As I have become exposed to different cultures during my life, I have gained understanding of how my culture influences me.  More importantly, I have gained insight into how some people confuse culture with truth and attempt to be dogmatic about things that can legitimately have variation.  And yet, I have also seen that there are certain aspects of the human condition that transcend culture.  The desire for love and peace, the joy of sharing smiles, and the longing for purpose are some main themes.

This poem put to song, that my Chinese tutor found for my studies, is a wistful example of the yearning and search for peace.  The olive tree is historically recognized as symbolizing peace， and the singer is willing to go far and wide to find it.  The melody is melancholy; the journey is not yet fulfilled for this person.

橄欖樹 – Chyi Yu (The Olive Tree)

橄欖樹  The Olive Tree
不要問我從那裡來
bu2 yao4 wen4 wo3 cong2 na4 li4 lai2
Don’t ask me where I come from

我的故鄉在遠方
wo3 de. gu4 xiang1 zai4 yuan3 fang1
My homeland is a far off place

為甚麼流浪   流浪遠方     流浪
wei4 shen2 me. liu2 lang4    liu2 lang4 yuan3 fang1    liu2 lang4
Why do I wander, wander in a distant land, wander

為了天空飛翔的小鳥
wei4 le. tian1 kong1 fei1 xiang2 de. xiao3 niao3
Because of the little bird gliding through the sky

為了山間輕流的小溪
wei4 le. shan1 jian1 qing1 liu2 de. xiao3 xi1
Because of the brook bubbling through the mountains

為了寬闊的草原     流浪遠方    流浪
wei4 le. kuan1 kuo4 de. cao3 yuan2     liu2 lang4 yuan3 fang1    liu2 lang4
Because of the wide open grasslands, wander in a distant land, wander

還有        還有
hai2 you3     hai2 you3
There is still more, still more

為了夢中的橄欖樹        橄欖樹
wei4 le. meng3 zhong1 de. gan3 lan3 shu4         gan3 lan3 shu4
Because of the dream of the olive tree, the olive tree

不要問我從那裡來                                  Don’t ask me where I come from
我的故鄉在遠方                                      My homeland is a far off place
為甚麼流浪    為甚麼流浪遠方             Why do I wander, why wander in a distant land
為了我夢中的橄欖樹                              Because of the dream of the olive tree
不要問我從那裡來                                  Don’t ask me where I come from
我的故鄉在遠方                                      My homeland is a far off place
為甚麼流浪    流浪遠方   流浪              Why do I wander, wander in a distant land, wander

Colossians 2:6-10 in song as the latest memory verse for me and the kids – I’m calling it “So Walk In Him”

Colossians 2_6-10

because there are those who would cheat us, if they could.

I don’t claim to understand prayer. I just know God encourages believers to pray. I know there are a couple of Bible verses that seem to say “we’ll get whatever we ask for” or “if you have faith…” but my experience suggests that I have limited insight into the complete meaning of such segments. I have no doubt that God hears and chooses to act according to my petitions, but He is not a genie in a bottle and I don’t have enough “positive vibes” to generate whatever results I want at the moment. There some concerns I have brought to Him for years, but still see no obvious answer. There are some things that I can personally tell He is working with in my life, but it would be harder to explain to another person. Some prayers have received bitterly disappointing answers. The world simply isn’t going to become a perfect place because I ask for it.

Then there are the beautiful times when a prayer is obviously and positively answered. This story is about such a prayer. It was unlikely and unsupported by the people involved. Why I would even want to think of praying for such a thing is a little strange. I asked for a non-crucial adventure.

I have been struggling to learn Mandarin Chinese for almost three years now. I say “struggling” because it seems painfully slow. I do not have the energy, elastic mind, or time availability of a young student. And yet, I plod along, refusing to give up what little ground I gained when I began during our eight months of living in Taipei. Every once in a while, I lay this apparently insane pursuit before my God, explaining at I “just want to do it” and would He help?

It was natural to dream of returning to Taiwan, but I am no jet-setter. Sure, my husband traveled for business occasionally, but a even a business trip to Taiwan was extremely far-fetched, he told me. Then, about a year ago, it occurred to me to seriously ask God for a trip back to Taiwan.

I only mentioned this fanciful prayer to a couple of friends, and that briefly and without emphasis. I didn’t even bring it up to God on a frequent basis, but when I did it was heart felt. I knew there was no practical excuse for such a trip. After that, it was on to the life at hand.

The first indication that something really might happen came about seven months ago, but I dared not really get my hopes up. For one thing, my dear hubby was quite unexcited about the idea. Even when I hesitantly admitted to him I had been praying about it. He just wanted to move on to other things. I quickly dropped the subject. I did keep praying humbly about it, but with the temerity to mention how such plan would work best with the gardening schedule!

When he came home two weeks ago with news of the real possibility of me accompanying him on a business trip that encompassed both Shanghai and Taiwan, I was both thrilled and cautious. I knew of the obstacles, such as quickly getting a visa and finding tickets at an acceptable price. Yet, today, here I sit on a huge aircraft flying over the arctic circle, well on my way to China. The timing is very convenient for my garden. Plus, I’ve already had the pleasure of practicing my Chinese with two friendly young men returning to their homes in China.

