Those Mature in Faith...

...don’t compare themselves to others, especially in the area of the quality and quantity of faith. Though the bible doesn’t say this very directly, it seems implied throughout—to me.

My response: Uh...Yeah but... doesn’t it seem like there should be some exceptions this rule?

Romans 14: 1-14
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything.

But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t.... 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God....So why do you condemn another believer[a]? Why do you look down on another believer?

Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.... 12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. 14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.

These verses clearly say that we are not discourage “the baby Christian” in instances where they feel the need to create hard and fast rules on issues where God has probably given us nothing but choices. Yet, how does one decide on who is a baby Christian and who is not without comparing them to...uh, well... yourself.

Making a determination as to whether one is talking to a baby Christian or not probably isn’t critical when discussing issues that are important only to each individual’s life—like what one eats. According to Romans 14, you just shut up and go along. However, things seem a bit more complicated when a baby Christian is spewing what seems to be a judgmental and legalistic view in front of non-Christians.

A man I am acquainted with, who is a relatively new Christian by his own admission, who hasn’t been able to find a church (good enough) to go to since I’ve known him(more than a year), likes to talk about what how all other people are failing to be good enough but especially about what other Christian’s ought to be doing. Attempts to deflect him, even completely sincere statements like “you may very well be right” or is “you are very likely right” is not enough to satisfy someone this insecure in a debate on what God might or might not think on any given subject.

His resulting hostility is one of the reasons I don’t like talking to people I don’t know about God--which was the subject of our debate: People should talk to strangers about God.

I only witness to other people, occasionally and reluctantly, in obedience to God. It’s not that I don’t want to share “The Good News.” It just seems likely that most adults, above a certain age, have already made their minds up about “The Good News.” And it seems more than possible that I’m just being obnoxious by approaching them, yet again. I am much more likely to share “The Good News” with people who could use some—like when they’re floundering and they don’t know where to turn. And then, there’s that terrifying little fear I have of saying something wrong, or saying it in the wrong way, or not saying something well enough.

My faith is stronger these days in that I more deeply believe the Holy Spirit will make good on my faltering attempts to witness to other people, but I still have what I consider a healthy reluctance to shoot my mouth off in this area. And while it may be that I have an expectation that other people be as humble as I am (Ha-ha), people who will talk as if there is no mystery to God scare me. Those who would pontificate at length and are exactly sure about what God thinks sans a theology degree, scare me. Therefore, I don’t know what to do about Christians, whether they are of the baby-variety or no, who would shoot their mouth off without any guidance.

Why do anything? Jesus doesn’t need defending, but the minds of non-Christians might.

In my family, most of the lies told were told with silence. So it’s not surprising to me that I still struggle with knowing when it is appropriate time to speak up. Even now, it always seems easier to let someone believe something that’s not true so long as it keeps the peace. These days though, whenever I can remember to stop and think about what’s at stake, it seems like I should state my opinion if I think someone is representing Christ incorrectly. Besides, I believe healthy debate is good.

But the question I may never be able to answer is this: Can a debate with a baby Christian, over things they’ve said that sound legalistic and harsh--judging by the faces of those who overheard him--more a part of witnessing to the non-Christians who were listening or more a part of discouraging the baby Christian who doesn’t listen to anything, not even the words “you could very likely be right?”