B E H I N D / T H E / B A R

I have been annoyed with people lately.  Not necessarily anyone specific, just people in general, especially, Christian people.  The soundtrack of combative, critical, condemning and condescending voices has been far too loud.  

I have convictions. But I’m not holier, better, or closer to Jesus because someone else does not share my convictions.  

I have no problem communicating my convictions. If you want to know how I feel about a situation – ask me.  If I feel strongly enough about my conviction I’ll probably tell you before you get a chance to ask me.  But condemning others who don’t share my convictions – well that’s out of bounds.  That’s not a conviction – that’s what Scripture says.  

Paul hits this subject in Romans 14 – 

V1. – Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and DON’T ARGUE with them about what they think is right or wrong.

V4. – Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall.  And with the Lord’s help they will stand and receive his approval.

V10. – So why do you condemn another believer?  Why do you look down on another believer?  Remember we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

V12. – Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 

V13. – So let’s stop condemning each other.  Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.  

V20. – Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat.  (This also applies to voting, trick or treating, or which version of the Bible people read from). 

V27. – You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God.  Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.  

V28. – But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it.  

I voted last week- and I voted according to my conscious.  

You should do the same. It wasn’t easy. I literally stood at the ballot box and asked God – “How do I vote?”

Then. . . I voted.

I voted according to what I felt like He told me. It wasn’t a prophetic moment. I don’t think God was telling me who would the next president would be. He simply showed me how I should vote. Now, I’m not going to tell you who I voted for – because I’m keeping that between myself and God.

Tomorrow is Halloween. We’re NOT taking our kids trick or treating this year.  We’ve bounced back and forth over our time as parents.  But we feel strongly this year that it isn’t something we’re supposed to do.  Some will say we’re taking fun away from our kids. Maybe. But they’ll survive.

We ARE going to turn our front porch light on and hand out candy to kids who come to our house. We are also going to give them a few other things. We’re going to share the light of Jesus. We’re not going to hide out behind closed doors and wait for the “spooks” to go by. We ARE going to intentionally bless and not curse – to shine the light of Jesus.   

I could bring a few other “hot topics” to the conversation and you would likely agree or disagree.  You’re entitled.  We can debate if you want to, but not endlessly. We will most likely land on the decision to agree to disagree.  

But Condemn?  Then you’re out of line. 

The more we condemn one another,  the more we cannibalize one another.   We look more like the rest of the world.  We act just like they act.  But if we are followers of Jesus, citizens of Heaven, we SHOULD be different. 

V17. – For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  

So friend – Christian brother & sister – I’m looking at you.  If you’re allowing your convictions to be the catalyst to condemn others – Just Stop It.  

You’re looking less and less like Jesus. You’re acting more and more like the world that you have been called to come out from among.  

We can do better.