I’m the only one who’ll die with my beliefs; no one else is responsible for my faith. I’m accountable to God for what I think, say and do (Mt 12:36); no one else can answer for me. Everyone shall bear their own burden. (Ga 6:4)
If I believe, say or do something wrong it’s my own fault; no one else will be standing with me on Judgement Day. I’ll be looking into the eyes of my Creator, and He into mine, and I will be alone, giving Jehovah Himself an answer for everything. (Ro 14:11-12) Where I land and who I am will be on display for eternity, exposed for all to examine. (1Co 3:13)
If I believe whatever I’m taught by church leaders or theologians, and I don’t care enough to search things out for myself, meditating in God’s Word on my own and verifying their claims, I’m saying it’s OK to believe a lie, so long as I fit in. I’m saying who teaches me is more important than what they teach; that relationships are more important to me than truth, that this world is more valuable to me than eternity (1Jn 2:15-17); that being honored and accepted in this world trumps being honored and accepted by God. (Jn 5:44)
When I’m in the fear of God I don’t need anyone else to agree with me; I’m not intimidated standing alone. (2Ti 4:16) I’m free to let others challenge me, to listen thoughtfully and carefully (Ja 1:19), and to look for truth in everything they say. I’m free to let others seek after God along with me, and to lovingly encourage them to do so.
Under what conditions am I held accountable for another’s sin? Only if I explicitly encourage and enable them by equipping and facilitating their behavior, agreeing with them and effectively participating with them in their sin. For example, when Sapphira participated with her husband in his sin, lying to the Holy Spirit, “Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.” (Ac 5:9) She died along with her husband.
Unless we are in a position of authority under God to enforce His laws, such as a parent with a young child (“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Pr 9:18) or a ruler and a subject (“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Rom 13:4), permitting sin, allowing others to sin, refusing to forbid and/or forcibly constrain them, even while they are guests in our home and/or part of our immediate family, is not participating with them. “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” (1Ti 5:22) We cannot control anyone but ourselves, and it is unwise to try. “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” (1Pe 4:15)
Tim,
This verse in Romans 2:16 fits in with your meditation.
“in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel”
I note the secrets of MY heart SHALL be judged. And we are judged by the Lord Jesus Christ. Not our neighbor, or friend, or enemy, or even our ownselves.
Stephen