allow that to come between you and another Christian or the church, then you’re saying that elections are more important than your Christian faith.
If Jesus were running, I’d vote for him.
But Jesus was not on the ballot, so I had to make a choice between two flawed, sinful humans — every election is a vote for the lesser of two evils.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
— Romans 14: 17
Every day with every choice we make, we choose between the flesh or the spirit, the earthly or the heavenly, the temporary or the eternal.
Common sense suggests that focusing on outward, temporary religious practices alone misses the heart of the inward, eternal faith.
“But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
— Romans 14: 23
The “crux” of Romans 14 is we’re all on different paths to the same destination — the foot of the cross, hopefully.
Paul’s point is that a personal Biblical faith should guide our decisions; not the opinions of those around us.
Believers should act with confidence in their own choices rather than being pressured by others.
If two Christians separate because of economic or political or social opinions, they’ve admitted those things are more important than their Christian faith.
The “bottom line” is Christian unity is more important than our opinions.
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga. With wife, Mary Ella, they are missionaries to the Navajo Reservation.
