I believe that the lists originated with "personal convictions" of an individual, which then became a mandate beyond that individual, spreading, and reaching people within that person's ministry to end up as a church, group or denomination standard and mandate.
Honestly, each one of us probably have "lists" that we know we are called to obey, that may differ from you to me. My list of "do not" or "do's" may include something that is not on yours.
Should that cause us to hate one another, because we don't have the same "lists" or really convictions? NO.
The one thing that should bind us all together is the death, burial, and resurrection life of Jesus Christ, loving one another, and helping those who are less fortunate than us, and sharing the gospel wherever we go. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and we cannot compromise that in any way.
Yet, our lists (convictions) vary from person to person, and it is these convictions that cause division, when they shouldn't.
If we are judging others according the fruit of the spirit operating in their life, and find their fruit to be true, if they should happen to differ in a conviction or law in their life from ours, we should still love them and count them as brethren.
I find this verse in 1 John to speak volumes concerning this subject:
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
I believe the anointing, or the spirit of Christ within us is able to teach us, rebuke us, reprimand us against doing things, or doing things contrary, or according to what is pleasing to the Lord. The Spirit may direct and teach me to be obedient to a conviction that my brother or sister may not share. It may be that I have a conviction that I should not eat pork, or that I should not wear a certain style of clothing, or that I don't have a TV, and on those lists or convictions can go. But, I shouldn't judge my brother/sister because they do or don't have those same convictions as myself.
I do believe that Jesus' last words to his disciples hold true today,
John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
I can love my brother/sister if they have a TV, and I don't have one. I can love my brother/sister if they don't wear jewelry, and I do... etc. You get the picture. Our personal outward or inward convictions are something that we live by, but do not judge others by.
Bottom line is we cannot compromise the gospel, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. That is where the division must come, and the line must be drawn in the sand.
But beyond that... personal convictions/lists should not divide the brethren who are united in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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