“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
Growing Dominion, Part 27
The dividing line between right and wrong is a thick, black one. If we were supposed to stay away from factory-processed foods, music with a back beat, bee pollen, classrooms with desks, home education, wine, beer, or spirits, then God would have told us to stay away from them. He did not tell us to do that, and so we cannot presume to legislate on any of these matters for our fellow Christians.
But the dividing line between wisdom and folly is not the same kind of thing. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). There is a distinction between good and evil which even a day-old Christian knows and understands. Do not commit adultery, for just one example. But there is a maturity that is able to discern the moral component in a host of cultural practices that some might want to wave off as “neutral.” But nothing is neutral.
As we pursue this maturity (which we ought to do), the great danger that confronts us is pseudo-maturity. Wealth-driven snobbery is not what we are after. For example, there are quite a few “culturally aware” Christians whose idea of a Christian worldview in the marketplace consists of looking down on people who shop at WalMart. But it ain’t that simple.
The key is breadth. Exchanging one subculture for another has nothing about it that is uniquely Christian. But if someone understands the centrality of the Church, and the unity of all the saints, then he will resist every attempt to crowd him into “clubs,” however valuable the particular pursuit of that club might be. This would include issues like music, health food, restaurants, expensive sports gear, education methods, and so on. If Christian fellowship is based on the purported wisdom of the club, then it is not wisdom at all, but rather just the twisted priorities of a ham radio fan. But if a man is fully convinced in his own mind, enjoys pursuing the interests of the club, but has no problem fellowshipping with members of other clubs, then he is walking in wisdom.