Lately I find myself struggling with a battle. I guess you can say it's a battle that I've had for a while. It comes up every so often, I handle it and then, as time goes on, it comes back again. Do you remember those old high school shows that set-up the familiar characters of the popular high school jocks and cheerleaders and the much frowned upon and beat-up nerds of the school? Well, if ever those nerds wanted to be "in", they had to change something about themselves. It wasn't only appearance, but they had to change themselves. So I pose the question, is it possible to be "in" while remaining true to oneself? Or is that just playing the game of mixing black and white to live in the shade of gray?
Revelation 3.15-16 states “'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.'" And Matthew 6.24 states "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." The idea of playing both sides of the fence, living hot and cold, sometimes for God and sometimes for man, is unpleasing to God. So how do we live our lives without succumbing to wordly things? How do we live in the world but not of the world?
Growing up, my family and I would do things like party, drink, listen to secular music and many other things. I have changed a lot about how I live since I became a Christian, some for the reason of sin and some because I knew it was not good for myself personally. But I struggle with things that I find fun. Does my definition of fun differ from that of God's? I see some Christians who never go out, never let liquor touch their lips, spend day after day in church, pray without ceasing and speak only about the Lord. Then I see others who go to church and pray but indulge in wordly things like fashion, parties, popular music and dance. Is one greater than the other? Is one serving God while the other is not? Is it a question mere humans can even answer?
In Romans 14.22-23, Paul teaches us that it is sin to go against what we believe in faith, using the example of clean and unclean meats, "Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eatfrom faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin." This says to me that if I believe alcohol is no good for myself and my spiritual walk with God, I must not drink alcohol. And if I think pork is not an unclean meat but is ok for myself to eat in my spiritual walk with God, I may eat. But I may not judge another for their faith. This can get tricky because I can easily see people picking and choosing what is "ok" and "not ok" based on the convenience of their lives but hopefully, this is done through prayer, meditation and faith.
But Paul sums all things up with Romans 12.9 "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Teach me what is evil Lord that I may abhor it and teach me what is good Lord that I may cling to it!
I don't want to live of this world, for the devil is the prince and ruler of this world (John12.31). But while I am in it, I want to enjoy life while still remaining holy and acceptable to the Lord. Paul's words say to me that we have this freedom in our walk with Christ depending on where our faith lies. But I pray, for you all and for myself, that we abhor what is evil and cling to what is good praying that God blesses us with the wisdom to discern the difference and the strength to obey the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Blessings
