There is, I suppose, a special marvelous mystery in faith, a mystery that we hear little or nothing about. We may be so taken by our duty and privilege of sharing our faith, and modeling it for effective witness, that we lose the liberation of it. The King James Version, which is special to those who have a sense of the richness of language, a richness that may be diluted in our era, presents this verse in Romans in striking language: Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. The meaning is that the individual has matured sufficiently well that he moves with a strong sense of freedom within the extensive limits of his faith, and does so without guilt. It is a positive statement to a possible negative meaning of knowing and doing right.
Many Christians permit in their lives, attitudes, conducts, perceptions that I would deplore in my own life. Some seem to carry these differentials without large guilt. I traveled with young companions who could not go far without a smoke. They said they enjoyed having a beer, or two, and would not hesitate to buy a lottery ticket. One fellow wondered if they were turned down for a room one night because: The desk girl didn’t like the way we looked. They knew they had an unkempt appearance. They had married and were in partially dysfunctional families. Their stories could be extended relative to conducts I would not permit in my life. Both openly talked about being Christian and wanting to be a part of a Christian organization. I would trust the word of both of them, and do not hesitate to include them among my business friends. They were sensitive to my comfort, even curtailing personal habits while with me. Further, I doubt that they would make any snide remarks that would disparage me as a fuddy-duddy, or judgmental, or exuding too much religiosity. We respected each other. They regarded me as a father-figure.
I do not drink alcoholic beverages, smoke any plant material, use negative four letter words, tell off color jokes, and seldom attend movies except to please a friend, and the film has substance. I watch one from time to time in my home. Although not prudish, but holding high respect for legitimate sexual experience, I deplore the trivialization of sex in the media, the immodesty of clothing fashions, and the large degradation of pornography. So much seems gross and crude. As I recite to myself the story of my life, a contented life, I wonder if others might think me to be puritanical or self-righteous. I do not press my standards on others, but I also do not want to keep them a secret. I do as I do believing that I honor God best in the pattern I have followed for my life. I must leave judgment to him. It may be that given the context of life for my neighbor there may be either a tighter standard, or wider than that which fits into what has become my own. It is good to accept that emerging from a seeker’s life honoring God in the development of self.
My standards are mine, chosen because I believe that God wants me to maintain what amounts to a lifestyle free of guilt. What would Jesus do? – is a good question. For me, the inclusions of my life are not guided by others but by Christian Scripture. Is God pleased with my choices? Can I pray better, serve better, play better and become the person I was meant to be by finding that which I believe honors God in me? I seek life and devotion as though there are just the two of us. Mankind’s relationship with God is that personal, based on biblical standards – not on private opinion. It ought to be the way of service, health, humility, grace, love, righteousness, and devotion. There is no doubt in my mind that the pattern works. It is liberating. Judging faithfully for ourselves, we are not driven by opinions of others – Scripture is enough. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020