I grew up with a good, moral background, and I even went to church, but I wasn't
a Christian. In those days I really enjoyed beer, especially on a hot day after
mowing the lawn. When I received Christ as a young man, I joined a church which
preached total abstinence from alcoholic beverages. I wasn't a drunk, so I
decided to scratch that rule and keep my beer.
My beer-drinking wasn't excessive, but two years later the Lord convicted me
about it. With the conviction came the power to obey. So I gave it up. I'm so
glad that no one laid a guilt trip on me or made an issue over my drinking an
occasional beer.
Sometimes we are tempted to play the role of the Holy Spirit or the conscience
in someone else's life on issues where the Scriptures are not crystal clear:
"Christians don't drink or smoke"; "You should spend at least 30 minutes a day
in prayer and Bible study"; "Buying lottery tickets is not good stewardship."
I'm convinced that the Holy Spirit knows exactly when to bring conviction on
issues of conscience. It's part of the process of sanctification which He
superintends. When we attempt to play His role, we often do little more than
convey criticism and rejection. Our job is to accept people and let the Holy
Spirit bring conviction in His time.
God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, not condemnation. Paul wrote,
"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their
trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation"
(2 Corinthians 5:19). There is a time and place to confront Christians about
immoral behavior. But when we do so, it is only because we care about their
relationship with God and desire to protect others.
Lord, teach me to confront others in love when I must and to accept others in
love as You have accepted me.
Dr. Anderson, Freedom in Christ and Harvest House Publishers
www.ficm.org
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