1b. or stand in the way of sinners...
We were brought here to be the light of the world. To stand up, be different, unique from those out in the world.
a) What is "standing in the way of sinners?"
b) How does this affect our worship leading?
a) To 'stand in the way of sinners' is to act like 'sinners'. This means continuing the lifestyle we were living before coming to Christ. This includes clubbing, drinking, using profanity, etc. By continuing in that lifestyle is like saying, "my needs come before God's plan for me. I come first and will continue to satisfy my needs with no regard to what God wants me to be doing."
Sometimes people continue to act the same because they think that by doing so they'll "infiltrate" the outside world and get others to come to Christ. Lets not kid ourselves, this does not work. What this causes is criticism, which is why we hear some people say that Christians are hypocrites, because some show one face in Church and another one outside. We become deceivers.
b) This affects our worship because we have been given a position of leading, being singers, musicians, pastors, teachers, etc. We have been given a task to lead, to teach others and that is a great privilege. A privilege that comes with responsibilities because others are looking up to us.
If we are in any type of position, even that of just being a Christian, we are responsible for representing, for showing to the world the power in the blood and name of Jesus Christ. His power to transform the most wretched and break with the worst of habits.
If we purposely continue to live a lifestyle as the sinners do we are taking in vain Christs' sacrifice. We are giving false testimony to the power, grace, mercy and love of the God we serve.
'Standing in the way of sinners' affects our worship because we are giving false testimony of the God we are praising to. Which means that the songs of praise that come out of our mouth are empty for we are not living what we are preaching.
What makes us so unique is that by living the lifestyle God meant for us to live we stay away from those criticisms that call us hypocrites. Even greater than that is that we begin to live a lifestyle of victory, a lifestyle that leads to eternal life.
Why would we want to be like the world, act like the world acts when that lifestyle leads to death. A death in this world and beyond. It's as if we're saying, "I want to imitate a life that will lead to my eternal damnation."
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