Not long ago, my pastor preached a message that was extra good (all his sermons are good - this one was EXTRA good ;-)). He was talking about our freedom in Christ. We are saved by grace, and God gave us a free will to make our own choices, including the choice to follow Him. Pastor used the following example (slight paraphrase on his exact wording) on how we should use discernment and wisdom in how we use that freedom:

If you decided that you wanted to walk off the edge of a cliff, God gave you the freedom to make that choice. He isn’t necessarily going to come down from heaven and stand in your way. However, as a fellow believer, I feel obligated to tell you that the stop at the bottom of the cliff will be detrimental to your health!

Just because you have the freedom to do something, doesn’t mean you should! Pastor also used this illustration:

If someone cuts you off on the highway, or is rude to you and makes you mad, you have the freedom in Christ to give them a piece of your mind; but some of ya’ll can not afford to be losin’ any pieces of your mind!

LOL I love that! Okay, so I can relate to his sense of humor, but it’s true. As Christians, we are all called to be a living example of Christ to others. We are to live out the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-25.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

If you are serving within a ministry - you are especially called to a higher standard (James 3:1)! So guard every area of your lives and do not use your freedom to sin (Galatians 5:13).

What exactly does this mean? Well, for starters, there may be areas of your life that you could do in good conscience, and it would not be sin for you; yet, it would be for someone else (Romans 14:23). An example would be having a glass of wine or beer with dinner. Beer or wine in and of itself is not sinful - excessive drinking and drunkeness is sinful. So is eating too much food (gluttony - see ’self-control’ in the fruits of the spirit!). However, as a Christian, if a non-Christian, or new Christian, saw you drinking a beer (or pigging out at the food bar - that whole ’self-control’ thing again!) what kind of example is that setting? It could be a stumbling block to that person. What about if you wore a mini-skirt or those hip hugger jeans with our bum half hanging out! Read 1 Corinthians 8:9

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

And in Matthew 16:23 Jesus said to Peter:

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

And Romans 14:13 sums it up well:

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this–not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

If we are to love others more than ourselves, then striving to live a Godly life, and making choices that reflect that, even if we have freedom in Christ to do otherwise, is truly walking in love and not being a stumbling block to others. We need to choose God’s ways over the world’s ways.
How do you do that? Ultimately, that’s between you and God.

I know for me, I have chosen not to drink alcohol at all, dress modestly (sometimes that’s dresses, sometimes slacks - nothing revealing or overly form-fitting), I watch very little TV, I’m first and foremost a homemaker, even though I own a home-business. I also choose to be submissive to my husband and by that I mean he has the final say on everything in our house; but I do have a voice and a say as well! [So please don't assume he's dragging me around by the hair - as that's not what Biblical submission means for a wife!!!!] I choose not to gossip, whine, complain or be lazy. I try to help others, serve within my church, community and help people in need. I choose to put God above all else!

Serving God should take us out of our worldly comfort zone and we should be different than everyone else. We don’t need to draw undue attention to ourselves, but we should be noticeably different and it should be a good difference that draws others to Christ by our example. They should want what we have! Do you shine Jesus before others? Or are you sour faced, complaining and your home, children and life a mess? If so, then get your relationship with Jesus in it’s place as #1 priority in your life; so you can get about the business of witnessing for Christ!

Written by Traci Knoppe ©: Aside from her roles as wife, mother of six, mother-in-law and grandmother, Traci is a Christian parenting instructor, Sunday school teacher, and business owner.

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