Lately I've been hearing a lot from people in my life about what is "right." The "right" church to go to. The "right" food to eat. The "right" clothing and apparel to wear. We share these things with each other out of loving hearts, thinking that God has revealed to us something special that needs to be spread and preached upon. But I have to tell you the truth friend, the only person I can count on to be right in my life, is Jesus Christ. He is the only authority to which I subscribe and I refuse to be swept up by religion and carried away from Jesus.
My Bible says:
"For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
(John 3:16)
As a Christian however we sometimes lean towards our own private translations which go something like this:
"For God so loved the BAPTISTS..." or
"For God so loved the HETEROSEXUALS..." or
"For God so loved the WHITE PEOPLE..."
And we play with that last bit to fit into the mold we're most comfortable with:
"whoever comes to church on Saturday, eats no meat, and wears no jewelry will not perish..." or
"whoever comes to church on Sunday, never gets a divorce, and sings the right songs will not perish..."
What a shameful thing we've done as a church. Mocking our neighbors and attempting to lesson the value of a soul saved under a different sign than our own. I went to a Baptist church this morning and I praised my Savior. While I was there that SAME SAVIOR who died for me was also at another service just down the road at the Methodist church where a lost soul came home and all of Heaven rejoiced!
Christian, you do NOT have a monopoly on Jesus Christ,
no matter how "right" you think you are.
Jesus cautioned us against our own judgmental nature by saying:
"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?"
(Matthew 7:3)
Is this not plain? God loves us ALL. God sees all, knows all, and has power over ALL. Why then are we condemning each other in the name of denomination? Why are we excluding one another on the grounds of being different? Why are we judging our brothers and sisters in Christ on their day to day walk when it is none of our business and all of Gods. We are supposed to be reaching the lost, carrying the light into a dark world, not bickering amongst ourselves over translations, denominations, and interpretations.
God spoke to this very topic in the book of Romans chapter 14.
What a freeing passage this is:
"1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The 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. 4Who 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.
5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God."
(Romans 14:1-6)
What ever you do to please God, pleases Him.
But be wary of self righteous feelings which make
you believe that all other Christians should do as you do,
worship as you do, look as you do, believe as you do.
"22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves."
(Romans 14:22)
