Faulty Labels

#1 · July 24, 2002, 2:45 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on July 24, 2002, 2:45 pm
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>

Subject: Faulty Labels
From: Martin Overfield
Date: 23 Feb 2002

Faulty Labels

(For one to perform an in-depth study of Romans chapter fourteen is
very enlightening. I would encourage every Christian to do so, but to
do it with an open heart and mind, because the issues of a clear
conscience, of true Christian liberty and of charity toward our
Christian brethren constitute far more than just a "one-way street".
I might even liken such things to a three, four or five-way intersection
at which the traffic lights do not always seem to work properly.)

"What is this title about?" It is about the way some professing
Christians are acting here in this world! It is about labeling the
brethren. Say, humans are not perfect and they may inaccurately
"label" some of the children of God.

"Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him
which eateth not judge him that eateth: ... But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ... Let us not therefore judge
one another any more: ..." (Romans 14:3, 10, 13a)

We sometimes hear the idea expressed in the market place that
someone has used false advertising. Usually, the problem is that the
product is not quite as good as the seller or manufacturer has
represented it to be. Sometimes, it is just the problem of a label
giving the impression that there is something different on the inside
than we find there when we get home.

In some Christian circles today, we find Christians labeling one
another. They give one another labels like, LIBERAL, LEGALIST,
NARROW, COMPROMISER, and WORLDLY.

Now, if we are truly mistaken, and believe some GOOD things about
a brother, then proceed to tell others, I hope that no one will label us
as false advertisers. How can they know whether we really knew that
what was inside was not so good after all.

You see, in some corners of the Church world today, it seems that we
often have the opposite problem of the market place, in that our false
advertising tends to incorrectly label the brethren as being worse than
they really are on the inside. Admittedly, some of the labels may very
well be accurate; however, God did not give us the job of labeling one
another.

He did, however, give us these jobs:

"Pray one for another" (James 5:16);

"in honor preferring on another" (Romans 12:10);

"receive ye one another, as Christ also received us" (Romans 15:7) --
He received us even though we did not see everything from His holy
perspective;

"by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13);

"teach", "admonish", "exhort", "consider", "edify", and "comfort" one
another;

"forbearing" -- to put up with -- "one another in love;
... And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
(Ephesians 4:2, 32)

But most of all, God's Word tells us to "Love one another"
(several NT references) and that one should love his neighbor as
himself (Matthew 19:19). And, since the Bible also indicates that our
love should be stronger (John 13:34, 35) and more practically proven
toward the household of faith (Galatians 6:10), then should the true
Christian only label his brethren in the same fashion as he would have
his brethren label him!

I recently told one brother, with whom I was discussing a
controversial issue, that some of those on the opposing side of the
controversy are convinced that "it" is a sinful thing. In fact, I told him
that they believe it is more sinful than other things that we all agree to
be sin. By telling him some of how the other side thinks, though I did
not entirely agree with that side, I was attempting to keep the two us
from the danger of incorrectly labeling some of the brethren.

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded
one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one
mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ." (Romans 15:5, 6)

Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield

Please pass this Bible Note to others who may be interest or helped
by it. To subscribe to FREE Bible Notes just send an empty e-mail to
[email protected]

Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>

Subject: Faulty Labels
From: Martin Overfield
Date: 23 Feb 2002

Faulty Labels

(For one to perform an in-depth study of Romans chapter fourteen is
very enlightening. I would encourage every Christian to do so, but to
do it with an open heart and mind, because the issues of a clear
conscience, of true Christian liberty and of charity toward our
Christian brethren constitute far more than just a "one-way street".
I might even liken such things to a three, four or five-way intersection
at which the traffic lights do not always seem to work properly.)

"What is this title about?" It is about the way some professing
Christians are acting here in this world! It is about labeling the
brethren. Say, humans are not perfect and they may inaccurately
"label" some of the children of God.

"Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him
which eateth not judge him that eateth: ... But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ... Let us not therefore judge
one another any more: ..." (Romans 14:3, 10, 13a)

We sometimes hear the idea expressed in the market place that
someone has used false advertising. Usually, the problem is that the
product is not quite as good as the seller or manufacturer has
represented it to be. Sometimes, it is just the problem of a label
giving the impression that there is something different on the inside
than we find there when we get home.

In some Christian circles today, we find Christians labeling one
another. They give one another labels like, LIBERAL, LEGALIST,
NARROW, COMPROMISER, and WORLDLY.

Now, if we are truly mistaken, and believe some GOOD things about
a brother, then proceed to tell others, I hope that no one will label us
as false advertisers. How can they know whether we really knew that
what was inside was not so good after all.

You see, in some corners of the Church world today, it seems that we
often have the opposite problem of the market place, in that our false
advertising tends to incorrectly label the brethren as being worse than
they really are on the inside. Admittedly, some of the labels may very
well be accurate; however, God did not give us the job of labeling one
another.

He did, however, give us these jobs:

"Pray one for another" (James 5:16);

"in honor preferring on another" (Romans 12:10);

"receive ye one another, as Christ also received us" (Romans 15:7) --
He received us even though we did not see everything from His holy
perspective;

"by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13);

"teach", "admonish", "exhort", "consider", "edify", and "comfort" one
another;

"forbearing" -- to put up with -- "one another in love;
... And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
(Ephesians 4:2, 32)

But most of all, God's Word tells us to "Love one another"
(several NT references) and that one should love his neighbor as
himself (Matthew 19:19). And, since the Bible also indicates that our
love should be stronger (John 13:34, 35) and more practically proven
toward the household of faith (Galatians 6:10), then should the true
Christian only label his brethren in the same fashion as he would have
his brethren label him!

I recently told one brother, with whom I was discussing a
controversial issue, that some of those on the opposing side of the
controversy are convinced that "it" is a sinful thing. In fact, I told him
that they believe it is more sinful than other things that we all agree to
be sin. By telling him some of how the other side thinks, though I did
not entirely agree with that side, I was attempting to keep the two us
from the danger of incorrectly labeling some of the brethren.

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded
one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one
mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ." (Romans 15:5, 6)

Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield

Please pass this Bible Note to others who may be interest or helped
by it. To subscribe to FREE Bible Notes just send an empty e-mail to
[email protected]