I was struck recently by some of the passages of scripture I was reading, that we as Christians probably "hide" a lot of our behavior, habits and activities from others, but we can't hide them from God.
This of course brings us into the "what's moral for you is not moral for me" argument, but I am challenged to think, "will it cause my brother" or perhaps a non-believer who looks up to me (for whatever reason) to miss seeing the Cross due to my behavior?
The easy ones are drinking, smoking, overeating, but what "hidden" things might there be?
Now I am not calling out any of these things as "sin". I am looking for discussion on how does our behavior, habits or activities, might be construed as "immoral" to our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as those who KNOW we call ourselves Christians, yet they might be confused by our outward appearance.
This is a discussion post today, so, DISCUSS!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Christians: What are you Hiding?
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8 comments:
Okay, Bill. I'll bite.
Phil 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
That is such a high standard to live up to regarding the TV, and I think I did a much better job striving toward it when my kids were younger. I gave up my Soap Opera about 18 years ago after being convicted. But now I love Grey's Anatomy—a night soap. So have I become lackadaisical?
That is exactly one of the verses I was thinking of.
If you take that COMPLETELY LITERAL then a LOT of what we do, see and hear would be cut out of our lives wouldn't it?
There are many things on TV that of late are bothering mrs p and I and I think some changes are needed.
If we only remember that God sees it all anyway. I have found the most effective way to stay on the right path is to take my temptations, especially the strongest ones, to Jesus asap. Today I asked in the name of Jesus for the Holy Spirit to take away a strong feeling of temptation. He did! Right that instant!!!
That is awesome and exactly THE way to handle temptation.
I faced similar today, prayed and was relieved from that temptation.
He said "I will not give you more than you can handle, and I give you a way out"! How awesome is that?
Interesting thoughts all. I think a lot of people keep their 'ugly stuff' hidden because they are afraid of what people would say to them if they came clean and wanted to get help. Shame keeps a lot of people quiet. What would it look like if we created communities where it was safe to talk about stuff? Would this be helpful?
I have been hiding a daily addiction to the Porsche automobile. I log onto a site that is giving away a Porsche in an effort to try to win.
You can join me if you'd like..
http://www.porscheperfect.com/porsche-giveaway/
Nice job plugging for another entry in the contest J :P
Paul said it best when he wrote that everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. How non Christians view us is important because our testimony to the world is how we live Christ. I think we hide alot though not because of how non Christians will view us, but because we're afraid of how Christians will view us. Just because our activities aren't approved by the church doesn't mean they can't be a ministry. Our denomination discourages dancing, yet I know a guy who loves to go out and dance. He makes sure the way he's dancing isn't sexual, and is a great witness to people there. There's also a couple times I've been at the pub having a beer or two and had the opportunity to share my beliefs as a Christian simply because my behavior is a testimony to those around me. I think it's not as much what we do, as how we do it. The world doesn't seem to care as much if we do the same things as them, as much as they seem to care if we act like them. If I went to a bar and got drunk, or I went to a dance and ground on some girls how would I be any different in my actions then the non Christians.
Don't know if I made sense.
I already made a comment on your FB page about your note...I loved it! Just wanted to also recommend on here an awesome book I am reading through called Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges.
As a non-Christian, I can tell you that I see a real chasm between fact and reality. I see a lot of picking and choosing of what to believe. I am also aware that even Biblical scholars sometimes disagree over translations. As I talk to some of my more devout friends, they tell me that I should be living the Bible and that it can be taken literally--especially with regards to homosexuality--but, the Bible also says that you should kill anyone who works on the Sabbath or that you can sell a daughter into slavery. I may be wrong, but I thought I read it in there somewhere...
I would really like it if my Christian friends kept their religion to themselves and out ot their politics but that seems impossible. Don't we criticize Muslims for letting their religion dictate their government policies and laws?
Either way, I do see most of my Christian friends as good, honest, and decent people. If going to church or reading the Bible helps them be better people, then I am all for it and see very few of them straying from their beliefs...
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