Most of us really struggle with the tension between trying to stay true to our Christian values and living in community with the larger society. We tend to either come off as hate mongers or people with no back bone. Can there be a balance? Where is the line in the sand? I must admit that this hit home for me a few weeks ago when during our weekly fellowship following church, someone came
up to me all upset and informed me that an older gentleman had told a younger gentleman
that he was going to hell! I was flabbergasted! It is also not uncommon for someone outside my church to tell me the “sins” of the people attending our church. Or to hear from outsiders that the people attending our church are no better than they are as if that is suppose to shock me. Is it really any different than what Jesus experienced??
First, to balance this tension it’s important to know what you believe. Far too many people in the faith community think they understand their beliefs but yet far too few engage in group Bible Studies and tend to focus on one or two tenets of their faith. Going to church and listening to your pastor or the television preacher on Sunday morning is not enough. Some have focused their learning and studying in isolation. Meaning they may be very disciplined at church attendance or doing their own Bible Study but without the active participation in their own faith community they are often left with a one-sided view. We tend to hear/read/study those things with which we agree. What that means is that we are only looking for those things that support our beliefs. Joining a Bible study group allows you the opportunity to hear from others and, if there is a good facilitator, allows the group to expand their understanding without falling victim to heresy or factions. Hearing your pastor say the job of the Christian is to ‘spread the good news’ is interpreted differently for different people. For some spreading the good news means to tell someone they are on the road to hell. For others, it means accepting the sin with the person. Whatever “spreading the good news” means to you is how you will interpret and act on what you hear. As one of my Bible profs used to say “the pendulum swings truest when it swings in the middle.”
Belonging to a denomination is helpful. Not that you must belong to a denomination to be saved but identifying with a denomination provides you with basic doctrinal statements that may help guide your understanding of Scripture. This isn’t blind following. It’s increasing understanding through the reasoning powers that God gives. Some people have turned their backs on organized religion saying that the leaders have failed or due to feeling restrained by these doctrinal statements. Some even justify it by saying that Jesus wasn’t part of a denomination. That is like saying the various political parties aren’t American. They all started through one governmental system just as all Christian denominations started through Jesus (Malachi 2:10; John 17:21). We are allowed the freedom to bring our different interpretations of doctrine but being part of a denomination helps to prevent truth decay by having scholars that with the help of the Holy Spirit search through the Scriptures to increase understanding. I don’t know about you but I know I need these scholars who have studied and prayed about the tenets of faith far more than I ever could. When I don’t understand their point of view, I seek out “wise counsel” (Prov. 11:14, 12:15, 15:22, 28:26). Going off on my own and taking a little from this sect or that sect only serves to produce a “me-ism” religion allowing for a lot of truth decay only exonerated through a painful root canal.
As Christians, we are called to “love one another” (John 13:34; 1 John 4:7, 12; Rom. 13:8; Isaiah 58) and to share our faith with one another (2 Cor. 9:13). And this is likely where most of the tension comes in. For all Christians who accept the challenge to share Christ with others the goal is to love one another. How that plays out in day to day life though can look very different. For some, loving one another can mean telling those we come in contact with that they are on a road to destruction. For others, it means accepting the person with the sin. Both sides feel they are right. I fear, in our passion to be “true” to Christ, lines are being drawn within the Christian community causing division amongst brothers and sisters in Christ. I cringe when I hear T.V. Christian personalities spewing hate in exchange for ratings. I get angry with these “Christians” who have bought into the idea that the more hateful someone pronounces the “other side” the more God fearing these personalities are portrayed. In our zealousness to prove our love for Him, we often push people away by exhibiting a judgmental attitude that is not in keeping with Christ’s attitude towards us. For this group, it is often easier to accept grace than to give grace forgetting that they were once on the other-side. Statistics show that those who come to faith out of fear rarely remain in the faith .9/11 statistics).
The other side of the pendulum though is just as dangerous. Sweeping sin under the carpet in “the name of Christ’s love” is just as wrong. There is sin and we are accountable for living out that truth by sprinkling a little salt now and then (Col. 4:2-6; Matt 5:13, Titus 1:9). To focus only on God’s love leads just as quickly to truth decay as focusing only on God’s judgement. I cringe just as much when I hear Christians down playing the truth of God’s judgement with an anything goes doctrine. I’ve also been on the receiving end of being told “well, if you’re a Christian you have to love someone regardless of their actions.” Yes, I have to love them but I don’t have to allow myself to be their doormat. Acting in love may simply mean that you don’t retaliate or cause them harm when the opportunity presents itself which in itself is a great lesson. Living out our faith means loving everyone and sharing the truth of the gospel by helping them to see that God has another plan for their lives that will bring more purpose and fulfillment then anything they could ever imagine.
Balancing the tension between sharing our faith honestly and fully loving those who have a different belief system than we do is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit. Our part is to get rid of the “me” and t
o allow more of Christ to come through. I’ve come to recognize that, at least for me, if I am eager to confront someone with the “truth” then it probably has more to do with me then with Christ. But if in the pit of my stomach I cringe from approaching someone with Christ’s truth it just might be Christ prompting me. The opposite could also be true. Examining ourselves with the following questions might help us to understand the why behind our actions:
- Am I trying to earn my way to heaven by “winning souls”?
- Am I trying to earn my way to heaven by my obedience/performance?
- Am I trying to win favor by being accepted by a certain group (namely a church leader/group of Christian friends)?
- Am I trying to “cover a multitude of my sins” by converting another to Christ”
By recognizing that we don’t earn God’s favor by how we perform, what other’s think about us, or who we know, that we are freely given God’s love by accepting Christ’s death on the cross as our punishment for our sins will, hopefully, help us to balance the tension of sharing our faith in love. Romans 1218 says “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Ecclesiastes 7:18 says “It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.” Pray that the tension between sharing your faith in grace and truth never goes away for if it does we are likely leaning too far one way or the other.
elp” someone who we feel is deserving of our help. It’s quite another to help someone who we feel has put themselves in a bad situation. The unwed single mother who should have known better. Rarely do we think the same of the man/men who helped her to get in the situation. If asked, we’d probably say he is just as wrong but we don’t expect him to experience the same consequences that she does. No, if he has any involvement with the children he fathered, he receives praise and pats on the back. Even the father struggling to pay his child support doesn’t receive the same respect as the well-to-do man that never sees his kids but has a well paying job. We often look down on the person who struggles to hold a job thinking s/he lazy or wanting a hand-out. We don’t see the years of criticism that have worn this person’s self-confidence down or made them feel that they aren’t capable competent individuals. What about the addict that can’t kick the addiction that quite possibly has its roots in an undiagnosed, unmedicated mental illness? No, we often think that someone is deserving or not based on their financial security. It may have nothing to do with whether they are a good person.
ed free and break every yoke? . . . to share your food with the hungry and to provide the