Liberties

Is it possible for Satan to speak truth; well, that depends on what you call truth. So, for this discussion, let us separate truth from facts. Some things are both truth and fact, some things are either one or the other. Take for example: liberties.

Liberties--from the Christian perspective--are those things which we are able to do because we are not bound by the law, such as eating pork. Drinking alcohol is another strong example and one that raises much controversy. We are not required to strictly abstain from alcohol but are commanded not to give ourselves to drunkenness. However, we are admonished by the Apostle Paul to surrender our liberties (in this case drinking) for the sake of one who is weaker--meaning if my friend, brother, or someone random watching me drink could be led astray or allow themselves to be given to temptation by what they see, I should not drink but instead abstain. What happens though is the war between truth and fact.

Truth: I should abstain and surrender my liberty for my brother and be more concerned for his spiritual well being than for my personal desire.

Fact: He is ultimately responsible for him and I am responsible for me. Furthermore, this is what the liberty is for, to use it.

The difference here may not be apparent at first, but in the right light, it becomes clear. The facts presented here are not what is in error, it is the purpose for which they are arguing. These facts are ultimately seeking to serve self, not Jesus or my brother. In serving Jesus, we serve our fellow man, not ourselves. James tells us that we don't get things because we don't ask, but when we do ask, we ask for the wrong reasons. We want to fulfill our pleasures. This is the same thing. We use the facts of the Bible and (specifically in this case) our liberties to consume and have the things we want, but we don't deserve anything; we are saved by grace.

How can we in all conscience decide to put ourselves before anyone else when we only exist in this spiritual reality because God humbled Himself to dying on a cross? He gave His life, yet we can't seem to sacrifice a beer, or a bar-b-q sandwich (and I know how difficult it is, believe me). We bicker and moan about our rights, but truly, do we have any?

The next time you want something, anything, consider the people around you. Whether you know them or not. How will they view what you do? Could it possibly take them farther from Jesus? If the answer is yes and the voice of reason tells you, "It's not a big deal. Is it really gonna hurt or do all that stuff?", then that is not God. You're battling facts. You need to pick up the truth and trump the facts to put them in their proper place. Facts without truth are dangerous and rebellious. That is how Satan works.