How to change the world (or at least your corner of it) for God

<p>One of our admonitions from Yeshua in the Sermon on the Mount is to demonstrate virtue and purity that exceeds those who are merely following external commands (Matt. 5:20). Sometimes these external commands take the form of direct regulation, and sometimes these "commands" come in the form of allowances or tolerations of our culture that would violate the purity of our relationship with God. We must resist both forms of this type of cultural influence if we are to maintain our integrity and our holiness as God's people.</p><p>A clear example of this type of successful witness is illustrated by the early life of the prophet Daniel who would not compromise on his dietary commitment to Torah.</p><p>A secondary example is the witness of the early believers in Messiah who attempted to maintain their holiness, or set-apartness, by rightly abiding by the Torah commands in regard to food.</p><p>For believers today, God's people are only holy or set-apart when we live in holy and set-apart ways. We are still commanded in the New Testament writings to be holy. In regard to food practices of New Covenant believers, the term "conscience" is mentioned at least 8 times. Ultimately, Paul says that all things should be done in love, and that:</p><p>Romans 14:22-23 - Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin."</p><p>Probably the simplest way to understand all of this information is that it is our obligation as believers to be so thoroughly committed to our faith that through our integrity we become the influencers of those around us, rather than allowing them to influence us. Don't just know what you believe, but why. Understanding why we allow or don't allow certain things in our lifestyle practice will provide the strongest witness to outsiders who are curious to understand more about the Bible, Go