Pushing the Envelope

I was watching a special not too long ago where Nik Wallenda was tightrope walking across the Grand Canyon. It was an amazing feat! As I watched him tempting fate with every step, I thought back on his history—on the “Flying Wallenda” family. The family got its start back in 1905 when Nik’s grandfather Karl was born in Germany. He learned the rope walking act which he passed on to his brother, a friend and a woman who would become his wife.  In 1962, an accident, falling from the wire, killed 2 members of the troupe and seriously injuring Karl. But that didn’t stop them. They continued to walk the wires risking their lives all the time.

In 1963, Karl’s sister-in-law fell to her death. In 1972, another member of the show fell to his death. And finally, in 1978 at the age of 73, Karl Wallenda fell to his death.

So, why would Nik, after seeing so much injury and death in his own family, choose to do the same thing and risk dying as well? Why would he risk making his wife a widow and his children fatherless? My guess would be its because its what he has grown up with. Its what he knows best. Risking his life seems “normal”.

So what’s my point? As I look at the news and the church today, I see more and more that we are pushing the envelope with our freedoms in Christ. Many churches are not only OK with drinking but encourage it through social functions. We are looking more and more like the world than like those called by the name of Jesus.

¹² “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything  (NIV) 1 Cor. 6:12

If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. (NIV) Rom. 14

If we live our lives in a way that, by our example, we lead brothers into places that are known to be dangerous, how are we any different than the world? Nik lives his life the way he does because its what he grew up seeing and believing to be “normal”. If we as the church, lead others to believe that drinking is a safe activity and tout our Christian liberties to do so, how are we living out Rom. 14:15? Are we pushing 1 Cor. 6:12 too far?

As surely as the Wallendas have seen loved members of their family die because they have the right to walk the high rope, we will continue to see the church suffer losses at the hands of our own “freedoms”.

The year is new and we can start today to make a statement for Gods church—to exercise our “freedom” not to use alcohol. Christ died to set us free from all manner of sin. Lord help us not to use our freedom to lead others into bondage and death.  – Steve Schmidt is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy, is a full-time staff member at America’s Keswick and a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 46-47

Quote of the day: It is a hard matter to enjoy the world without being entangled with the cares and pleasures of it. —Thomas Manton

Verse to Memorize: The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;  though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24