You've Got To Fight For Your Rights! ... or should you?
On Sunday we talked about how there are certain areas that God is very clear on what our convictions must be (for example, Acts 15 on gospel beliefs, and 1st Corinthians 5 on moral beliefs). At the same time, there are areas such as how we worship God where we have more freedom in our convictions (Look at Romans 14 for an example).
It probably comes to no surprise to many of you, then, that this final category, where we have more freedom, is the one that often divides many Christians.
So how do we live in the tension of exercising our Christian freedoms while trying not to offend other believers, or worse, make them stumble into sin? What are ways that we can build unity with each other even when our convictions differ?
It probably comes to no surprise to many of you, then, that this final category, where we have more freedom, is the one that often divides many Christians.
So how do we live in the tension of exercising our Christian freedoms while trying not to offend other believers, or worse, make them stumble into sin? What are ways that we can build unity with each other even when our convictions differ?
posted by Missio Dei at 11:15 AM
6 Comments:
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I read something a while back and your post reminded me of it so I'll type it verbatim. It may not relate completely but it reminded me of it... so here's my 2 cents... or rather Thomas a Kempis' 2 cents:
"True it is that everyone willingly does that which agrees with his own mind; and he is apt to affect those most that are like-minded with him. But if God is among us, we must somtimes leave even our own mind to gain the blessing of peace. Who is so wise that he can fully know all things? Be not therefore too confident in your own mind, but be willing to hear the mind of others. If that which you think is good, and yet you part with this very thing for God and follow another, it shall be better for you. I have often heard that it is safer to hear and to take counsel than to give it. Each one's opinion may be good; but to refuse to yield to others when reason or a special cause requires it is a sign of pride and obstinacy." -Thomas a Kempis
In response to ark:
i do not think that you should 'put up a fuss' if someone does something against your conviction. It's YOUR conviction. Not all of us deal with the same things. We are all tempted and tried in our own lives in our own ways and therefore not everyone's conviction applies to everyone. I think we should all be concious of each other and therefore in no way pressure anyone in a circumstance that could be detrimental to their convictions. Even without knowing their specific convictions. I think the way we interact, the way we treat others, the things we do, we should always be concious of and always try to only encourage one another and never ourselves nor tempt another into doing something that could harm their relationship with the Lord. In regards to the specific example you asked about, "should I drink while around someone who is convicted" I would say to use your best judgement. If others drinking around him hurts him in any way... don't do it. You may feel like it's a drag to not be able to do what you want if it's not your conviction, however... how is that helping a brother or sister live for Christ? If someone else drinking in front of you hurts your relationship with the Lord, would you not want to confide in them to help you in that struggle and not hinder your walk?
That's just my thoughts on the matter.
In a small group discussion the other day the thought came up of "what are weaker brother issues today anyway?" Typically I've noticed (and the patten has continued here) that drinking almost always gets brought up as the example of a weaker brother issue.
But what are some other examples?
A few we thought of were:
-Smoking
-Media (music - Christian v. Secular, movies, TV, etc...)
-Swearing
-Working on Sundays (or other things sometimes prohibited on Sundays)
Any other thoughts on this?
other issues:
laziness
sarcasm
internet usage
another thought on the topic:
Thinking back to when I first accepted Christ as my savior, I did not realize what sin was in my life. It has taken a lot of learning about who God is, as well as a lot of maturation. Throughout time convictions came and I realized what was separating me from God. Many of times it took looking at others and what they had cut from their lives and the reasons why. In essence, I find it necessary, at times, to reveal to some people (those that we know well, as to not do so flippantly) areas of their lives that are separating them from God (Gal 6:1). As was spoken at a prior book club, we sometimes do need to rebuke our brothers. However, love and kindness is imperative! (1 Thess. 5:14-15). Thus comes bearing one another’s burdens. We need to lift each other up, admonish one another (1 Cor. 12:25)… even if that means saying the tough or uncomfortable things that need to be said so that Christ may be exalted.
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