January 16th, 2012

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Monday, January 16th, 2012

I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT UP FRONT…

THIS.  WILL.  BE.  A.  HARD.  POST.  TO.  WRITE.

I can honestly say that I did not capitalize those letters and “period” them so that it drew you in like a fish on a hook.  In all seriousness, this will be a hard post to write.  All because I read something the other day that got me thinking.  I even wrote it in my Moleskine journal.  But, first some background.

I have, in the past, told you about my legalistic bent.  I was doctrinally legalistic.  But I was also culturally legalistic.  Not in the way of dress…not me!  But my biggest problem (and remember the era I come from…the Dark Ages  🙂 ), is one that is rearing its head today in a big way.   I come from an age where pastors’ conduct was to be exemplary.  Trust me, mine always wasn’t.  But in my most legalistic days, I was very outspoken about several things:  social drinking being one.  I ranted and raved about it.  So much so, that one time a man was heard to threaten me by those who sat around him.  🙁

Now, in fairness to me, I have slacked up on the judgmental attitude that precluded those rants. I could rant about something I was not guilty of, but to rant about something I struggled with, well…that was another story.  That being said: I am a tee-totaler.  Always have been.  Lord willing, always will be.  My main concern then was far more judgmental. My main concern now is something else…

AM I BEING OTHER-ORIENTED? 

Here is what has me all out of whack.  Read the Scripture in I Cor.10:23-27.   There are three questions to ask:

1.  Is it helpful?  (v.23a)

2.  Is it constructive? (v.23b)

3.  Is it other-oriented? (v.24)

It is that last question that has me stumped right now.  Here is what I am asking: does my course of action or inaction, seek the good, the betterment, the blessing of my neighbor?  Is what I am doing, or propose to do, going to further the Kingdom and benefit those I have come to be a witness to, or will it be a detriment?  When people have left me to go do other things, will their time with me have been a good thing for the Kingdom, or a bad thing? 

I realize our culture is different today.  What was wrong then is not seen as wrong now.  The Scripture hasn’t changed; our views have.  And I am not saying social drinking is wrong (it is just an example).  But whether we are talking about social drinking, or whatever is questionable (gray), we still must ask the “other-oriented” question.

I’m going to stop there.  I would like to hear your thoughts on this.  Am I all wet?  Am I barking up the wrong tree?  Am I making  a big to-do about nothing?  Feel free to chime in.  I would love to hear what you think.