First Baptist Church of Herndon

Choices

Linda Soller | Jul 29, 2013

For the month of July our theme in the drop in class has been choices. Some choices we make are good, some not so good, sometimes they are easy to make, and other times choices are very difficult. Millions of dollars are spent in advertising to entice you to make the choice someone else wants you to make. Most of the choices we make on a daily basis seem pretty straightforward. What did you chose to eat for lunch today? Okay so maybe that’s not a good example. My challenge to the drop in class has been to use the stories and lessons in the Bible to help make good choices.

The first week we discussed the wealthy young man who was saddened to learn that Jesus wanted him to give up his wealth. None of us think Jesus is against wealth as such, but we do think he wants us to share our wealth in all its forms and not let it rule our lives. The next week we discussed the choices that Naomi and Ruth had to make when they found themselves to be widows. In the last two weeks we discussed King David and his not so good choices, and Noah who made the right choice in the face of ridicule. The Bible is full of lessons that help each of us choose between right and wrong, good and bad.

So here is a question for you. Does it teach us in the Bible to make choices for others? Excluding those who are too young or not capable of making choices due to medical reasons, does it say that we Christians should tell others what choices to make? You see, I think the Bible teaches us to inform people about God and his love, to set examples of the behavior God expects people to observe and maybe even emulate, and to offer support to people so they can make good choices for themselves. I’ve never come away from reading the Bible with the feeling that God was directing me to tell others what choices they must make. I only bring this up because so often what gives Christians a bad name is the perception that we feel we are somehow better than everyone else. King David thought because he was king and chosen by God to be king that somehow it was okay for him to take another man’s wife, and set the man up for certain death. Needless to say God was not happy with David’s actions. There is no double standard that I’m aware of which allows Christians to be mean spirited, to deceive others, or to be judgmental just because they are Christians. So why do so many, certainly not all, but so many Christians feel it’s okay to tell others what to do? Recently in the news we have seen cases of self proclaimed Christians belittling people for their choices and their “mistakes.” We hear examples of Christians acting like bullies to force people to do what they want. Personally I stay pretty busy trying to keep myself in line. I don’t think God wants, or needs, me to put others down to make him look good.

I have made my share of bad choices. There have been times when it would have been easier for me if God hadn’t allowed me the freedom of choice and had just forced me in the right direction. But I know he loves me and wants me to come to him through love, not through force or fear. I am 100% certain I will make more bad choices, although I do try hard to make the right ones. My final question to you is simple; what choice will you make? For the choice is truly yours.

Have a great week :o) Linda