Drawing Faith Lines: A Lesson from Patent Shoes

We are called to live out an ancient faith in this modern world.  This means we often have to use biblical principles to make judgments about what we should and should not do in this world.  Christians often disagree on these judgements and controversy seems to surround these topics.

We were discussing this idea in ladies’ Bible class this week.  One lady related a story from her days years ago at a Christian university.  At this time, female students had to wear dresses on campus to class.  The style of the day was black patent shoes.  But one of the older, respected Bible professors took a strong stand against these shoes.  He claimed that Christian ladies should not wear such shoes because they are so shiny and reflective they might allow boys to see under their dresses.  

While likely given with the right spirit and intentions, this respected professor lost much of his respect with the student body.  He was seen as out-of-touch and as drawing radical lines just to restrict the youth.  I am sure much worse was even said in the privacy of dorm rooms!

There seems to be a good lesson for us all in this story.  We need to be cautious when drawing lines regarding faith decisions.  We want to aim for holiness and remember we are called to be different from the world, but we must also use rational common sense.  We must not seek to unduly restrict or lay a burden upon the youth of the church, just because they are embracing a style or preference we don’t like.  This is what the Pharisees did in all of their rule making and tradition keeping ways.

So be careful.  Before you start drawing lines and condemning the judgements of others, be sure you are standing on solid Biblical principles and issues of moral virtue and holiness are at stake.  If not, you may be simply cast aside at best, given no hearing by your brethren, or at worst, you could offend and turn people away from the Lord.