We tend to get caught up thinking about whether things are permissible or simply beneficial. We try to avoid legalism, yet don't want to fall into libertarianism. We try to categorize things: white and black. However, some things just fall into "gray." There's no way around that, really.
Everywhere I turn lately, I get bombarded with the message concerning "gray issues." I figured God really wanted me to learn something. I've been processing, and frankly, I haven't reached a concise conclusion, so excuse me while I process things as I write...
Be careful, however, that the excercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak (1)These verses make me uncomfortable. Not just slightly uncomfortable, though. They make me want to leave the room they're mentioned in. They make me want to close my Bible when I'm reading.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody (2)
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement of disputable matters (3)
Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way (4)
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification (5)
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall. (6)
If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. (7)
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. (8)
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law. (9)
Why?
Because there's a selfish beast inside of me that demands to have its desires met. It craves to be comfortable. It isn't satisfied with serving others. These verses attempt to put this beast to death. And while it begins to die, it squeals and screeches, wanting to stay alive inside of me.
It tells me...
Why should I have to limit my freedom just because someone else can't handle it?
Why would I have to be uncomfortable just because someone else is sensitive?
How am I responsible for someone else sinning?
These verses go against our human nature in every possible way. It makes no sense whatsoever, but then again... to the human mind, not much about Christianity makes sense.
Today I was talking to Allison, and as we talked we agreed that the verses that stuck out the most were the ones that spoke about love.
Paul urges the church to not do ANYTHING unless it is done out of love. The entire books of the law can be summarized in one word: love. Is it really that simple-- yet, so complex? Why do we prefer for someone to just tell us what to do, and we'll do it? We rather they ask for money and we'll write a check, than they ask us to love. WHY?
The fulfillment of the law is love. IS LOVE. All the laws were to teach the Israelites how to love-- what love looked like.
We're to do our best to work towards the mutual edification of Christ's community. Mutual edification. We must limit our freedom if it is hurting someone else. It no longer fits under the category of "freedom." It no longer is our freedom.
Perhaps we've been wrong all along. We've just always asked the wrong questions, expecting the right answers. Perhaps that's what happened and why we're where we're at right now...
When did we start asking, "Is this a sin?" and stop asking "Is this the best way I can show love?" When did we start asking, "Can I do this?" and stop asking "Is God glorified by my doing this?"
When did we start asking, "Is this alright for me to do?" and stop asking "Is this the wisest choice?"
We can't ever expect to get right answers when we haven't even figured out what questions to ask.
Our lives would be completely revolutionized and turned upside-down and inside-out if we only applied this to our own decisions half of the time.
If every decision we made was a concious choice to honor the people surrounding us, we wouldn't have to worry about sinning. If every decision made was in an effort to show love, how could we go wrong? And in the decisions not involving people, why do we stray towards the lines once more? We've been commanded to be holy, yet we try to get away with as much as we can. What if every time we made a decision we asked ourselves whether this would sanctify us more...
How would that change us?
Wouldn't "gray" issues be eliminated? How can it possibly be gray when God's glory is in question?
Love and holiness. Is that all this is about?
Is it simply a call to follow in the footsteps of a God who IS love, of a God who IS holy?
"Take up the cross and follow me."
(1) 1 Corinthians 8:9
(2) Romans 12:17
(3) Romans 14:1
(4) Romans 14:13
(5) Romans 14:19
(6) 1 Corinthians 8:13
(7) Romans 14:15
(8) Romans 14:21
(9) Romans 13:10
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