Bdos: Christians and calypso

See here for a good column on Christians singing calypso.

Eric Lewis ask some very pointed questions that lay bare a critical area of Christian misunderstanding. I speak as a Christian. Many don't seem to get what it means that Christians are to be in the world but not of it. As Christians, we are not bound by the Deutoronomic or other ceremonial laws but are free in Christ. In Christ, who kept the Decalogue (Ten Commandments), we also keep them, though we, of and by ourselves, cannot keep them.

Thus, in Christ, the Christian has liberty to engage in all forms of social behavior that are not illegal or immoral, or contrary to the doctrines of Scripture. Therefore, drinking, smoking, dancing, etc. are permissible, and we are enjoined to do these things in moderation. However, for the sake of the weak whose faith might be threatened or hampered by seeing a stronger brother do these things, a Christian may not engage in them. All things are permissible (within the illegal etc. constraints) but for love of fellow man, we may not do all.

In the case of the disgruntled calypsonians, their grumbles are no impediment. In the case of the disgruntled Christians, they need talking to, and if it becomes a matter of the weak faith of the disgruntled, then the calypso singing Christians may desist and engage in instructing the disgruntled to a better way.

The primary thing that would bind our hands is love and concern for a weak brother (fellow believer in Christ). As for our neighbor (fellow man, though not in Christ), we live out our lives demonstrating the liberty wherein Christ has made us free. If it offends the neighbor, well, his legalism is contrary to Christian liberty, to which we must hold fast. He must come to us, rather than we to him.