Weak. It’s a word that has immediate negative connotations. No one wants to be weak – in body, mind, or spirit. We want to be strong, smart, and mature.  So, when we read this verse and Paul references those whose faith is weak, I immediately have some negative feelings. I doubt that I’m alone!

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Paul is addressing a situation in the church in Rome where more mature believers understood their freedom in Christ in one way, while newer believers were struggling. To make a distinction between these believers, Paul used the identifier of “one whose faith is weak.”

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We are all on a faith journey. Some of us have been journeying for many years because of our age and when we were introduced to Jesus. We are further along on our journey. While on the other hand, some of us are just starting out on our journey – having just accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. And others may still be considering the journey. There is a whole spectrum of journeying – and there is no point of arrival at holiness or godliness, other than when we come to the end of our life and come face to face with Jesus. During our earthly years, we are all growing and learning and becoming more like Jesus – being transformed, as Paul wrote about in Romans 12.  

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The reality is that none of us are in the exact same position on our journey, and God is so faithful to love us and meet us individually. The question is, do we do the same for those around us? Sometimes yes, and sometimes no.  

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We’ve just come through a fantastic Alaska summer, and many love to make the most of the long summer days to produce beautiful gardens. Some grow vegetables, others flowers, and still others grow both. Gardening is a journey of learning what works best in each particular location. Even with the long daylight of Alaskan summers, what grows in one yard may differ from another based on the angle or availability of sunlight. The beginner gardener is just learning the basics – prepare the soil, plant the seed, water appropriately, weed and watch for bugs, and prepare to harvest. The veteran gardener has much more wisdom about companion plantings, timing, soil amendments, and specialized fertilizer. Yet, from one seasoned gardener to another, there is a lot of variance – and perhaps even disagreement. What works for one has not been proven to be the best for another. Sharing knowledge is great; judging one another’s choices, not so much. What novice gardener would be encouraged by an onslaught of judgment and criticism? Better to encourage to start with the basics and learn and grow from there.

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Gardening is a rough analogy, but the same thing happens in the church. We have the basics of the faith – the non-negotiables, like preparing the soil, planting the seed, watering, and preparing for harvest. (Actually, those sound a lot like the non-negotiables for how we share Jesus! See Matt. 13:1-23.) The non-negotiables of our faith are that God sent His Son, Jesus, born of a virgin, to live among us and then to die for our sins. He, alone, can pay the penalty for our sins, which separate us from a perfect God. As Paul wrote earlier in Romans 10:9, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This is foundational. Beyond this are some issues which may arise which could cause disagreement and debate.  

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Paul is encouraging the Roman church – and we can glean wisdom from this, too – to focus on the most important issues and then to take care of one another. Paul writes similarly to the church in Corinth:  
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction” (1 Cor 1:10). Again, he builds on this in his second letter to the Corinthian church, writing, “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11).

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When you find yourself becoming adamant about how best to fertilize your garden or the best way to share Jesus, remember that we are all on a journey in our faith. There are some things that are foundational but so many others where unity comes first. In striving for unity foremost, we may learn and grow from each other. I may learn some great new ideas for fertilizing my garden and new approaches for sharing Jesus, studying the Word, and so much more as I journey alongside others this side of heaven.

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How can you strive for unity this week? What will you learn in the process? Keep your eyes and ears open!

Praying Paul’s prayer from Philippians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

May our love and unity grow for His glory. Amen.