LET'S NOT GET TRIPPED UP

I became a Christian as a child and was raised in what would now be called a legalistic environment. Unfortunately I learned to judge a person's outward appearance very quickly: too much make-up, hair too short, attended movies, danced, belonged to a lodge...how could that person possibly be a Christian? When my husband and I joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ and moved to California, I was in for a major culture shock. First, the Lord allowed me to hear a person's testimony. It was obvious by their behavior and changed life that they knew Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. BUT they didn't live the way I did, and they didn't even go to MY church. But I watched these people...they definitely knew the Lord. Was it possible? But according to me, their theology was all mixed up. Yet I enjoyed being around them. I saw their love for the Lord and for me.

I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Howard Hendricks while I was tussling with this issue, many, many years ago. He said we need to make sure we know the difference between Christian standards and standards of Christians. Aha, that was it! I got tripped up by standards of Christians when I should have been paying more attention to Christian standards. Christian standards are in the Bible, and they don't change...ever. Standards of Christians can vary from church to church, state to state or family to family. Let's not get tripped up.

When we are in Christ Jesus, it is not important if we are circumcised or not. The important thing is faith-the kind of faith that works through love (Galatians 5:6, NCV).

MWH

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 34: 3-5
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.