29 May 2022
Two-Minute Features | 05 June 2022 | 22 May 2022

Passing On What We Want for Others (TMF:1865)

Friday, June 03, 2022
Peace to Live By: Passing On What We Want for Others (TMF:1865) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 20: “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble or be hindered or be weakened. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God.” What Paul is saying is that no matter what desire we may have, there are going to be times we have to take a pass for the sake of fellow believers. When we don’t pass on what we want, we hinder and prohibit God’s growth in others, and actually, in ourselves. People cannot come into more freedom by being forced to do so. And likewise, we cannot be growing in self-control, or self-restraint, if we are refusing to do so. It’s a two-way street here. It’s not about us all the time. I know, we don’t particularly care for this. It’s not a lot of fun. But God tells us here this is what we need to do.

Churches Not Judging Other Churches (TMF:1864)

Thursday, June 02, 2022
Peace to Live By: Churches Not Judging Other Churches (TMF:1864) - Daniel Litton
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       This truth applies to us as individuals relating to other individuals, but it also applies to how one church relates to another church. Bodies of believers can get trapped into a mental framework of which they think only the way they do things are right, and if you don't do things the way they do them, you are in the wrong. It becomes tunnel vision. One church isn’t to judge another church because they approve or disapprove of something that is in a gray area. I think this can frequently be a problem. It is one thing to disagree over doctrine, or to steer clear of a particular body of believers because they allow clearly forbidden sin, or approves of that sin, but it’s a whole ‘nother thing to judge another church because it allows something that is debatable. The weaker church I think is more likely to judge a church that allows more. But, a very free and mature church can also be found judging the weak church for being too restrictive and narrow. I believe the main thing is that each body should just focus on themselves. That makes it easy.

Promoting Peace to Those Around Us (TMF:1863)

Wednesday, June 01, 2022
Peace to Live By: Promoting Peace to Those Around Us (TMF:1863) - Daniel Litton
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       Anyone can have the attitude that they don’t want to be told what they are to do. When we abide by that attitude, we find that we are acting selfishly, that we really only care about what we desire. But, in keeping people in mind, whoever we are, that displays righteousness before God, that makes them feel good and not feel pressured. This promotes peace among ourselves and whoever we are around. It is peace for us because we know we’ve done right, and it’s peace for others because we aren’t pressuring them. And it’s joy for us as we are trusting in God; we are forgoing our own personal freedom for the moment. This truth applies to us as individuals relating to other individuals, but it also applies to how one church relates to another church. Bodies of believers can get trapped into a mental framework of which they think only the way they do things are right, and if you don't do things the way they do them, you are in the wrong. It becomes tunnel vision. One church isn’t to judge another church because they approve or disapprove of something that is in a gray area.

Having Limitations, Thinking of Others (TMF:1862)

Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Peace to Live By: Having Limitations, Thinking of Others (TMF:1862) - Daniel Litton
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       Next, Paul says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” What we want, anytime we want it, even when we are allowed to have it, is not the point. I know, that can be hard for my fellow Millennials to understand. We, as Millennials, put such an emphasis on our own particular preference, on our own individuality. We were taught that we are to value what we like and desire to do. And while that’s true, we aren’t to do that without limitations, and without thinking about others. Anyone can have the attitude that they don’t want to be told what they are to do. When we abide by that attitude, we find that we are acting selfishly, that we really only care about what we desire. But, in keeping people in mind, whoever we are, that displays righteousness before God, that makes them feel good and not feel pressured.

Not Being a Temptation to Others (TMF:1861)

Monday, May 30, 2022
Peace to Live By: Not Being a Temptation to Others (TMF:1861) - Daniel Litton
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       Paul points out that he is not to eat anything in front of the Jewish person if that Jewish person thinks the food is unclean (even though Paul himself believes it’s not). We are not to do anything in front of someone if we know that individual thinks that thing is a sin. A person, for instance, may not want to watch rated ‘R’ movies to give their minds extra protection from certain things. So, we aren’t to invite Jane then to a rated ‘R’ movie at the theater if we are aware she doesn’t watch rated ‘R’ movies. To some people, it seems logical that they shouldn’t kill and ate animals. We aren’t to push our girlfriend to go hunting with us, if we know that she doesn’t believe in hunting animals. Some folks don’t wish to drink alcohol since they fear it could lead them into sin. We aren’t to order a beer at Martini’s restaurant if we know that Nick doesn’t believe drinking beers is right. We are to limit our own personal freedom in certain settings if that freedom could lead another individual to go against his or her conscience.