“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” (Romans 15:1-2)

The overall meaning of these two verses is quite clear, we are called to be mindful of where new Christians are within their walk of faith and be coaches, not judges who may condemn them for not being better. Now, as clear as this message may be, I did find the wording of “and not to please ourselves” rather interesting. I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around the intent for this statement. As usual I started with the study bible commentary but mine was silent on this verse. So (of course) I took to the internet. From what I could gather, the phrase “and not to please ourselves” is a reminder not to act in a way where you end up elevating yourself while “correcting” someone else. This is the classic building of a pedestal on top of someone else’s failures, so you have a taller platform to point the finger down at the person you were supposed to be helping. The type of rebuke that starts with a person saying “while I was doing everything right, you have to do things that ruin the great stature of those of us around you.” And while this has been established as an unfortunate norm in the business world, Paul has clearly warned that it has no place in Christian accountability. The rebuke, from a Christian perspective, needs to be centered at growing the individual past their current shortcomings. Not holding them in their sinful past and certainly not to add to your own grandeur. If true repentance has taken place, Jesus has forgiven the sinner. So who are we, to bring their sin back into the foreground? We are to do all we can for the benefit of others through the love we have in Christ Jesus. And to build them up, not ourselves.