Choose a different lens

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. (Romans 14:12-13)

Decide instead - that very statement indicates we often tend to 'argue points' way more than we should. We find fault with someone's way of worshipping, or perhaps even what day they worship on. God just said to make one day out of seven a day of rest - a sabbath. Does it matter if it is Sunday, Saturday, or even Monday? Not at all! It matters whether we take time to gather together, learn from his word, and enter into his rest. We find all types of ways to criticize each other, don't we? The clothes we wear, the church we attend, whether we eat meat during lent or even observe the season of lent at all. The ways we choose to criticize each other really do little more than 'taunt' our 'superiority' over someone else's way of worshipping. That does nothing more than bring disappointment to God.

Live in such a way - this is the commandment we need to focus on above all our petty arguments about where to worship, when we should worship, or what we wear to worship God. Personally, I don't think God is offended with jeans and t-shirts any more than he is impressed with a two-piece suit and tie! It is the heart that matters. When we choose to focus on another's heart and less on their physical appearance, we may just find ourselves rejoicing right alongside each other in the way God intended. When we choose to look through the lens of what may cause another to stumble and fall, avoiding those things entirely, we might just be doing what the church is designed to do - bring believers to maturity in Christ!

Many gatherings spend way too much time focusing on appearances and not enough looking into the heart of a man, finding the need hidden deep within that heart, and seeking to meet the need that exists there. Some will have a bible, with passages underlined, while others will have a smartphone with a bible app. Is one better than the other? As long as the word of God is getting into one's heart, it doesn't matter the means! The need within the heart is met quickest when we focus on uniting in our pursuit of Jesus and his goodness than it does when we look down on others for any reason. It is time we all choose to look through a different lens - the one that sees each other as Jesus sees us. Just sayin!