Disparage and mock people who disagree with us because we are obviously “right?” Thus our “rightness” takes precedence over loving our neighbor? Not only is pride at stake but the fear of losing what makes us feel safe and perhaps our identity? Dull our consciences or compromise our ethics for the sake of a political figure or party? 

My pastor preached on Sunday from 1 Cor. 10 and the lessons in the passage for us today. The 2nd point in the sermon gave me a lot to ponder.

Paul refers to Numbers 25, which tells of the Israelites’ idolatry, God’s righteous response, and Phinehas staying that judgment. While the exact nature of Phinehas’ intervention would not translate to the present, Pastor Ryan remarked that his zeal for the Lord may not be that well-received today. Maybe he would have been told to back down, chill, and show a little grace. But this is a warning for us to not use the grace of God as a license to sin or an excuse to stop fighting sin.

We may not be tempted to worship Baal this week, but where is “grace” used to excuse sin today? As an excuse to:¹

– Disparage and mock people who disagree with us because we are obviously “right?” Thus our “rightness” takes precedence over loving our neighbor? Not only is pride at stake but the fear of losing what makes us feel safe and perhaps our identity?
– Dull our consciences or compromise our ethics for the sake of a political figure or party? I think this is a direct consequence of the previous point.
– Not hold Christian leaders or organizations accountable? Is it “legalistic” to call them to the standards of scripture?
– Not seek justice on the behalf of abuse victims? Should victims just get on with their lives because they are standing in the way of the show going on?
The questions boil down to this – What is the object of our zeal? Is it the Lord? Or is it something else that we have put on par with Him? One test may be this – What or who are we willing to sacrifice to achieve that end? If self-preservation rises to the top, if we are willing to throw someone else or another group of people under the bus, I don’t think this zeal is for God.² It’s for an idol. As to what that idol is, this is where we need to search our hearts and where the rubber meets the road. For you, me, and our testimony before the world.

1. This list (and more) came to my mind after thinking about the sermon. Don’t blame my pastor for these or my musings.
2. I own that there are hard decisions that need to be made at governmental levels, for example. My concern is when there is no soul-searching, no pang of conscience, and no acknowledgment of others’ suffering as result of those decisions. When people are seen as expendable, we’ve moved into dangerous territory. Perhaps realizing that there are no easy answers and no quick fixes may drive Christians to their knees in prayer rather than to battle lines on social media.

Persis Lorenti is an ordinary Christian. You can find her at Tried With Fire and Out of the Ordinary. This article appeared on her blog and is used with permission.