Read I Corinthians 10:23 – 11:1

Dear Neighbor,

Please remember that as a member of society, others are witness to your actions, behaviors, and most decisions. Do make the effort not to find yourself guilty by association. Additionally, it’s important to understand that when approached with various opportunities to take heed the phrase just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Sometimes being set apart and distinctive is more about what invitations, habits, and practices you decline rather than the ones you accept.

Consider: Would my actions, in whatever scenario, build up others or the kingdom? If there’s even the slightest indication of no, then your next steps should be clear.

In short: It’s not about what we want or prefer it’s about edifying others, glorifying God, and serving God’s mission.

How can I teach this to my children? Start by having a discussion, brainstorming together examples of what are some things we can do but choose not to and the good reasons we don’t. Start with dramatic/silly examples and then taper down to the more subtle realistic scenarios more likely to be encountered. As much as the world enjoys telling us optics and the opinions of others don’t matter; in reality that’s simply not true. How you carry yourself, the decisions you make, and the people you surround yourself with can carry a huge impact. At first this may seem daunting, but the beauty of it all is that you have control over your own actions and therefore can choose to have a positive impact.

With love,

Millie Baxter

P.S. Be sure to share the good news!

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