On several occasions, in addressing groups on conference grounds, I have asked those before me to clasp their hands. Historically the gesture was common for many persons entering into prayer, perhaps in gracing a table before a meal. Instead of praying, I have asked how many place the left thumb over the right thumb. More than half acknowledge that they do. Then I ask for those who put the right thumb over the left. The rest acknowledge that they do. Then I request them to do the opposite of the usual pattern for them. They are all impressed on how funny the change feels. The lesson is that if such a small matter of difference between persons can make one feel a bit uncomfortable how aggravating may larger, more meaningful, even innocent, different conducts, known and unknown, create personal and relationship problems of perception or conduct.
Christians, if they are faithful to Scripture, will tend to function differently than those who do not regard Scripture with personal intensity. Or the point may be cast another way. What becomes natural, acceptable, even demanding for one person of good will, may be totally offensive to another person, also a person of good will. The differences should not trigger judgmental attitudes on either side, but an attitude of learning and growing as human beings. According to the Apostle both persons will ultimately be evaluated for what they are, right or wrong, or neutral. The obligation of all persons is to respect the right of each individual to decide for self – relative to what he/she will believe and practice. Such a freedom concept is widely espoused in western countries. It is believed that God frees up our personal choice, but does not approve all choices.
The Apostle Peter wrote that the general public tends to fault (malign) those who follow dissimilar conducts and habits from themselves. This is treated in two ways: 1)-the Christian is faulted for not following patterns of the majority of non-Christians; and, 2)-the Christian follows patterns that posit the morality of righteousness from God. If wrong (sin) is the real issue in any pattern, final judgment is left to God. We leave it there. The Christian pattern is one of conviction for oneself, but good will toward all. The negatives are left to God to manage. For example: The Christian affirms health, not illness; affirms truth, not lies; affirms love, not hate; and, so the story goes. Learning to live in the right (righteous) affirmations for life is the secret to success before God.
This approach may be seen in many contexts of life. At the turn of the 21st Century, the evangelical Christian community had become large enough, influential enough that it found itself in the political arena recognized as a major force in national political society. The response was stern and accusatory from many holding different views – with accusations about violations of church and state, unfair influence, forced opinions, superstition, ill motives, and the like. An objective person would have to acknowledge that the efforts of some Christians are sometimes just as misguided as some persons of the opposition, holding ill conceived, perhaps irrelevant viewpoints. Both sides have adversarial members who are embarrassments to their own kind, related to the issues at hand. The mystery in the difference may be partly unraveled in examining the presuppositions of the persons of non-faith from the persons of faith. In conflict, the concepts of reasoning together as noted in Isaiah may be lost. It is important that one learns that winning in intellectual duels is not the point. Being understood is. We trust God to use whatever we do to be used to accomplish the plan of God for ultimate solutions. What is all truth in a mysterious universe? For continuity we have no other recourse than faith in God. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020