Saturday, January 29, 2011

Don't Be a Sheep

You are walking up to the check-in desk at the airport, and there's nobody in line, yet there's a maze of ropes you need to walk through to get to the front. What do you do? Go under the ropes, or follow the rules and walk in a zig zag pattern to get there just a few seconds later? This is just one silly, trivial example of a topic that has been weighing on my heart lately: questioning why we do what we do and believe what we believe. A good friend of mine, Sasha, tells me that I am too much of a rule follower, and he is always encouraging me to question the reasoning behind why certain conventions are in place, instead of abiding by them mindlessly, like a sheep.


Another one of my best friends, Whitney, and I recently had a great conversation about this same topic, and I loved hearing her perspective on why we, as Christians, act in a certain way, given that our goal is to live in a manner which pleases our God. We do not only have be accountable for ourselves, family, and close friends, but we also know that we will face God on Judgement Day, and that all of our actions, both good and bad, will be taken into consideration. I can hardly face myself when I feel like I've failed in an area -- what would it feel like to look at God in the eyes and know that He is disappointed in your choice of actions? In whatever I do, I want to bring glory to my Father's name. There are numerous Bible verses that speak to honoring God, but the following are some of my favorite:


"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17


"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31


"Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce." Proverbs 3:9


The Bible also speaks about finding the reasoning behind our beliefs and actions. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul writes, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good, and stay away from what is evil" (verses 16 to 22).  My favorite section of this passage is verse 21, which is: "test everything that is said." I do not think that being overly cynical is a positive characteristic to have, but I find that the people who challenge and think deeply about what they are asked to do or believe in are far wiser and more interesting than those who take everything they're told at face value.


A good example of me challenging my beliefs was asking why I had decided to wait until marriage to have sex with a guy. Was I doing this just because it says so repeatedly in the Bible? Because it also says to cover your hair and not to drink alcohol, both of which are rules I don't abide by. So why did I choose this particular sin and focus on it? The answer is so clear. I made this decision not only to appease my own conscious, but also because I understand the significance of having sex with someone outside of a marriage. God created humans, and He made us perfectly to be able to have sex, and for this act to produce more human life. We are the only creatures on earth whose primary sexual position is face-to-face, and it is a wonderful thing that He created, but it distinctively says in the Bible that sex is for two married people. If you want to listen to some incredible sermons on sexual purity, download the Austin Stone podcasts from 1/25/09 and 7/6/08. They are both so good -- I truly encourage you to take the time to listen to them, you won't regret it!!


Along the line of me questioning why I act in a certain manner, I had to think about the cost-benefit analysis of this decision. What am I giving up when I don't have sex? What is the benefit of this act vs. the cost of doing so? Disappointing myself? Disappointing God, my family, my friends? The possibility of getting pregnant? The same decision process can be used for nearly all choices we are faced with in life. Perhaps you are annoyed about the rule of high screening at the airport security area, but I would happily give up 10 extra minutes of my time if it helps to reduce the risk of terrorism. The cost-benefit analysis of a law/rule like this makes perfect sense, whereas in some other cases, this trade off is not so evident.


Obviously abstaining from sex is not the only decision I make in my life. Before I follow the speed limit that the government has dictated, or choose to tell the truth in situations where lying would make everything much less awkward, I need to know why I am doing the things I do. I think that when people have strong convictions about their beliefs, they are so much more interesting to talk to - regardless of whether or not I share the same thoughts and opinions as them. Why is it that I don't lie to people? Is it because someone has told me to? Or is it because I've been lied to in the past, and I know how it feels to be betrayed? Personally, I think it is a combination of past experiences, personal values/ethics, and obedience to authority. Is it so bad to be a rule follower? No, I don't think so. Sasha once asked me,"If someone told you to hop on one foot for an hour because it was a law, would you do it?" My reply was centered around the question: what is the purpose for doing so? What is the punishment for disobeying? Who wants me to do it, and am I, or other, going to benefit from this constant hopping? These are important questions to ask yourself, because at the end of the day, you have to be able to live at peace with yourself and glorify your Creator -- and trust me, you don't want to regret the decisions you've made along the way.


I would love to talk more about this topic if you are interested. I love hearing what others have to say about the content in my posts! I appreciate you all very much :)


I'll leave you today with a song that my friend Whitney reminded me of -- I love it! Click here to listen to Sonicflood's "Before the Throne," which is so good. "When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there, who made an end of all my sin."


In Jesus Christs' precious and holy name,
Ailee


"With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26