Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ

by D.A. Carson

Rather than lay down a law, Paul appealed to love. His concern was unity, and ours should be too. Doug Moo puts it well: One of the most important points in Romans 14 is something that Paul does not say: that the weak in faith must change their view. He makes clear that he does not agree with them, and by labeling them weak he implies also that they have room to grow on these matters. But he does not tell them to change their mind; he does not berate them for being “immature”; he does not tell them to “get with the program.” Yet this is usually our first reaction to someone who differs with us. We want to change their minds, to convince them we are right. Paul would undoubtedly support the church’s efforts to educate its members as fully as possible about the gospel and its implications. But he is wise enough to know that there is a time and a place for such efforts. . . . All of us have our traditions, and they are not easy to give up. As long as they are not contrary to the gospel and hindering the work of the church, we should learn to tolerate these differences.7 What was Paul’s solution? How would he bind these two potential factions together? His solution was love, not law. Table 6 inserts Paul’s threefold solution in the place of the growing split between those with a strong conscience and those with a weak conscience. Only the three center columns please God and result in unity. On any given disagreement over disputable matters, God calls us to land on one of these...