Progressive Revelation
There is an interesting progression to Romans 14:10-13. Paul begins with a rebuke: " You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? " (14:10a). Oh but, it's so much easier to deal with the faults of others rather than our own. That brings us to Paul's uppercut to the chin. He writes: " For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God " (14:10b-12). The other guys will get their opportunity to turn red and stammer just like I'll get mine. So maybe I should occupy myself with my own failures? That's Paul's next suggestion: " Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another " (14:13a). But Paul makes yet another suggestion. As believers we don't live in a vacuum—you look after your business and I...