Have you read Romans 14:1-12 yet?
We're all on the same team, so don't make a mountain out of a mole hill!! Have you ever done that--majored on a minor? Cause I sure have. I was raised in a conservative, Bible-teaching church, and I pretty much thought that what our church taught was right--period. So when I got older, moved out of the house and started attending other churches, I was a little surprised and sometimes put off when things weren't just like what I was used to. It eventually dawned on me, though, that there are a lot of areas of our Christians lives that don't have incredibly specific guidelines in the Bible. So now when something concerns me I try to step back and ask is this concern over a preference or is it foundational (concerning salvation, what it means and how to get saved) and then I proceed from there. Tami W.
I too try and step back and ask the same questions of things I see going on in me, in church, my home, towns and other Christians. The biggest problem for me is how much of the church is compromising God's word and that Jesus is Lord so that we can be a part of our society. I listened to a program recently about pastors and thier prayers at public gatherings and that thier prayers were okay with those in charge as long as they used words such as almighty god and most high but not the name of Jesus Christ. One must ask is this a concern over preference or is it foundational? Many do not want the name of Jesus Christ evoked as Lord over all so that they can justify their spin on who is really in charge, even ministers in church.It bring too mind that question that Jesus asked of the desciples, " who do you say I am?"
Yes Tami, I have many times, I’m sorry to say. My family ( my wife and three children at that time in 1994 ) remember one such example, called “cheese in the freezer “ I got really upset over my wife putting the cheese in the freezer. I have been reminded more than I want to remember.. But, I have to say, as I feed my spirit the Word of God, The fruit of the Spirit is growing, and I am doing so much better. “Stay down Flesh” allow my self control to grow, Show the wisdom of God, and the Love of the Lord.
I know that’s not what you were talking about, but I did make a mountain out of a mole hill.
For me being already 40 when accepting Christ, and not having any real background. God used People from all denominations to help me, and Going to three different Churches every week for a while helped me. We are the Body of Christ and each one may go to and be part of one Church, but we all are his Church. I don’t want to get caught up in things that divide us. I have seen what that can do, and it happens too too often. I am fortunate to be part a church with a pastor that is very balanced, and I pray it stays that way.
Perspective comes to mind, To See things as God sees them, or at least as he would have me see them in a balanced diet of his word.