1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
We have a definitive answer to the question Cain posed. Am I my brothers keeper? Yes.... Yes you are.
Things we do, that we consider lawful for us very well might be, but we must do them or not do them for the sake of other's not ourselves.
Just because we feel it is ok, does not mean the one watching us thinks it is. Or perhaps the one seeing us do that which we think is ok is not strong enough to handle it, making us responsible for their fall.
We must protect their conscience as well as our own.
I will not get into specifics, into that which may or may not be wrong. That is for the individual to work out.
However, the overarching thought is of my brother and sister in Christ. What will cause them to fail? What will cause them to fall? What will so affect their conscience that they might walk away from the faith or the church? What will so affect their faith in me?
There was an athlete in the 1970/1980's who said 'I am no role model.'
What he failed to understand is that he was/is indeed a role model.
No matter who you are, what you do someone is watching you, emulating you, wishing to be as you are.
Your job is to be sure that you have set forth a good and Godly example for them.
\Your job in Christ is to be the light that illuminates sin and shows the obstacles in their way so they may avoid stumbling and falling. Your job is to be the living embodiment of God here on this earth.
Your job is to be sacrificed daily to self and to live for Christ, setting aside the pleasures of earth to set a Godly example for those who are watching you.
You may be the pastor, the sunday school teacher, the youth pastor, the bus driver, the soul winner, the prayer warrior, the tither etc...
No matter your role in the church, your role in the christian life is clear.
To be a role model. To be an example. To be the one who shows not just the sacrifice of Christ but the joy of Christ, The Love of Christ and the peace that passeth all understanding of Christ.
We have a nation and a world of self-absorbed people who believe one/some of the following:
A. They live in a bubble
B. What they do only affects them.
C. That they are the center of the universe.
D. That they are judge and jury, they are the only ones who know what God says and wants.
E. That they are insignificant and of no moment so their actions don't matter.
Each one of those has it's own built in problems.
You are the light of the world, not just to a lost and dying world but to the Christian who believes you are more spiritual than they are.
To the young in Christ who believes you are more mature than they are.
To the young child who believes you have it all together and are what they want to be when they grow up.
We have an obligation to those watching to be the best we can be. Even as we walk along in life, unsure of what we are doing and making it up as we go.
They think you have it all together and that's their perception.
Their perception is your reality.
If they perceive you are pure and holy, then you are.
If they perceive that you have it all together, then you do.
If they perceive you have all the answers, then you do.
If they perceive it, whether it is true or not, it is true.
Someone somewhere is watching you. Whether in your own home, in your church, at your job, on the train, on the plane. Someone is watching you and they will follow your example because you are what they are aspiring to be.
What example are you going to give?
That you can live like the world all week, and be pious in church?
That you can serve two masters?
That half commitment to the Christian life is the way to go?
Or are you going to be the example they need? The one that shows the purity and truth of the gospel to the best of your ability?
BE the example that says I am not perfect but He is and I will do my best in His Power to be who He would have me to be.
Not for my sake. but for theirs.
We have a definitive answer to the question Cain posed. Am I my brothers keeper? Yes.... Yes you are.
Things we do, that we consider lawful for us very well might be, but we must do them or not do them for the sake of other's not ourselves.
Just because we feel it is ok, does not mean the one watching us thinks it is. Or perhaps the one seeing us do that which we think is ok is not strong enough to handle it, making us responsible for their fall.
We must protect their conscience as well as our own.
I will not get into specifics, into that which may or may not be wrong. That is for the individual to work out.
However, the overarching thought is of my brother and sister in Christ. What will cause them to fail? What will cause them to fall? What will so affect their conscience that they might walk away from the faith or the church? What will so affect their faith in me?
There was an athlete in the 1970/1980's who said 'I am no role model.'
What he failed to understand is that he was/is indeed a role model.
No matter who you are, what you do someone is watching you, emulating you, wishing to be as you are.
Your job is to be sure that you have set forth a good and Godly example for them.
\Your job in Christ is to be the light that illuminates sin and shows the obstacles in their way so they may avoid stumbling and falling. Your job is to be the living embodiment of God here on this earth.
Your job is to be sacrificed daily to self and to live for Christ, setting aside the pleasures of earth to set a Godly example for those who are watching you.
You may be the pastor, the sunday school teacher, the youth pastor, the bus driver, the soul winner, the prayer warrior, the tither etc...
No matter your role in the church, your role in the christian life is clear.
To be a role model. To be an example. To be the one who shows not just the sacrifice of Christ but the joy of Christ, The Love of Christ and the peace that passeth all understanding of Christ.
We have a nation and a world of self-absorbed people who believe one/some of the following:
A. They live in a bubble
B. What they do only affects them.
C. That they are the center of the universe.
D. That they are judge and jury, they are the only ones who know what God says and wants.
E. That they are insignificant and of no moment so their actions don't matter.
Each one of those has it's own built in problems.
You are the light of the world, not just to a lost and dying world but to the Christian who believes you are more spiritual than they are.
To the young in Christ who believes you are more mature than they are.
To the young child who believes you have it all together and are what they want to be when they grow up.
We have an obligation to those watching to be the best we can be. Even as we walk along in life, unsure of what we are doing and making it up as we go.
They think you have it all together and that's their perception.
Their perception is your reality.
If they perceive you are pure and holy, then you are.
If they perceive that you have it all together, then you do.
If they perceive you have all the answers, then you do.
If they perceive it, whether it is true or not, it is true.
Someone somewhere is watching you. Whether in your own home, in your church, at your job, on the train, on the plane. Someone is watching you and they will follow your example because you are what they are aspiring to be.
What example are you going to give?
That you can live like the world all week, and be pious in church?
That you can serve two masters?
That half commitment to the Christian life is the way to go?
Or are you going to be the example they need? The one that shows the purity and truth of the gospel to the best of your ability?
BE the example that says I am not perfect but He is and I will do my best in His Power to be who He would have me to be.
Not for my sake. but for theirs.
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