Judges 17:13 And Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest."
Smith makes the point that it is possible to find religious leaders who will hold or take a position to justify anything we want justified and that there is a temptation to find a leader you like and follow him, rather than God. I wonder if that is why we have such a plethora of churches and related church-hopping. If this church, its pastor or people say something that offends you or that you don't like, you can find another. There's lots to choose from. And if you don't like what already exists, you can start another, one where you can make the rules and can feel virtuous about it.
I am not advocating hanging in there if your church takes a position that is contrary to Scripture, nor am I advocating for keeping alive the search for a church that matches your every desire. Furthermore, I am not crazy about how easy it can become to criticize anyone who holds any position that differs from our own.
I grew up in a movement that held dearly to the position of "individual soul liberty," which means that every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty to choose what their conscience or soul decides is right in the religious realm.
It sounds really good, doesn't it? We don't impose our beliefs on anyone. The problem is that though they said it, they didn't practice it, not really. Though people were allowed to hold their own position, it was pretty certain, that if it differs from the church's, it must be wrong - even if it was difficult to nail down clear biblical support for the church's.
The point is the church decided what individual soul liberty should look like and didn't, and if you didn't fit, you were not made to feel welcome. I am grateful to attend a church now that makes welcome every person who attends, regardless of what he or she might look like. I noticed a cigarette disposal device the other day at the entrance....no different than from other public places. Today, we recognize that most public places are nonsmoking. The message was, "We know that some of you smoke, and we want you to feel welcome. We are just a nonsmoking building." I think that must be more welcoming to smokers than making no provision for them, as though they were invisible.
The end result is a challenge to read Scripture, to use the myriad of study aids so accessible online and trust the Holy Spirit to help you understand what God wants you to do or know. Always be careful when you identify yourself in relation to another person's position apart from God's. And remember that God calls us to love one another, not just those whose theological grid and practices exactly match our own.
Our comfort must come from our relationship and intimacy with God.
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