We do send our kids to a public school.
We don’t attend Sunday Evening services.
We do dress up for Halloween.
We don’t let our kids read Harry Potter.
We did immunize our babies.
We didn’t pick them up whenever they cried.
We do use birth control.
We don’t have more children than mini van seats.
We do let our boys play with plastic guns and Nerf swords.
We don’t make our daughter wear dresses– even to church.
We do consume pop and brownies and McDonalds and other junk quite regularly.
We don’t consume alcohol, except on very rare occasions.
We are accountable to God for each of these areas.
We aren’t convinced that our convictions will never change.
We do add our voices to yours as you sing:
We won’t gasp or glare or scootch our chair at the table away from yours just because your list doesn’t match ours.
There are no enemies at His table. Only friends.
Shannon, I love this post especially after yesterday morning. I'm sure the enemy would love nothing better for God's people than to draw lines seperating themselves from each other over soda pop and public school. I would much rather get with a sister in Christ and share convictions that sharpens our faith or refined our heart and put our focus on Jesus than just make our arguements on Halloween, school or birth control. If someone asks me personally on any of these, I have no problem sharing how we came to any of these decisions but I don't want to get in the practice of raising an eyebrow to another mother in Christ because their children eat sugar. If they come and sit near my table, more than likley there will be sugar! Thanks for the post 🙂
Thanks for those comments, Missy! So true that Satan loves to divide Believers. I think we have to be careful not to arrogantly assume that every other Christian's list should match OURS. The world actually does a much better job of tolerating differences. There are times that it is right to judge, but not in gray areas like these.
Also, you brought up others asking you for advice. I think the perfect scenario would be this: A mom of a four year old calls three Christian friends for input–one who homeschools, one who private schools, and one who public schools. All three give helpful input and the mom is graciously regarded by all three after she makes her choice!! What a lovely world that would be.
Glad to sit at your table anytime, and welcome you at mine….where I drink too much coffee, don't use sunscreen, make my kids ride the public school bus, and occasionally watch Oprah Winfrey. 🙂 GRACE that is greater…!
Rachel, I'm SO glad we're at the same table. A heapin' helpin' of grace for me, please!
I'll sit at your table…especially if your mom has done the cooking! 🙂
Great post!
Heidi V.
Heidi, all my life I have wondered whether my friends truly like ME, or like being invited to dine at my mom's table. 🙂
I'm glad that you and I will both be seated at the marriage supper of the Lamb. 🙂
I'm a little late at commenting here, but I hope you get it anyway!
I like YOU! (I like your mom too…but I like you and your food. So, when are you inviting us over?? 😉 )
Heidi
I mentioned this blog post to a friend recently and she said, “Yeah, I remember that one. I wondered if you were offended or something when you wrote that.” So, I just wanted to follow up and say, NO! This post wasn't prompted by an offense or hurt feelings or anything like that. I just think that Christians become needlessly concerned about unmatching lists. God uniquely gifts us to parent our particular kids. I would even say it is wrong for two couples to parent exactly the same if God is stirring their hearts in different directions and they are more motivated to conform to each other than listen to God's leading. That's what I was thinking when I wrote this post.