When we begin to set our own standards and require others to
live up to them, we are effectively setting ourselves up as gods with the
authority to make up our own laws and moral standards. As different teachers and groups set
different standards, people become confused about what is actually right, and
may end up violating their own beliefs and standards to satisfy those
teachers. Unfortunately, none of us are
perfect or have a perfect standard, and as a result, the standards we set are
not perfect either.
Romans 14:13-18 warns against setting our own
standards. “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this
rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his
brother's way. I know, and am persuaded
by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that
esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be
grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy
meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then
your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is
acceptable to God, and approved of men.”
There is proper time and place for everything, as
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us. “To every thing there is a season, and a
time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a
time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill,
and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to
weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast
away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a
time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to
keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to
keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time
of war, and a time of peace.” The problem is not the action itself, but the
time and motivation.
Understanding that, we need to avoid causing confusion and
putting people in a position where they end up violating their own standards
and convictions. If our convictions are
causeing conflicts in people minds, we are not loving them properly, we are not
walking in the Spirit ourselves. Serving
the Lord is not about mechanical and physical actions, such as eating certain
foods or following certain rules, but about ones spiritual attitude and motivation. We need to change our focus from demanding
certain physical behaviors and focus on teaching in such a way as to strengthen
and encourage other Christians. We must make sure our standards do not cause
others to be turned away. When we cause
others to turn away, we are sinning, as Romans 14:19-21 tells us. “Let us
therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith
one may edify another. For meat destroy
not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man
who eateth with offence. It is good
neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother
stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
We have considerable freedom as to the standards and
practices we adopt, but we do not have the right to impose our own personal
standards on others. If we are to lead
the church and set a godly example, we need to be careful about what we are
teaching, considering that some people are not as mature as others, as Romans
14:22-15:3 reminds us. “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before
God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat,
because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. We then that are strong ought to bear the
infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his
neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as
it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”
Truly mature Christians ought to be to be
strong enough to understand and adapt to the weaknesses of others. If we cannot, we should not take positions of
leadership. In Luke 17:1-2, Jesus told
the disciples, “…It is impossible but
that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were
hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one
of these little ones.” We need to
make sure the standards we demand are God’s, and not ours.
No comments:
Post a Comment