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I'm More Spiritual Than You |
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Bible Study -
Devotional
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Contributed by Phil Spadaro
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Tuesday, 14 August 2007 |
 A common thread of the Restoration Movement has been the desire to be
more; more like the first century church, more fired up, more
spiritual, more, more, more. Although wanting to be “more” than what
you were before is not intrinsically wrong, comparing ourselves to
others and setting personal expectations as standards for brothers and
sisters is wrong.
Romans 14:1-22 speaks of disputable matters. As a personal conviction they are to be respected. Those who consider certain foods clean or days holy are not to be looked down upon. Nor are those who do not hold to these view to be condemned for their libertarian views. Rather, God calls us to consider what will be best for our brother's faith. If my brother believes it is wrong to celebrate Christmas, I will not mock him for this. I also do not expect him to judge me if I do celebrate Christmas. Certainly disputable matters should not become lines in the sand.
The letter to the Galatian churches addresses those who would draw a line in the sand. These false teachers (Gal 1:6-9) were declaring their super spirituality (Gal 6:13) because they followed the law; specifically circumcision. Circumcision was not the issue. The Judaizers belief that everyone had to have their convictions about circumcision was at issue. They believed circumcision (and the law) was necessary for salvation for the Gentiles. This was their line in the sand.
Although most of us would be hard pressed to find someone attempting to teach circumcision as necessary for salvation today, we still have our Judaizers. The “circumcisions” of today include harsh judgments of others. We look to ourselves as the standard for knowledge, wisdom, zeal, faith, insight, conversions, first century Christianity, etc... The bible is a good standard, but we can surpass the requirements of the bible. We can establish a better standard and curse those who do not agree with our level of commitment, understanding, faith, etc...
Let us be content with the bible as our standard and not try to develop a better measuring stick for our brothers. Lines in the sand divide and as the tide washes them away, new lines will need to be drawn; it is a never ending cycle of division. As we develop our beliefs, let us discern what is our conviction (theology, salvation doctrine) and what is our opinion (fired up vs. lukewarm, instrumental vs. a Capella) lest we, (Gal 1:9 b) [preach] a gospel other than what you accepted, [and] be eternally condemned!
I say this because I continue to see the causalities of this type of division. Even recently there has been an echo of the past resurfacing. “Only the totally fired up, sold out, committed” are to be considered Christians. Certainly this is a redundant statement. But it causes sufficient confusion and doubts to create division as one man defines, “totally fired up, sold out, committed”. Be wary of these wolves who would have us believe that they have cornered the market on truth and zeal. 3 John 1:9-10, wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
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I'm more spiritual than you
Written by kingmasada on 2007-08-14 04:14:20
I appreciate the devotional. After studying the history of the restoration movement, i learned there was a history of this line of thinking, even within the group. I can see how I still measure myself by this thinking. It's wrong and doesn't produce unity. Thanks for producing something that many of us can relate and shedding light on a significant issue. | Humility
Written by Alan on 2007-08-14 09:45:49
Hi Phil,
It takes a lot of humility to say "I don't know." We may think we know but we may not know.
1Co 8:2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
Some things haven't been revealed. On some other things we may be confident but wrong. With the judgment we use, we will be judged. Since we need mercy we need to extend it! |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 August 2007 )
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