The phrase “it’s my personal faith” has always been a sentence that has unsettled me over the years. I’ve heard it said in different ways and in different contexts, some more unsettling than others, but there is something that tends to underlie the comment that I want to look at today.

“Is the phrase not true?” I hear you ask.

Partly yes.

In that Christ died for each of us and He invites us into a relationship with Him. That means that we do receive a personal relationship with Him. We are known intimately by Him, and He loves us as if we were the only one He’d ever created. We spend time with Him on our own; in fact, that time is crucial for us so that we can get to know Him more. He speaks personally to us; He gave us a unique DNA code so that there would be no one else in the world exactly like us. So, in one way, our faith is personal to us.

But this is only part of the story.

He also created billions of others and offers them the same life we were offered. Everything in the previous paragraph is true for everyone who chooses a life of following Jesus. The reality is the fullness of His creation is the truest representation of his likeness. I believe we are more like Him when we are all together than we are when we are on our own. The scriptures are full of instruction and guidance on how we live together, how we love each other, treat each other, care for one another, and reach each other for the sake of the gospel.

When we consider all of that, the phrase “it’s my personal faith” begins to feel a little small. Perhaps it’s less the phrase and more the context I’ve heard it in, because 80-90% of the time I have heard someone use the phrase, it’s been from a defensive posture, usually because they aren’t happy that someone has challenged them about a certain attitude or behavior. Ultimately, in saying “it’s my personal faith” we are most likely declaring a few other truths that are lingering under the surface;

• It’s between me and Jesus and it’s not the business of anyone else
• My faith will remain within the confines of my own world and doesn’t need to be shared with anyone else
• I’m not committing to meeting together, never mind serving with the wider church.
• I’m creating a faith journey which suits me and my lifestyle

Paul, one of the first missionaries in the early church, is writing to a group of believers in the Greek city of Corinth when he addresses the roots of this ‘personal faith’. The early church, because of the clash of different cultures and backgrounds, is finding it difficult to find a way forward in certain lifestyle issues. Paul is writing about this and is especially dealing with the topic of food. This might seem trivial to some of us, but it was a big deal for the Jews and those who were following Jesus at the time. I won’t talk about that issue so much, but I want to highlight what Paul says in the midst of the discussion. Here he is at the end of Chapter 10 and the start of chapter 11;

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Cor 10:31- 1Cor 11:1

There’s a lot of good stuff in there but I want to highlight the parts that I have underlined.

Paul is making it clear here that what he does and how he acts isn’t simply about him but about others. Paul’s not living a fake life so he’ll look good. He’s not ‘playing up to the crowds’ or anything like that. He makes it clear it’s for the glory of God, but he’s decided that His choices are not about Him alone. They are sourced in God of course, but he is considering others around him and how it might impact their faith in Jesus. Paul is telling us that he is prepared to lay down preference, but not Godly convictions, for the sake of those who God has called him to save. In other areas of this same letter, he says that if he were with the weak, he’d become weak. If he were with the Greeks, he’d be like a Greek, and he gives many other examples. His desire was not to alienate others or seek his own comfort but to show to many the wonder of Christ.

That’s massive.

Because, unfortunately, in the church in the west today, I don’t see this often enough. Whether the issue is alcohol, TV shows, abortion protests, conduct in sport, church issues, sexuality, etc., too often I hear believers state their own convictions and desires with very little thought of the wellbeing and love of others. They will often accuse others who challenge their behaviour as ‘religious Pharisees’ who don’t understand the freedom God has given us. While many of us are very capable of being Pharisaical, I don’t really think this is the issue at hand in these moments. The reality is how a Jesus follower lives does have an impact on the world around them. How we use the freedom Christ bought for us is important – not just for us but for the world around us. Paul talks earlier in the passage and underlines this again.

I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 1 Cor 10:23-24

Notice how Paul follows up his comment on freedom by underlining the same argument that it isn’t for us for others.

That means sacrifice for us. That means that there might be practises that we enjoy, things that aren’t necessarily sinful, but that others might regard as being wrong. I’m reluctant to highlight some examples here because every context is different and each thing could be argued in another way but I feel it might be helpful for us as we wrap our heads around this;

• Perhaps we might refrain from drinking alcohol our certain alcoholic drinks in public or at all if we live in more conservative cultures, even though Scripture doesn’t forbid us from drinking alcohol in moderation.
• We may decide not to cut our grass, shop, or do household jobs on a Sunday even if we ‘sabbath’ on another day of the week. Again, this might be the case in conservative cultures.
• We may give thought to how we dress or what clothing brands we wear e.g. logos or outfits that might be associated with less than godly practices? Just to give background to this example I remember once buying a sweatshirt in the USA that I loved. It had a phrase on it that I in my naivety didn’t understand. A number of months later a visiting American saw we wear it and asked me about it. I was gutted! Even though no one in my country knew what it meant and I loved it I immediately threw it on in case anyone would get the wrong impression.

As I said, you might be reading this and thinking that I am just some old-fashioned, stuck-up traditionalist, but I promise you that it is not my goal. I am simply trying to follow what Paul says and question what some of my behaviors and choices would be if I were to consider their potential impact on others rather than just my own personal feelings.

We do have a personal relationship with Jesus, which is such a gift, but He also created us to be in relationship with others. How we live our lives has an impact on others’ personal faith, so we must live out this life with Jesus with others in mind, ensuring that how we live out our faith doesn’t cause them to lose theirs.