Not Yer Business or A Rude Little Rhubarb

In the last post I referred to how we must deal gently with a weaker brother. This is not to say that a weaker brother can look through our trash or come to our home and hunt for things that might be offensive to them ... that's just meddlin'. "Is that a beer bottle in your reycycle bin? .... or is that a glass pickle jar in your trash?!?" We are taught to be sensitive to a weaker brother but we are also warned that the weak are not to bind the conscience or freedom of others.

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It is also possible that someone is "offended" that we are doing our job because they are actually "jealous" and wants us out of the way. Or maybe they wish to guilt us out of something that belongs to us. This is not a matter of we should be charitable and give evary sad little person what they want. This is just wayward behavior. Don't back down and don't back them up. If God has given you stewardship over something you cannot in good conscience give it up just because someone else wants it. Recall Naboth's Vineyard.

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I once sat on a pulpit committee where it was agreed that our decision would be unanimous before we called the next pastor. About a dozen candidates later we had to amend our rule to majority vote because one woman alone had voted negative on all candidates. This is what we will come down to if we raise the weaker brother to a place where they can call the shots for everyone. Really, there is something we call common sense. But if were're lacking we can pray.

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So there is a balance that has to be struck here. The Scriptures call it "faith expressing itself in love." In other words we serve God in faith. But we are called to different tasks. Do not judge another man's servant. "John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking and they said, 'He has a demon .... the Christ came both eating and drinking and they said, 'He is a drunkard and a glutton." John the Baptist and Christ were called to different types of service and those who criticised were wrong on all counts. "So whatever you do, whether eating or drinking ... or not ... do it all to the glory of God and love your brother as yourself." And mind your own business.