It is commonly taught that there is one chart of what is sin and that covers everyone. Now sin is a "spiritual" word that just means wrong, and I believe that there are certain behaviors that are wrong for anyone to commit. But, what if there are certain things that are wrong for some people but not for others. As I have gotten older, I have come to believe that this is the case.
Two of the many examples that I believe that fall into this category are drinking and dancing. I have grown up hearing that it is wrong to drink; however by the time that I was in High School, I knew that Jesus drank alcoholic beverages. Since Jesus committed no sin (that is wrongs), then his drinking must not have been wrong. If drinking was not wrong for Jesus, then it must not be wrong for us either. Also, Jesus made mention that He will be drinking wine with his believers in the coming Kingdom with this statement,"NLT© Matthew 26:29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
So if it is ok to drink then why would it ever be wrong and why have so many preachers given sermons against it? I think that the answer to this question to this question is obvious when you think about people with drinking problems such as alcoholics and abusive drinkers. I think that everyone can agree that it would be wrong for people with conditions like these to drink. Also, if our drinking would cause them to drink then it would be wrong for us to drink around them. Also, it seems to me that a lot of people who have grown up around people who had drinking problems, think that everyone who drinks will react the same way that the abusive drinker did. So, if we really love these people we will not drink around them, because of the way they would perceive our actions. Now there are certain people such as myself that have made a conscience decision not to drink and that would be different. As I have stated before, my decision to not drink at this time has more to do with knowledge that alcoholism runs in my family and that may put me at risk. The fact that other people drink does not bother me so it is ok to drink around me. Heck, I could be the designated driver if needed.
Dancing also can affect people in a similar way. If you think that you should go to bed with everyone that you might dance with, then you really should not dance. However, I believe that is ok and even good to dance. The Bible evens says that there is a time to dance and to praise God with dancing.
So, I think that the right or wrong of a lot of our actions comes down to this: How does it affect us and how will it affect others. No matter what, if we are letting God love us and we are also loving others then, we will make the right choice in these so called "gray areas" of life.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Good and The Bad, Pedestals & Grace
As usual, this post does not come from a "think tank" of philosophical debate that occurs within the ivory towers of Seminarian Castles, but are my observations of lives lived out (that is what I also call sidewalk theology).
As I think about seeing the whole person, I come to the place of how that relates to a couple of other issues, the first being pedestals. I have noticed that when someone only sees the good in another person, then that other person is already placed on a pedestal and is worshiped without either one realizing it. It seems to me that the same thing also happens when someone only sees the bad in themselves. In that case, it seems that others are then placed on a pedestal and worshiped without either party realizing it.
Also, it appears to me that when someone only sees the bad in another person, then they have placed themselves on a pedestal above that other person and without realizing it, seek worship. The same effect seems to happen when someone only sees and promotes the good about themselves. I mean that when someone only acknowledges the good about themselves, then they are putting themselves on a pedestal above others to be worshiped.
I have seen a real danger of people coming out of Seminaries and exploiting the bad of people to the point where those same people only see the bad of themselves and at the same time, the Seminary graduate is promoting the good about themselves. I have seen this played out to where the Seminary graduate becomes a "Jim Jones" type figure among these people.
From what I have seen, people who sees and acknowledges that everyone including themselves are both good and bad, then they are able to see everyone on an equal plane and not on pedestals. I am not saying that everyone is 50/50 on being good and bad, but that everyone has done some good things and everyone has done bad things to some degree.
I think that this is also vital in how we extend grace to others. It seems to me that when believers in God see life this way and that it is God who is changing us from within, when those believers are free to extend grace to other believers and to realize that God is also changing those other believers from the inside also.
As I think about seeing the whole person, I come to the place of how that relates to a couple of other issues, the first being pedestals. I have noticed that when someone only sees the good in another person, then that other person is already placed on a pedestal and is worshiped without either one realizing it. It seems to me that the same thing also happens when someone only sees the bad in themselves. In that case, it seems that others are then placed on a pedestal and worshiped without either party realizing it.
Also, it appears to me that when someone only sees the bad in another person, then they have placed themselves on a pedestal above that other person and without realizing it, seek worship. The same effect seems to happen when someone only sees and promotes the good about themselves. I mean that when someone only acknowledges the good about themselves, then they are putting themselves on a pedestal above others to be worshiped.
I have seen a real danger of people coming out of Seminaries and exploiting the bad of people to the point where those same people only see the bad of themselves and at the same time, the Seminary graduate is promoting the good about themselves. I have seen this played out to where the Seminary graduate becomes a "Jim Jones" type figure among these people.
From what I have seen, people who sees and acknowledges that everyone including themselves are both good and bad, then they are able to see everyone on an equal plane and not on pedestals. I am not saying that everyone is 50/50 on being good and bad, but that everyone has done some good things and everyone has done bad things to some degree.
I think that this is also vital in how we extend grace to others. It seems to me that when believers in God see life this way and that it is God who is changing us from within, when those believers are free to extend grace to other believers and to realize that God is also changing those other believers from the inside also.
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