What is a regular coffee in your part of the country? In the Boston area, I has sugar and cream in it. In many other parts of the country, it comes without cream and sugar. In the same way that people from different parts of the United States have different ideas about coffee, Christians have different ideas of what to believe and how to act. It seems Paul has heard about the Christians in Rome disagree about what to eat and what days to hold holy (Rom 14.2-5). He tells them not to quarell over these differences. Whatever they do, they should do it "in honor of the Lord" (verse 6). The church would be shamed if these minor differences became a stumbling block to someones faith. A healthy respect for differences pulls together Christians from various religious denominations or traditions. Christians of all denominations should rejoice in their common faith, respect and learn from their differences, and work together "in honor of the Lord.".
The eye that mocks a father.
And scorns to obey a mother.
Will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley.
And eaten by the vultures.
(Prov 30.17).
If this passage reflected reality, most of us would already have been eaten by those vultures hovering overhead. For who among us has not at one time mocked our parents, if not to their face, then perhaps to our friends? And is there anyone who has not disobeyed a parent? We live in a time when families have many different forms. Whatever kind and number of parents you have, they need respect, despite their weaknessess and falws. The vast majority of us are loved by our parents. In most cases, they are trying their hardest to do what is best for us, even though it doesn't always seem that way. If we can accept this, then it might be easier to forgive them for their faults and overlook some of the things they do that irritate us.
Respect is an important value for many Native American peoples. For the Lakota tribe, it is one of the four primary values.
