Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
IF Matthew 28: 19-20 is our mission statement, and if everything we do is to be done insupport of it, then the litmus test for orthopraxy is discipleship. Social drinking and other hot-button issues must be considered in light of only one question: Does it or does it not constitute a positive contribution to the discipleship
process?
Its a simple, yes or no question. to those who would claim that such issues require more flexibility to respond; grow up! You must respond, yes or no, and live with the consequences.
And what if we can't agree?
If we can't agree individually, we must still be bound together in unity. As long as we stay focused on the MISSION, we are united. Let the discussion of secondary issues take place, but let it be that, discussion. In orthopraxy we remain consistent. Effectiveness depends on it. If we would be effective in our mission, we've got to learn to fight for the truth that matters, not opinions that don't.
In hindsight, its a bit sophomoric, far too simplistic to be of any real value. Although the last sentence bears the mark of greatness, it remains undefined, and that's the real problem. What is 'truth that matters?' For some, social drinking is an issue worth fighting over. For others, its silly. I guess the simple solution is to find the common ground we ALL agree on, fight like hell for that, and let the rest go.
Even social drinking? Even social drinking. Too often we get caught up in arguments and debates over things that have value, but not not enough value, and it drags us away from priority one. We become legalistic, or belligerent, and most of the time it seems we do it in the worst possible moments; when we're in public, where an on-looking world can point and laugh at our endless squabbling. how many people have gone to hell without Jesus while we scream and moan at (or worse, about) one another. They'll know we are Christians by our gossip and infinite capacity for pointless debate.
I wish I could go on, but I'm late for dinner.
