Feed Your Soul Friday – Turning A Good Thing Into A Moral Thing

Last weekend my friend Wardeh from GNOWGLINS shared this impacting article with me from a blog called, The Blazing Center.  It’s called, “The Dangers Of Turning a Good Thing Into A Moral Thing,” written by Stephen Altrogge.

As a woman of faith and mother this article resonated with me and I thought it might with you as well.

In his article the author explains that many of us have a tendency to take something “good” and add moral weight to it.  Organic food, homeschool, simple living, etc…

We can all agree these are “good” things.  Pleasing to God.

However, the danger, as the author explains, is when we take these “good” things and add a moral weight to them and often times, unknowingly, make it into something that others must do to be truly spiritual.

When we take a good thing and add it onto justification by faith as the way to God’s approval.

How often do we do this? We learn something new.  It’s “good” for us and so we share, share, share.  Because that’s what woman do, we share, we talk, we chit-chat.

It’s not a “bad” thing until we turn it into something moral.

The author goes on to explain the difference between principle versus practice and uses homeschool as an example.

As believers our principle is raising our children to fear our Lord.  Homeschooling is one practice to accomplish that.  However, there are many Godly parents that have raised God fearing children through the practice of public school.  These parents are just as committed to their children as parents whom homeschool.

For me, that really touched my heart. I needed to read that and God totally blessed me with that.

I’m going to be honest, I’m constantly on the line with homeschool.  It’s in Gods hands and I’ll leave it at that for now, however, up until recently I was hanging onto guilt.

Guilt that I need to homeschool to bring my children up in the Lord.

Guilt that I need to homeschool to show my devotion to my children.

Guilt that I need to homeschool to ensure a good education.

On the other hand…

Guilt that I need to homeschool to ensure my children stay away from the “bad” kids.

Guilt that I need to homeschool to keep my kids away from drugs.

Guilt that I need to homeschool to prevent them from bully’s

Guilt that I need to homeschool to prevent them from hearing false teachings

Just from looking at that list above, you can see that there are a lot of I’s in those statements.  Lack of faith maybe?!

This was just an example of homeschool.  The list can go on.  Breastfeeding, Organic Food, Home Cleaners, Gardening, Exercise, Clothing, etc, etc, etc…

The Danger of Unnecessary Guilt

The reason we don’t want to turn something good into something moral is because when we do, we place a burden of guilt on people that God does not place on them, ultimately, stealing their joy.

When we say that homeschool is the best way to educate our children in sight of the Lord, we place guilt on those that don’t.

A guilt not from God. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, if it’s not from God it’s from the enemy.

Ultimately, if we begin to place a burden on others because of our own moral standards, we are a pawn being used by the enemy to steal someone else’s joy.

And joy is a fruit of the spirit given by God. Galatians 5:22-23

Do you want to steal someone’s gift from God?

When it comes down to it…

A Christian is a Christian because they trust in Jesus as savior and bow to him as Lord. Nothing more, nothing less.

Praise the Lord!  How much more freedom do we have in that?

This is not to say everything is a free for all, God gave us an intelligent mind… a temple to take care of, however, let’s not let our own “good” things turn into “moral” things especially onto others.

Turning a Good Thing Into a Moral Thing Versus Comparing Ourselves

As much as we want to avoid turning “good” things into moral things and imposing those morals onto others, it’s also important that we’re not comparing ourselves to others.

A topic I’ve written on before and as a woman, it’s something that comes up time and time again.

Oh… the joys of being a lady, right 😉

Glean from others, but stand firm on your own two feet. Hebrews 12:12-14

Above all, remember… where ever you are at, God loves you and wants you to cling to Him and no-one else.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue

Please feel free to contribute in the comments below about feelings of guilt or anything else related to this topic.