Is the church today attempting Lifestyle Management? Or are we doing God's work?
"By this, shall all men know that you are my disciples: If you don't smoke, drink, buy lottery tickets or vote for a liberal government." Actually, although the foregoing is what is often preached, Jesus said something very different.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Christian's love for criticizing the actions of other people is part of human nature. Human sin nature. It's an old habit. "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Matthew 11:19
Actually, a short while ago, the list of habits that would identify anyone as a non-believer, or at best a backslider, was much longer. Twenty years ago the list included dancing. Twenty five years ago also included shopping on Sundays. Before that it included bowling, playing pool and watching horse races. Interestingly, the list hasn't simply been getting shorter. It's dynamic - it changes with the mood of society; sometimes contrasting with acceptable norms and sometimes duplicating them. A hundred years ago, famous preachers smoked tobacco and had a drink after supper.
Did Christ ask his followers to attempt Lifestyle Management of their neighbours, friends and society? I don't think so. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 What did Christ command? Search and see..... not much about drinking. Not much about smoking, nothing about which political party to vote for.
"Your lifestyle betrays to me your rebellion against God." Have you ever had that sort of sneaking suspicion about other people? Judgement regarding the spirituality or state of salvation of other people must be one of the most important and common themes Jesus taught on. He taught NOT to do it. Yet how often do we raise superior eyebrows and knowingly pass judgement on someone else because they are not living their lives according to the pattern laid down by men, reinforced by the careful selection of scriptures taken out of context?
"Adherence to a certain lifestyle demonstrates to the world that we are trustworthy servants of the Lord. The maintenance of an appropriate public image is important so that the 'work of God' (read: our ability to raise cash) is not hindered." Really? Then I guess what Jesus said about the subject isn't true? (Read John 13:35 again) Doesn't adherence to a certain lifestyle rather demonstrate to the public that we are clean-cut conservative middle class tax payers? People that can be counted on to support their world view of capitalism tempered with charity?
Is it not rather more important to focus our teaching on actually loving others, regardless of their background or place in society, choice of refreshments or whether they esteem one day above another, or not? I think we should be striving, not for a uniform appearance of "niceness", but that we would be known as a people that teach and live forgiveness; not judging others, but offering assistance to anyone that needs it. -People would say: Look how they love and receive others! They have no facade of righteousness, but they really care for one another.
"By this, shall all men know that you are my disciples: If you don't smoke, drink, buy lottery tickets or vote for a liberal government." Actually, although the foregoing is what is often preached, Jesus said something very different.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Christian's love for criticizing the actions of other people is part of human nature. Human sin nature. It's an old habit. "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Matthew 11:19
Actually, a short while ago, the list of habits that would identify anyone as a non-believer, or at best a backslider, was much longer. Twenty years ago the list included dancing. Twenty five years ago also included shopping on Sundays. Before that it included bowling, playing pool and watching horse races. Interestingly, the list hasn't simply been getting shorter. It's dynamic - it changes with the mood of society; sometimes contrasting with acceptable norms and sometimes duplicating them. A hundred years ago, famous preachers smoked tobacco and had a drink after supper.
Did Christ ask his followers to attempt Lifestyle Management of their neighbours, friends and society? I don't think so. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 What did Christ command? Search and see..... not much about drinking. Not much about smoking, nothing about which political party to vote for.
"Your lifestyle betrays to me your rebellion against God." Have you ever had that sort of sneaking suspicion about other people? Judgement regarding the spirituality or state of salvation of other people must be one of the most important and common themes Jesus taught on. He taught NOT to do it. Yet how often do we raise superior eyebrows and knowingly pass judgement on someone else because they are not living their lives according to the pattern laid down by men, reinforced by the careful selection of scriptures taken out of context?
"Adherence to a certain lifestyle demonstrates to the world that we are trustworthy servants of the Lord. The maintenance of an appropriate public image is important so that the 'work of God' (read: our ability to raise cash) is not hindered." Really? Then I guess what Jesus said about the subject isn't true? (Read John 13:35 again) Doesn't adherence to a certain lifestyle rather demonstrate to the public that we are clean-cut conservative middle class tax payers? People that can be counted on to support their world view of capitalism tempered with charity?
Is it not rather more important to focus our teaching on actually loving others, regardless of their background or place in society, choice of refreshments or whether they esteem one day above another, or not? I think we should be striving, not for a uniform appearance of "niceness", but that we would be known as a people that teach and live forgiveness; not judging others, but offering assistance to anyone that needs it. -People would say: Look how they love and receive others! They have no facade of righteousness, but they really care for one another.
