No matter what action we take, we are taking it for a reason, an audience if you will.
When I’m at work I wear certain clothes and keep a steady demeanor. I do this because the clientele I service have that expectation of a person in my position. You could say I’m playing to my audience. I’m very mindful of what I say and do when I’m with my children. Always attempting to validate the lessons and principles I represent to them. Even when we aren’t aware of it, we are playing to an audience of the general public and judgments are made about us based on how we deal with the different elements of our day.
I believe I follow a behavior pattern in line with what the Bible tells me God wants from me. Most of the time that is. But I have a huge desire to please people around me and give them what they want. I’m even guilty of making an allowance to what I know is right in order to deal with a specific issue occasionally. Modifying principle to meet individual circumstance may seem reasonable and acceptable to do, but it’s really just practicing situational ethics. Situational ethics is when we initiate a certain behavior or practice that is motivated by individual circumstance. Give them what they want; it isn’t really a big deal and no bodies going to get hurt.
But the Bible tells us the only audience worth playing to is Jesus Christ. As Christians we have the Bible, God’s living breathing Word, to point out the behaviors He wants to see in us. If we allow obedience to God’s Word to penetrate every facet of our lives, situational ethics becomes obsolete. Most of what is considered good in “the world” is also in line with God’s will. God tells us to look at the interest of others before ourselves. If you’re in business you are to provide good service to your customers. You would be hard pressed to find an audience those principles wouldn’t play to.
But sometimes we’re expected to just “go with the flow” and let things just happen like they are going to happen. But when we choose to adjust our beliefs we are really just saying God wasn’t right as far as this situation is concerned. And this friend is when we have to decide what’s important in life. Jesus recognized we would all be in this position and left us with His thoughts. You can find His response to this very question in Matthew 6:24.
