Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Regarding Meat

After hearing the usual give and take between Christians regarding Halloween, I thought about posting my thoughts. And then I thought better of it, and instead thought I'd simply post this passage. So here's my rendering of Romans 14:1-9, if Paul were alive today, and if he were talking about Halloween instead of meat offered to idols: 1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to go "trick or treating." But another believer with a sensitive conscience would rather stay home. 3 Those who feel free to "trick or treat" must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t observe Halloween must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval. 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who choose to refrain from Halloween activities do it to honor him. Those who observe Halloween do so to honor the Lord, since they do it to foster redemptive relationships with their neighbors. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So maybe, just maybe, the point isn't whether or not the Dean boys went trick or treating tonight, but why they did or did not. And most likely whether or not you dressed up and did the whole Halloween thing tonight is none of my business, as God will judge each of us whether we are right or wrong. By the way...here's a cute pic of Jaxon.

(I'm so cute it's scary!)

6 comments:

erichapman said...

that's middle ground that i don't think anyone can arge with.

Anonymous said...

Well said (and well needed for me to keep things in perspective). I got frustrated from a halloween email saying: I'm not judging..... (you're going to hell because halloween is of the devil)

On the other hand, it certainly is putting one foot in the door of relativism (I accept your viewpoint, but I don't have your hangups about murder. I can kill for the lord)

Chris said...

Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt!

charlesdean2 said...

here's the check on relativism:

the Holy Spirit

I think that in the tradition I was raised in, we just ignored the role of Holy Spirit and so it was easy just to make up rules. But Paul is pretty clear, on multiple ocassions, that the Holy Spirit may convict each of us differently when it comes to the "gray" issues.

Anonymous said...

Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt!

psssht! that was soooo two thousand years ago. God is now all about the aneurism. All of the death without the funky after smell.

charlesdean2 said...

Crack me up!!!

That gave me a much-needed laugh!