Scared of the wrong things

Christians can be an unusual bunch.

We tend to judge things as dangerous or safe based on our experiences with them rather than truth.

The Gentiles were horrified that the Jews would eat meat that had previously been sacrificed to an idol. Surely, the pagan ceremony somehow tainted the meat making it inedible.

The Jews were equally horrified that the Gentiles would fail to observe the Jewish holy days. After all, it’s what they had been doing for thousands of years. How dare you neglect to observe it.

The Bible clarifies both of these things by saying that neither one matters. Eat the meat or don’t eat the meat. Observe the day or don’t observe the day.

Growing up in the midwest, halloween was a big deal. It was all about candy, costumes and fun. No one sacrificed any goats or chanted to the devil. These days, you have to turn in your Christian membership card if you dare mention trick or treating or spider webs adorning your porch.

The sad side of it all is watching those who hold this self righteous line of preferences that have nothing to do with scripture. I hear of them committing adultery or their children end up hating them because mom and dad were more interested in keeping up appearances than having a sincere walk with God.

Thankfully, I do believe I see a moving away from preaching against Teletubbies, He Man, the Smurfs and other such nonsense.

There is plenty of life destroying sin in he Bible that needs to be covered.

It’s about time we stopped being scared of the wrong things.