After Jesus' crucifixion and Resurrection he appeared on many occasions to the apostles and others. On one such occasion Peter was asking him about his plan for the apostle John. We read the response in John 21:22 "Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"" Not long ago I was listening to a sermon by Douglas Wilson in which he made the statement about the value of the "What is that to you?" doctrine. It has sparked my thinking. Where does "What is that to you?" rub up against "Am I my brothers keeper?"
Both seem to say the same thing. Both statements teach me to mind my own business and follow Jesus myself...or do they? One is a God ordained self control and the other is a self ordained shirking of responsibility. We can walk with one another with a balance can't we? I can respond to my brother in obedience to (Gal 6:1) "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." This does not mean I am the morality police and I should be watching for your sin so I can deal with it. I should not be trying to insert my preferences to the call God has placed on your life. Can't we see (Rom 14:4) "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
This can be difficult. I don't want to walk in an uncaring "Am I my brothers keeper?" way. Yet God does call us to walk with others in a delicately balanced "What is that to you?" kind of way.
Both seem to say the same thing. Both statements teach me to mind my own business and follow Jesus myself...or do they? One is a God ordained self control and the other is a self ordained shirking of responsibility. We can walk with one another with a balance can't we? I can respond to my brother in obedience to (Gal 6:1) "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." This does not mean I am the morality police and I should be watching for your sin so I can deal with it. I should not be trying to insert my preferences to the call God has placed on your life. Can't we see (Rom 14:4) "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
This can be difficult. I don't want to walk in an uncaring "Am I my brothers keeper?" way. Yet God does call us to walk with others in a delicately balanced "What is that to you?" kind of way.
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