Christian Liberty In Our Homes
Greetings sisters in Christ!
I want to post Romans 14 here and then talk about liberties in our lives.
As you read the context of that chapter you see that the contention was about the Jews and gentiles having disputes in the areas of food and festivals of the Old Testament laws. Paul clearly lays out exactly what it says, food and days. So called 'Christians' today think that means we can celebrate the pagan day of Christ-mass and use the topic of 'liberty' to defend all their sins but they are using it out of context. There are areas of liberty that Christians have today but it has nothing to do with sin. It has everything to do with obedience and the liberty inside that obedience. I'll share a few examples:
1. Food. Just as it states above, we are to eat within our own conscience and have the liberty to choose what we eat. One sister may never eat meat whereas another sister might raise animals for meat. Some may never touch anything with sugar in it and another might bake every week. One sister might buy regular foods, and the other may prefer organic. One might eat some fast foods whereas others might avoid it all together. In all this we need to examine what we do, how we do it and if it is glorifying to God. We cannot judge another person because they have a different choice than us as long as it is not sinful. When I write about how frugal I shop and cook, that's not to infer you need to do what I do or eat what we eat. I simply share what I do as encouragement to those who might be just learning and from there each person makes their own choice.
2. Clothing. God's Word clearly lays out that women are to cover their heads / hair and dress biblically in long, loose, unadorned dresses. Within that parameter is the liberty to choose what color, style etc. (When it comes to colors, God's Word says women are to be shamefaced so we are to choose colors based on that and not bright flashy ones.) One sister might sew all her clothes, another might only shop thrift stores and another might order them online. One sister might wear her hair down with a long veil covering it, another might put it up with her veil covering it.
3. Decorating a house. Each sister has the liberty to decorate the way she sees fit. One might be plain (as I am) and one may decide to have flowers or nature type decoration in their house. We are not to judge one another based on how they do or do not decorate.
4. Disciplining children. Each family is different as well as each child. How one sister disciplines her children may be different than how another sister does. All disobedient children should be disciplined in order to learn to be obedient but how that is done is at the liberty of each household.
5. Electronics. One sister may use computers and smartphones whereas another may have nothing to do with them. One might allow her children to learn how to do basic learning skills off them and another chooses to use pencils and paper. We cannot judge one another how we do that as long as none are in sin.
6. Homeschooling curriculum. Some sisters might use a secular curriculum and tailor it to be from a Christian aspect, some may make their own. All have liberty as long as none are in sin.
These are just a few examples of the liberty in choices that we have within our obedience to God's Word. I wanted to write this so that those of you who are reading this blog can understand that I'm not saying that what we have chosen to do in our household (really it's a van-hold since our house is a van :-) is what you must choose. I also don't want to make people feel bad about their choices they make as long as sin is not involved.
(Very importantly is that we all need to keep in mind our husbands and what they choose for their household.)
Hopefully this encourages you in your own lives.
Have a joyous day.
Love to you in Christ Jesus,
Sister Deb
I want to post Romans 14 here and then talk about liberties in our lives.
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 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.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Romans 14As you read the context of that chapter you see that the contention was about the Jews and gentiles having disputes in the areas of food and festivals of the Old Testament laws. Paul clearly lays out exactly what it says, food and days. So called 'Christians' today think that means we can celebrate the pagan day of Christ-mass and use the topic of 'liberty' to defend all their sins but they are using it out of context. There are areas of liberty that Christians have today but it has nothing to do with sin. It has everything to do with obedience and the liberty inside that obedience. I'll share a few examples:
1. Food. Just as it states above, we are to eat within our own conscience and have the liberty to choose what we eat. One sister may never eat meat whereas another sister might raise animals for meat. Some may never touch anything with sugar in it and another might bake every week. One sister might buy regular foods, and the other may prefer organic. One might eat some fast foods whereas others might avoid it all together. In all this we need to examine what we do, how we do it and if it is glorifying to God. We cannot judge another person because they have a different choice than us as long as it is not sinful. When I write about how frugal I shop and cook, that's not to infer you need to do what I do or eat what we eat. I simply share what I do as encouragement to those who might be just learning and from there each person makes their own choice.
2. Clothing. God's Word clearly lays out that women are to cover their heads / hair and dress biblically in long, loose, unadorned dresses. Within that parameter is the liberty to choose what color, style etc. (When it comes to colors, God's Word says women are to be shamefaced so we are to choose colors based on that and not bright flashy ones.) One sister might sew all her clothes, another might only shop thrift stores and another might order them online. One sister might wear her hair down with a long veil covering it, another might put it up with her veil covering it.
3. Decorating a house. Each sister has the liberty to decorate the way she sees fit. One might be plain (as I am) and one may decide to have flowers or nature type decoration in their house. We are not to judge one another based on how they do or do not decorate.
4. Disciplining children. Each family is different as well as each child. How one sister disciplines her children may be different than how another sister does. All disobedient children should be disciplined in order to learn to be obedient but how that is done is at the liberty of each household.
5. Electronics. One sister may use computers and smartphones whereas another may have nothing to do with them. One might allow her children to learn how to do basic learning skills off them and another chooses to use pencils and paper. We cannot judge one another how we do that as long as none are in sin.
6. Homeschooling curriculum. Some sisters might use a secular curriculum and tailor it to be from a Christian aspect, some may make their own. All have liberty as long as none are in sin.
These are just a few examples of the liberty in choices that we have within our obedience to God's Word. I wanted to write this so that those of you who are reading this blog can understand that I'm not saying that what we have chosen to do in our household (really it's a van-hold since our house is a van :-) is what you must choose. I also don't want to make people feel bad about their choices they make as long as sin is not involved.
(Very importantly is that we all need to keep in mind our husbands and what they choose for their household.)
Hopefully this encourages you in your own lives.
Have a joyous day.
Love to you in Christ Jesus,
Sister Deb
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