Something that I have dealt with a lot throughout life is the tyranny of the 'weaker brother'. And yes I do use the word tyranny specifically. It is not the existence of people who take a more legalistic or conservative view on some things that bothers me. I don't mind agreeing to disagree. And this is related to my second point, which I'll describe in a moment, but for now: it's not the difference of opinion that I find unChristian...it's the 'tyranny' part.
What do I mean by that? I mean the condemnation, judgementalism, and generally un-love on things we disagree on. My father-in-law doesn't like alcohol. I understand his feelings behind it. However he is also mature enough to acknowledge that other believers don't feel the same way and they are not wrong in partaking. That, to me, is a mature 'weaker brother'. However, it seems to me that the modern Church is almost entirely run by IMmature 'weaker brothers'. That is, those who cannot fathom any viewpoint besides their own, who preach from the pulpit the doctrines of teatotalism, celibacy, and media disassociation (do not taste, touch, or handle, anyone?), as if they were inarguable truths and disagreement is heresy. Besides the fact that it ignores they are peripheral issues (not central to the Gospel), I never see any attempt to appreciate the heart behind the opposing viewpoints. This, I think, is tyranny. An attempt to force others to agree with us and condemn them to hell for an opposing view, rather than loving fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
And this gets to me second point.
Has the Church forgotten Love? Have we forgotten that "the greatest...is love", and that without it we are clanging cymbols? Have we forgotten that Christ commanded us to love one another as he loves us?
I'm not saying we don't disagree. Obviously, there are many of you here on this board (@Slumberfreeze
that I disagree with on, well, lots of issues. But while one the one hand that does mean that I have no desire to seek like-minded support on those topics (I don't plan to ask my father-in-law to rejoice with me in the fine taste of grass vodka), I also appreciate your hearts...you desire truth, you desire to follow Christ, etc. So, while I think you're wrong/incorrect, I also acknowledge that A: it's not sinful to NOT 'drink', and B: it's not ultimately important. What is important is love. That we act first out of love for God and secondly out of love for each other.
Obviously I don't do this perfectly lol.
I'm on this board because I was seeking a community of believers who at least agreed with me on this issue (since we seem to be in the vast minority). If I wanted a community that sees as I do on, say, alcohol, I'm sure there's another board for that somewhere
But the point is...I had to come here, an online board separate from my daily community in order to feel like I was, if not loved, at least not condemned/hated for disagreeing with the typical Church view on PM. Why is that? Because, from what I've seen, of a lack of love. True love. Corinthians lists what love looks like. Patience, kindness, humility...so many of these aspects seem vastly lacking in the Church today.
So. I write this to encourage all of us (myself included) to remember: the first is love. God is love. We are to love, and act out of love. Not out of 'correctness' or 'order' or 'tradition' or any other motivator we might have. Not to say those are wrong either...but I think the Bible is rather clear that the prime motivator for ANY of our beliefs or actions should be love. Love for God and love for others (and certainly other believers!). I know, for me, this is difficult. It's hard to love someone who doesn't love you back. I certainly wouldn't choose to hang out with someone who constantly condemns me for believing in PM. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't seek to love them.
@FollowingHim2 mentioned to me the other day that love is an action and choice, not a feeling. On this I agree. However I would suggest that it is deeper than that. It is a way of being and seeing. We know what love is because we know who God is. God IS love. In His character and actions He models love for us...even when we were His enemies and lost! If we attempt to see each other with God's love as a wellspring in our hearts, while it may not make us want to hang out with those difficult people in our lives, it might at least allow us to have some sympathy and empathy for even those who grate us the worst
What do I mean by that? I mean the condemnation, judgementalism, and generally un-love on things we disagree on. My father-in-law doesn't like alcohol. I understand his feelings behind it. However he is also mature enough to acknowledge that other believers don't feel the same way and they are not wrong in partaking. That, to me, is a mature 'weaker brother'. However, it seems to me that the modern Church is almost entirely run by IMmature 'weaker brothers'. That is, those who cannot fathom any viewpoint besides their own, who preach from the pulpit the doctrines of teatotalism, celibacy, and media disassociation (do not taste, touch, or handle, anyone?), as if they were inarguable truths and disagreement is heresy. Besides the fact that it ignores they are peripheral issues (not central to the Gospel), I never see any attempt to appreciate the heart behind the opposing viewpoints. This, I think, is tyranny. An attempt to force others to agree with us and condemn them to hell for an opposing view, rather than loving fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
And this gets to me second point.
Has the Church forgotten Love? Have we forgotten that "the greatest...is love", and that without it we are clanging cymbols? Have we forgotten that Christ commanded us to love one another as he loves us?
I'm not saying we don't disagree. Obviously, there are many of you here on this board (@Slumberfreeze
that I disagree with on, well, lots of issues. But while one the one hand that does mean that I have no desire to seek like-minded support on those topics (I don't plan to ask my father-in-law to rejoice with me in the fine taste of grass vodka), I also appreciate your hearts...you desire truth, you desire to follow Christ, etc. So, while I think you're wrong/incorrect, I also acknowledge that A: it's not sinful to NOT 'drink', and B: it's not ultimately important. What is important is love. That we act first out of love for God and secondly out of love for each other. Obviously I don't do this perfectly lol.
I'm on this board because I was seeking a community of believers who at least agreed with me on this issue (since we seem to be in the vast minority). If I wanted a community that sees as I do on, say, alcohol, I'm sure there's another board for that somewhere
But the point is...I had to come here, an online board separate from my daily community in order to feel like I was, if not loved, at least not condemned/hated for disagreeing with the typical Church view on PM. Why is that? Because, from what I've seen, of a lack of love. True love. Corinthians lists what love looks like. Patience, kindness, humility...so many of these aspects seem vastly lacking in the Church today.
So. I write this to encourage all of us (myself included) to remember: the first is love. God is love. We are to love, and act out of love. Not out of 'correctness' or 'order' or 'tradition' or any other motivator we might have. Not to say those are wrong either...but I think the Bible is rather clear that the prime motivator for ANY of our beliefs or actions should be love. Love for God and love for others (and certainly other believers!). I know, for me, this is difficult. It's hard to love someone who doesn't love you back. I certainly wouldn't choose to hang out with someone who constantly condemns me for believing in PM. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't seek to love them.
@FollowingHim2 mentioned to me the other day that love is an action and choice, not a feeling. On this I agree. However I would suggest that it is deeper than that. It is a way of being and seeing. We know what love is because we know who God is. God IS love. In His character and actions He models love for us...even when we were His enemies and lost! If we attempt to see each other with God's love as a wellspring in our hearts, while it may not make us want to hang out with those difficult people in our lives, it might at least allow us to have some sympathy and empathy for even those who grate us the worst
