Slave to the Light
Puritan Board Freshman
Keeping details sparse for the sake of some measure of privacy.
I am working a summer job at a nominally Christian place of employment. Yesterday, my first day there, I ended up seeing a large pride flag hanging on a co-worker's office wall. Immediately, Leviticus 19:17 (the KJV version -- Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.) came to mind. However, I did not rebuke him in the moment (which I think is right -- Biblically, we are to rebuke in private initially, and there were others with us; also, the man is far older than me, and for the sake of proper respect of an elder (older, not a holder of Church authority), "rebuke" is probably not the most appropriate approach, and it would have been unwise to respond impulsively without considering the respect rightly directed towards one significantly older than I).
Some may argue that the passage only applies to a brother in Christ, but, considering the passage in several translations, I don't think that it is limited to that. And while I acknowledge that the context is referring more to sins committed by one's neighbor against oneself than to sins more generally, I still think that it would be very unloving to leave a neighbor in ignorance in their sin. But here's my struggle -- it seems incredibly unwise to directly deal with him to his face, seeking him out in his office and firmly calling him to repentance. He already surely knows full well what God has said of his conduct -- and, considering that we are at an institution which can (and is supposed to) technically fire him on the spot for such open support of sinful conduct, there is absolutely no way that he doesn't know PRECISELY what he is doing. Add in that this is a work environment, not a place where such a stir should be caused, and that this is a sin which is almost uniquely clung to by many today, and I cannot see this going well. It seems very rude, and, whatever my intentions, I can't imagine I would be able to make it come across as the loving thing which it is (I am horribly awkward in most conversation). And I certainly don't anticipate any repentance on his part (he would have had to agree with the institution's statement of faith, to some extent, and has certainly already heard whatever I may say). But of course, none of these are expressly Biblical arguments, they are merely practical. And it is my resolve to submit to the Lord in all things.
At present, my intent is to be willing and ready to share the gospel with him whenever an opportunity may open up. After all, it is his evident rejection of Christ which is his greater sin, his sin more needing of rebuke (or being "reasoned with frankly"), not his support of homosexuality which flows from that rejection. (This is my most primary reason for not focusing on a rebuke of him on account of his apparent support of homosexuality, that it would be focused very much upon the less problematic issue). Of course, I will naturally share the law with him if we manage to have such a conversation, in which it will be made evident that if he truly desires to live after Christ then he will repent. And of course, if he ever were to advocate such a thing directly while in front of me, or if it were to come up in a conversation, I would certainly share the Biblical truth. But it feels incredibly unconducive to anything beneficial to seek him out (based only on a flag in his room, having never met him before yesterday, and essentially not knowing him at all), before then seeking to compel him to acknowledge his sin before God, sin which he surely already knows God has condemned. On the other hand, if we are able to have a "polite" (societally speaking) conversation, centered around the good news, that seems 1. far more likely to be effective (recognizing that God is sovereign over all, but also that He uses means); and 2. more focused upon the root of the problem, that he evidently doesn't know Christ, than one of its many rotten fruits. I can't be positive such an opportunity will arise over the summer, but if we ever have an extended conversation it would be almost inevitably directed that way; additionally, I have many solid gospel tracts which clearly present the law and gospel.
As for why I am posting this, I am unsure if this is a wise approach or just my sinful heart working a mighty deceit upon me, leading me to a sinful disobedience. I would appreciate your wisdom.
God bless!
I am working a summer job at a nominally Christian place of employment. Yesterday, my first day there, I ended up seeing a large pride flag hanging on a co-worker's office wall. Immediately, Leviticus 19:17 (the KJV version -- Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.) came to mind. However, I did not rebuke him in the moment (which I think is right -- Biblically, we are to rebuke in private initially, and there were others with us; also, the man is far older than me, and for the sake of proper respect of an elder (older, not a holder of Church authority), "rebuke" is probably not the most appropriate approach, and it would have been unwise to respond impulsively without considering the respect rightly directed towards one significantly older than I).
Some may argue that the passage only applies to a brother in Christ, but, considering the passage in several translations, I don't think that it is limited to that. And while I acknowledge that the context is referring more to sins committed by one's neighbor against oneself than to sins more generally, I still think that it would be very unloving to leave a neighbor in ignorance in their sin. But here's my struggle -- it seems incredibly unwise to directly deal with him to his face, seeking him out in his office and firmly calling him to repentance. He already surely knows full well what God has said of his conduct -- and, considering that we are at an institution which can (and is supposed to) technically fire him on the spot for such open support of sinful conduct, there is absolutely no way that he doesn't know PRECISELY what he is doing. Add in that this is a work environment, not a place where such a stir should be caused, and that this is a sin which is almost uniquely clung to by many today, and I cannot see this going well. It seems very rude, and, whatever my intentions, I can't imagine I would be able to make it come across as the loving thing which it is (I am horribly awkward in most conversation). And I certainly don't anticipate any repentance on his part (he would have had to agree with the institution's statement of faith, to some extent, and has certainly already heard whatever I may say). But of course, none of these are expressly Biblical arguments, they are merely practical. And it is my resolve to submit to the Lord in all things.
At present, my intent is to be willing and ready to share the gospel with him whenever an opportunity may open up. After all, it is his evident rejection of Christ which is his greater sin, his sin more needing of rebuke (or being "reasoned with frankly"), not his support of homosexuality which flows from that rejection. (This is my most primary reason for not focusing on a rebuke of him on account of his apparent support of homosexuality, that it would be focused very much upon the less problematic issue). Of course, I will naturally share the law with him if we manage to have such a conversation, in which it will be made evident that if he truly desires to live after Christ then he will repent. And of course, if he ever were to advocate such a thing directly while in front of me, or if it were to come up in a conversation, I would certainly share the Biblical truth. But it feels incredibly unconducive to anything beneficial to seek him out (based only on a flag in his room, having never met him before yesterday, and essentially not knowing him at all), before then seeking to compel him to acknowledge his sin before God, sin which he surely already knows God has condemned. On the other hand, if we are able to have a "polite" (societally speaking) conversation, centered around the good news, that seems 1. far more likely to be effective (recognizing that God is sovereign over all, but also that He uses means); and 2. more focused upon the root of the problem, that he evidently doesn't know Christ, than one of its many rotten fruits. I can't be positive such an opportunity will arise over the summer, but if we ever have an extended conversation it would be almost inevitably directed that way; additionally, I have many solid gospel tracts which clearly present the law and gospel.
As for why I am posting this, I am unsure if this is a wise approach or just my sinful heart working a mighty deceit upon me, leading me to a sinful disobedience. I would appreciate your wisdom.
God bless!
