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.
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