Keep Out of the Way

Have there been spiritual troublemakers in your life who wrecked havoc?  Have they nearly crushed you or chased you from church?  

One would think that living the Christian faith would be plain and straightforward.  Love God.  Love your neighbor.  Jesus simplified the Old Testament law for all of us in the gospels.  Unfortunately, "love, joy, peace" is not the church history record on file.  

Many are the tales of those damaged in the church and by church people.  Jesus Christ comes to mind, as the church was launched.  Philip Yancey, Christian author, comes to mind, in our own day.  On his website, Yancey "jokes about being in 'recovery from a toxic church.'"   In my own life, a charismatic church led me to believe I no longer needed to wear glasses, as I had been healed.  (This librarian still wears glasses.)  Controlling churches and personalities harm your health, job, relationships, finances... 

Scripture warns us about persecutors, false teachers, legalistic leaders, those who err in interpreting the meaning of the law, and those greedy for gain.  Human nature bends toward the abuse of power, in other words.  In contrast, humility characterizes the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Don't be naïve about the dangerous, misguided people within the church.  They are adept at soul-poisoning and spirit-crushing.  Set boundaries, separate from them, and remind yourself:  "the truth will set you free" John 8:32.  Spend time getting to know the mind of Christ, watch how Jesus interacts with others in the gospels, learn what he values in the New Testament. 

Here's the script that Paul sets before us in Romans 14.  

First, "Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others."  Romans 14:22

Love God.  Serve God.  Recognize that Jesus is our Lord, our Savior, and "our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free(s) us from the petty tyrannies of each other." Romans 14:9

Don't fall into the trap of trying to perform for and please the people around you.  You are always and only called to follow Jesus, full of grace and truth.

Finally, keep out of the way of those growing in the faith.  Don't become a hindrance to them, whether children or weaker believers.  

"Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is." Romans 14:13 (The Message)

Focus on proclaiming the good news which is a liberating message of forgiveness and redemption.