Paul writes in Romans, “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.” (Romans 14:1) The specific subject he had in view, whether Christians should eat meat, is no longer a live issue in most churches. But the recognition that some matters are disputable is still very relevant.
The Greek word here used here is dialogismos, defined by Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary as, “an inward reasoning, an opinion.” That is, it’s an area of Christian practice that is not clearly commanded or forbidden in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is affirming here, through Paul, that there are issues that are matters of opinion. For whatever reason, God has left some things to our own judgment. Of course, the fact that some matters are disputable does not mean that all of them are. Wisdom is always required, along with humility. And love above all else (Romans 13:10).
There’s a lot of quarreling going on in the world today, but God does not want his children to quarrel. And although the things we argue about have changed since Paul’s era, God’s desire for his children has never changed. Among many other things, that means building up my brothers and sisters in love takes precedence over supporting political candidates or policies.
A little later in the same letter we read, “each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” (Romans 15:2) I’m an American, but more importantly, I’m a child of God. My freedom to take a stand on political issues needs to be exercised in such a way that it doesn’t cause my brother or sister to stumble. This requires both humility, and the faith to trust that if I make loving the people God has put around me my priority, he will take care of the political issues.
Scripture goes on to say:
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6)
Being right is less important than being of one heart and mind. I recognize that unity is not the absolute priority in every case: Paul himself commanded that a man in Corinth be put out of the church because of gross immorality (1 Corinthians 5:4-5). Sexual immorality is explicitly forbidden many times in Scripture. There is, however, no command to vote one way rather than another. Each of us must judge, based on our understanding of the issues and of God’s word, what we should do. And each of us needs the humility to recognize that our understanding of neither of these is perfect. Politics, in other words, is a disputable matter.
Unity does not mean that we all agree on every question. It means that when we disagree we do it with love for one another. We disagree humbly, always remembering that we could be the one who is wrong. And, in fact, if I look down on a brother or sister because they voted differently than I did, if I treat them differently, if I refuse to fellowship with them, or decide that they’re not someone I want to associate with, then I am the one who is in sin.
Jesus, who said, “as I have loved you, so you must love one another,” (John 13:34) is more concerned with me loving my brothers and sisters than he is with how either of us voted. In the end it’s not the country that really matters; it’s the kingdom.