Now here's a thought.....

All throughout orientation and in various Chapel sermons, we have been discussing what is appropriate and what is not. There aren't a lot of rules at this school. We are adults and they expect us to act like adults. Part of being adults would be having consideration for those around us in the way we act and dress, the music we listen to, the activities we participate in, and so on and so forth. We as Christians have freedom in Christ. I may like a certain kind of music that is worldly, but it may not be a stumbling block in my Christian walk. However, it might bother my roommate. What do I say? Stop judging me! The Bible doesn't say that I can't listen to this! Is that a Christian attitude? I think not. What if I think it's okay to have a drink every now and then. (Don't worry, ya'll...alcohol is off limits...it's just an illustration.) Do I scoff at my friend's immaturity when he gets offended at my participation in drinking? Well, you obviously have a ways to go in your Christian walk, my friend...don't you know that Christ drank wine!? We sometimes end up adopting the attitude where we say "My relationship with Christ is stronger now than it ever has been in the past....THEREFORE I can have a drink (or listen to this music or dress this way...fill in the blank) and know that I am free in Christ to do so." That is all well and good when it is kept between you and God. However, when this way of thought begins to creep into our lives, we often end up flaunting our "freedoms." So now, here is the question I have for you: Is it possible to be a slave to our freedoms? I've been turning that thought over and over in my head over the last few weeks. In being free...we have the tendancy to turn right back around and put the chains back on. Of course we have many freedoms in Christ. Amazing blessings that are proof of His love and His desire for us to enjoy the life He has blessed us with. But it defeats the purpose if we abuse those privalages. We can enjoy many blessings that some can not, but we should never choose to participate in a "freedom" at the spiritual expense of a brother or sister in Christ. Deferance. That's the bottom line. May we never be so proud that we can't give up or temporarily set aside our own desires in deferance to a brother or sister in Christ.