Note to Self: Shut-up and Love

S - Romans 14:3-4, 22, 15:7 (NIV): “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. 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. … So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. … Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

O - Cultural (religious and secular) norms and preferences are not to be an issue among those who follow Jesus.  He affirmed, by his own living and teaching, that nothing in itself is "unclean". So, the Scriptures call us to GET a conviction NOT to GIVE one.  To keep WHATEVER we believe about these things to ourselves and God.  Why is it that we won't do this?  The measure of acceptance is NOT what culture says but what God says.  In Jesus, we are already accepted.  Scripture calls us to accept all others the way we've been accepted … unconditionally and completely.  Culture calls us to accept conditionally and to only approve those who agree with the prevailing opinion/practice.  Culture judges and divides. The Kingdom welcomes and accepts. Culture wants a uniformity it controls by fear.  The Kingdom wants unity it empowers by love.

A - The issues of cultural practice (eating and drinking, etc.) remain a topic of debate among those who claim to follow Jesus even though he (and the Scriptures) ended all controversy. In my entire life's experience I have never had a person "fall" or "stumble" because of any such practice. I have had numerous people assail me on behalf of unknown and unnamed others who "might be" offended.  Of course offended and stumbled aren't even vaguely related when it comes to life in God's Kingdom. They apply their "conviction” to me/others and then demand that all accept their conclusion while they reject those who do not agree it.  This does not please the Lord nor help the weak. I am going to believe Jesus and live his instructions day by day.  Scripture says (Colossians 2:16, 20-23): "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. … Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."

 

P - Lord who welcomes all,

Thank you for wanting all to come and for instructing me to keep quiet about the matters that don't matterJ.  Your relentless and unconditional love has continued to find me, shape me, heal and release me and admit that you assigned me to love all others the same way you've loved me.  Today I will love you back and love my neighbor as myself … accepting all others and keeping quiet about others.  I yield to the unity inspired by love and refuse the uniformity which wants to control by fear.  This I say and do in Jesus' name.

Steve