| Black, White & Gray All Over: A Conclusion Posted: 08 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT
More than Skin Deep Few things in this life are what they appear to be. We live in a world of mind-bending camera tricks and bedazzling computer-generated realities. Many Hollywood professionals have built lifelong careers on the practice of cinematic trickery and mesmerizing “movie magic.” And, often times, people are not always who they appear to be. Dishonest and unethical car salesmen work to become masters at disguising a vehicle’s defects, often masking them with a superior exterior. Deceitful politicians sweep major issues under the rug, while working to present a crisp and sparkling public image. In this world where the line between right and wrong, good and bad, is becoming all the more undistinguishable, it is all the more imperative that God’s children practice healthy discernment in the gray areas of life and of Christianity. Our journey thus far has brought us through the intricacies of many such gray areas, while highlighting the critical need for Christians to refrain from senseless squabbling over these issues and to practice healthy spiritual eyesight. We will depart from the series with one final thought, a caution: be wary of and attentive to your judgment of fellow believers when traversing the meandering roads and slippery slopes of gray area territory. It is not our place to look down upon a believing Christian who attends a rated “R” movie. Or to speak badly about a fellow church member who drinks an occasional beer. Watch out for the manifestation of such thoughts, presumptions, and assumptions, keeping in mind that everyone has different convictions in life’s gray areas. Once again we find the words of the apostle Paul so relevant, this time in the book of Romans: “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another?…Why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. It is widely noted by many Biblical commentators that there were several considerable misunderstandings between the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, “relative to certain customs which were sacredly observed by the one and disregarded by the other.” (New Testament Commentary by Adam Clarke: British Methodist theologian, 1762-1832). Sound familiar? Feel familiar? Indeed, we have seen this before in regards to the historical controversies over eating idol meat. However, Paul’s charge and challenge continues to be one of exercising a genuine love and nonjudgmental heart towards our brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of any such disagreements. Finally, Paul understands well that such convictions are spiritually personal, existing between the believer and God alone. How can we truly profess to know the intentions and motivations of another’s heart? Heaven forbid that we would ever instigate tension and strife within the body of Jesus Christ, His church, by exercising an ungrounded judgment. The call remains the same for believers today: walk in love, relate in love, and speak in love. Keep an eye on the judgmental thoughts of your heart, remembering that “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, NASU). “…God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NASU) |
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