You vs them

Over at Holly’s, she talking about something that has been close to my heart for along time now. It’s a discussion on why there seems to be so many standards of righteousness with in Christianity. Often times, upon a closer look, it causes more division and pain, then it does unity and healing. In Romans 12, Paul clearly tells us that some are for this office, while some are for that office. In that passage he’s talking about gifts and the proper use of those gifts, not necessarily the standards for living. But I think the same principle can be applied. There is a sweet young lady in our church who is still aching to be a mother after almost 3 year of marriage, while He is blessing us with our 6th child. It is possible that He doesn’t have motherhood in mind for her, but that doesn’t make her less “righteous” then me. It just means He has different plans for her. And it goes into so many other areas as well. Those who wear head coverings vs those who don’t. Those who home school vs those who don’t. Those we wear dresses/skirt/jumpers vs those who don’t. Those who volunteer many hours vs those who don’t….. and the list can go on and on. Not that people in these “camps” are against each other as they would be, say in a basketball game. But we all certainly do have our own ideas and we all have the tendency to think that we are right and others are wrong. Being as I am one of those head covering-dress wearing-homeschooling-no TV with many children kind-of mama, there have been times that I have struggled with this.

There have been times that I look at someone, based on their clothes and say “she’s probably not a Christian because she’s wearing______” or “Oh, look! She must be a Christian because she’s wearing a long skirt/dress”. The Spirit is quick to rebuke my with these thoughts, but I still have them. And there are many other examples where my humanness gets in the way and I start judging another.

Which is very ironic, because I know how being wrongly judged by others can wound. Because we do live so different, and look different, many people just assume why we do what we do, instead of asking us why we do something. We would be just fine in explaining why we do a particular thing, but no one ever bothers to ask us. Maybe they would feel uncomfortable, but I would think that assuming something about another is far worse. (I will be very quick to point out that while I can’t think of any situations at the moment, I’m sure I do the same thing)

I now many Godly men and women who don’t live like us. I often wonder why the Lord has convicted me/us in certain areas, and we can point to scripture as to why we do these things (and in our minds, it is very clear). And yet, He hasn’t convicted them or opened their eyes in certain areas as He has for us. It’s certainly something I intend on asking Him when I get to His place!

I guess the long and short of it is, is this: wearing a head covering, volunteering, wear only dresses, homeschooling, and anything else that is Biblical you can think of to set you apart from society, are all well and good things to be doing (with in reason, of course. I’m not so sure living like Isaiah would be all that beneficial these days and they need to be things that the Lord has convinced you about. Doing something on your own is not a good thing and it will never work.). But they are not about your salvation. You are not required to do “A”, “B” and “C” like your neighbors does in order for Jesus to save you (thankfully!!) These things are about obedience. Are you willing to do what He says? Are you willing to live in the way that He wants you to? Are you willing to go outside of you comfort zone to do His will? Does He really control you life, or is it just talk on your side? Is He your Lord or not? The direction that He take you in is up to Him.

We all know that He is not the God of confusion. So there will come a day when all our eyes and minds will be open and it all makes sense. Until then, some of use will continue to be that much needed outside piece in this puzzle called “life”, some will be the can’t-live-with-out corners, while others will be the beautiful often times very detailed, middle pieces that are needed to finish the picture. With out them, those strong side and corners pieces would be useless.

Well, there’s my “soap box” for the day! *smile* It took someone else’s deep thoughts and willingness to talk about them, for me to give you an interesting post. Go figure! I really do have interesting thought of my own and I really do think about these things. I just don’t always have the time to write them out. This post alone took 2 1/2 hours to complete!