Romans 12:16 (ESV)
¹⁶  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

The importance of brethren getting along with each other cannot be overstated.  Living in harmony with one another is good for the local church, the overall cause of Christ, and the soul of everyone involved.  I have often pointed out, based on our Lord’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:22-24), that we cannot be right with God and wrong with our brethren in Christ.

How can we get along with brethren as we should?  Paul gives us some instructions in the passage above, beginning with not being haughty.  The word haughty literally refers to something high or elevated, but figuratively to the pride of one who elevates himself.  Pride is a major deterrent to brethren getting along as we should.   Another passage that can help us with getting along with each other is Romans 14.       

The first thing we have to remember about Romans 14 is that Paul is not dealing with doctrinal matters, but with matters that are indifferent to God.  How do we know this?  We know it because Paul says that no matter what position one takes on the issue, in this case, the issue of eating meat, God welcomes him (ver. 3).  Since God does not welcome a person who does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, Paul would not instruct us to receive such a one.   

How does Romans 14 help us to get along with one another?  It teaches us to not only agree to disagree on matters of opinion but to do so without quarreling (ver. 1).  This means we should not be overly aggressive in trying to get others to side with our position when we disagree.  We should not be mad at a brother for seeing something different than we do.  We are all individuals and have the right to determine for ourselves what we believe on issues where God has not revealed His will.  One thing that Paul says that can be helpful along these lines is not to be judgmental toward each other.  

This does not mean that we should never judge a brother or sister in Christ.  Sometimes we are instructed to do so (John 7:24).  When brethren violate some aspect of God’s will, we, using the Bible as our standard, must try to help them see their error.  We do this out of love, knowing that if they continue down the path they are on, their soul will be in jeopardy.  James tells us that if we help such a one, we will have saved a soul from death (James 5:19-20).  However, if it is an issue that is just a matter of opinion, no one’s soul is in jeopardy.  

In this area (matters of opinion that are indifferent to God), we must avoid judging brethren, pushing our opinions on others to the point where it causes friction.  Learn to accept brethren with whom you disagree without quarreling over opinion (Romans 14:1).  This is the context in which Paul says, “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?  It is before his own master that he stands or falls.  And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).

Let us not allow our pride to think that brethren have to see everything the way we do.  In the end, quarreling with each over things that are not important to God displeases Him.  Let us live by the old restoration slogan, “In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things love.”

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.