By David ReayThursday 18 Dec 2014LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Romans 14:13-14
13-14 Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else,making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced-Jesus convinced me!-that everything as it is in itself is holy. We,of course,by the way we treat it or talk about it,can contaminate it. (THE MESSAGE)
Occasionally we hear of people saying they only listen to Christian music or read Christian books. What on earth do they mean? Does the author or composer have to be a Christian? Is the music or literature on a specifically Christian theme? Or are we simply saying that such works of art are not inconsistent with a Christian worldview?
Do we reject Beethoven on such grounds? Or dismiss Rembrandt? Or write off Charles Dickens or for that matter,Wilbur Smith? We can get too fearful about such things. God is well able to get through to us via all sorts of music or art or literature. He is well able to stimulate our imaginations through such means so we come to know more of him. He communicates beyond the Bible (though not in contradiction to it). We can learn from those who are nowhere near the Christian faith.
Our passage today was dealing with a different situation but a similar principle. Some were overscrupulous when it came to eating certain foods. Paul wants us to be sensitive to one another-we are not to impose our views on anyone so that they stumble in faith. But at the same time,he reminds us that being overly narrow as to what is permissible denies the presence of God in his world. It shrinks our world.
By all means steer clear of what harms your faith,but be aware that there is much not consciously ‘Christian’ that can help your faith.
Blessings
David Reay