Skip to main content

When In Rome...

...do as the Romans, right? After all, it is the convenient thing to do. Who wants to make waves by rocking the boat? Fly under the radar (to mix metaphors) and you won't call attention to yourself.

That has been my motto for as long as I can remember.  But as Christians, there are times when we cannot simply assimilate and go with the flow. We are called to a higher standard.

The funny thing is that it is so much easier to just go along with the crowd. It is much easier to live a carnal Christianity. I know from personal experience how easy it is to act like a Christian when with other believers and then act more worldly when around non-believers. At the time, I didn't think anything of it.

Unfortunately, I was ignoring the words of our Lord and Saviour from Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other..." (see also Luke 16:13). Jesus was saying that as much as we think we can serve two masters, we can't. It's impossible. You are committed to one or the other. Just like in a marriage, either you are committed to your spouse or you're not. Period. There is no wiggle room.

As Christians, we cannot and indeed must not simply go with the flow. We cannot do as the Romans, when we are in Rome. If we name the name of Christ, we must do as Christ would do no matter where we are nor with whom.

In many instances, it will mean making tough decisions. In some cases, it may even mean disappointing friends and loved ones. It might cost us treasured relationships. But won't an eternity in Heaven with Christ, our Saviour and God, the Father be worth it all?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ride or Die

I love this phrase. There are quite a few subtle variations on the meaning, but it is an urban colloquialism that means loyalty, no matter what. I thank God that I have been blessed with a few people that have that kind of loyalty to me and I to them. It's a rich blessing that have true friends. They are with me and in my corner no matter what (or "regardless of what" as one of them would say). This week we had Vacation Bible School at my church and I was privileged to be a teacher. The first lesson was taken from Daniel chapter three. The very well known story of the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. It is a wonderful story of faith, but something jumped out at me so profoundly that it almost knocked me over. We always focus on the deliverance. But the Hebrew boys did not. Their focus was on God and Him alone. They were ride or die for the Lord. Literally. If you read the story, they never once pray for deliverance. They talk about God's a
2 comments
Read more

Rocks, Gravel, Sand and Water

Let me first start by saying that I cannot take credit for the following example, as I did not originate it. In fact, I was listening to Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah and I was so touched by what he shared that I thought I would share it with all of you. Let's say I have a large, empty 5-gallon jar. If I place fist sized rocks into the jar until no more can fit, is it full? Before you answer, let me say that after I place the rocks in the jar, I pick up a bag of gravel and begin to pour that into the jar. Where does the gravel go? In between the spaces left by the rocks. After I fill the jar to the brim with gravel, is it full? Before you answer, consider this: I pour a bag of sand into the jar. Where does the sand go? Into the spaces left by the gravel, of course. After filling the jar to the brim with sand, is it full? Before you answer, consider this: I pour a pitcher of water into the same jar. Where does the water go? Into the spaces between the grains of sa
2 comments
Read more

Simple Mathematics

If you're like me, you're probably thinking there is no such thing as "simple" mathematics... and the picture above does not help! For some of us, even the simplest calculations require technological assistance. But don't lose heart, loved one! The equation I am about to give you is so simple even a pre-school student can understand it (I think!). So here it is, in the form of an "if/then" statement: If a=b, then b=a Simple, right? Of course it is because it is logical. The equal sign ("=") means that whatever is on either side of that sign is the same. So even if you reverse the order in which you list the items on either side of that equal sign, they are still equal. So then, how does this simple premise, simple equation apply to this inconvenient Christian journey. Here it is: Christian = Christ follower, Christ follower = Christian.  Again, simple, no? Or is it? It seems to me that we as Christians do not always act like Christ
4 comments
Read more