If I admit to being Christian, people suddenly assume I'm more easily offended. Apparently, they start judging me by people who don't follow this quote:
Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4 NIV)
I guess if Christians don't follow that, I'm not Christian! So what am I? I plead intrinsic bias on that question, but here are some things I think the religion I've chosen is:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:34-40, also Mark 12:28-34 and even Luke 10:25-28, NIV)
Both love and neighbor could mean several things according to an English dictionary, and in this case they're translations of words from another language. Due to this—and that I don't care to limit the author to saying only things that can be found in the dictionary—I look at the rest of the text to find out what the author was referring to.
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:25-37 NIV)
IOW, when your pastor and the elders of the church or your Siddha or whoever leaves you dying in the ditch, your neighbor is the gay or arab or bible thumper who rescues you.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:1b NIV)
If I build people up, I love them, otherwise I don't.
It follows that this sort of love doesn't necessarily have an emotional component. In light of that and the English word's typical usage, it was probably a poor choice, but the choice was made centuries ago.
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18 NIV)
So saying "I love you in Christ," is right out. What's in?
Dodging that answer for a moment and skipping to the subject that got me here rewriting this. . . .
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. (Romans 14:22a NIV)
What things?
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. (Romans 14:1-3 NIV)
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. (Romans 14:5 NIV)
As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. (Romans 14:14-15a NIV)
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. (Romans 14:21 NIV)
Ahh, I can finally stop caring about whether they think Jesus drank wine or grape juice, ignore the self righteous people who don't even eat gelatin, let the steak wavers enjoy it elsewhere—and do special days include the Sabbath?
After all, if I'm firmly convinced in my own mind, do I need anyone to agree with me? No, but I sure enjoy it when I find someone who does :)
For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but many advisers make victory sure.
(Proverbs 11:14 NIV)
Maybe Doxory is useful for this. . . .
Comments; even questions? Please do email me.
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