I can offer no explanation as to why this frivolous request has been granted, other than God simply thinks it is fun to give good gifts to His children. It was, after all, my 50th birthday just a few days ago.

Being labeled a heretic is grim business.  Since it is almost exclusively used and abused in a religious context, a study of the definitions of “heresy” may help.  Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words declares the original Greek (hairesis) to mean “that which is chosen…especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for submission to the power of truth, and leads to division…”  Webster’s New World College Dictionary (4th ed.) gives the more institutionally bound perspective, which boils down to mean:  religious belief opposed to the teaching of an organization(s) which has established itself as the mouthpiece of God to the people.  One definition derives from the basis of truth, the other from worldly power.

Ironically, “heretic” is most often a label attached to true Christian believers by  Manipulative and Authoritarian Religious Rulers.  Such persons will henceforth be referred to as MARR, in recognition of how their teachings mar and disfigure the gospel.  It is actually their teachings that cause divisions, in essence denying Jesus as the Christ.  They create their own image and call it Jesus Christ.  They use His name “in vain”, misrepresenting His love and truth, thus devising bondage for their adherents, coupled with hatred for “outsiders.”  Then they have the gall to patronizingly accuse Christian believers of error.

So what is a Christian to do?  There are Biblical injunctions to not “greet” these kinds of troublemakers.  First of all, a Christian should be careful about applying this classification.  There is much more written about tolerating differences of conviction or being understanding of varying levels of maturity.  Over and over, the straightforward core message of Jesus Christ is stated, followed by cautions about false or misleading teachings of too many rules.  The choice to not fellowship should be soberly decided with these attitudes:  1) sorrow at the loss, and 2) humility in remembrance of the full mercy we have received.  (Fellowship is different than what buildings happen to be entered.)  It reminds me of the dynamics among my seven children when they were growing up.  I adopted the point of view that they needed to be free to inform me of activities of siblings that might be hurtful or destructive.  However, a messenger had better be very humble and concerned about the other child’s well-being, or, as they had had it thoroughly explained, they would be at risk of also receiving whatever action needed to be taken.  This approach helped them see their siblings through more tender eyes.  So should be our attitudes towards others.  There should not be an ounce of pride or superior feeling.   If we have any good qualities or knowledge of truth, it is because He works in us.  Thus, if a person confesses Christ in the simplicity of the gospel, they should be greeted.

There is, unfortunately, a category of people who, over time, show themselves to be “not really of us.”  (1 John 2:19)  Their vocabulary has been correct, but their hearts’ were not truly God’s.  With “smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”  (Romans 16:18b)  These are concerned about who follows them, not who follows Christ.  They malign those who won’t follow them. (3 John 10)  They avoid words of John such as “you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things…. ” (1 John 2:27).  They often develop into MARR.  We are told to not “greet” them.

To greet someone is to welcome them, show respect for them.  In context with the body of believers, it seems to imply an interchange that affirms acceptance of the person as a representative of Jesus Christ.  One reason God had to allow the nations of Israel to be conquered was that they continued to claim to be His people when they had, in fact, rejected Him.  The other nations’ ideas of God were affected by this.  Those who claim to represent God should be very careful.  God is jealous of His reputation.

Polite acknowledgment of someone’s presence or just saying “hello” is not the equivalent of a greetings among Christian brothers and sisters.  There are principles of conduct necessary for the flow of civilization.  Acknowledging someone can be done in a way that confirms that it is NOT a validation.  This will probably depend on culture.  Possibly a nod of the head; or a hello without a smile.  Choose something that makes you in charge of the relationship and keeps them at arm’s length.  Of course, one must be prepared for their anger and incrimination, but you are in good company.  The Pharisees claimed Jesus worked by the power of Beelzebub.  Accusations don’t get much worse than that.  Yes, they proceeded to kill Him, but we all know how that turned out.

(all Bible passages from the New American Standard Version, updated)

The supposed conundrum is that:  Since God is so far above us, what can we do to know Him?  Surely, we need an army of experts, is the loud claim.  Ignoring all evidence that God has made the apparently impossible stunningly simple, people proceed to codify and complicate matters.  It is like a group of four year-olds electing the best readers amongst them to go read their parents’ libraries and return with a report about what an adult is and how to interact with one.  Really, the only viable methods to know their adults are  1) spending time with them and 2) personal maturity.  Strangely enough, one leads to the other.  The four year-olds may gain a few insightful tidbits from such study, but these will be distorted by their current levels of understanding such that the advantage is quite negligible.  Or, worse yet, they could get so caught up in these “little jewels”  that they forget the main goal of knowing the adults in their lives.  However, they will probably get to call themselves adultologians.

Like a patient parent, God holds out His hand, inviting us to get to know Him, and rather incidentally, mature by the process.  He has lovingly surrounded all of us with creation’s messages of his provision and magnificence.  It all sings out of His qualities of Father and Redeemer; and His written Word is there to help the spiritually tone deaf to follow along.  Like stubborn children, some people drown out the obvious beautiful melody in favor of their own fanciful, but cheerless, philosophies.  They think that if they scream out their positions loudly enough, they are showing some sort of intellectual superiority.

In the story, The Princess and the Goblin , by George MacDonald, trusting God and His direction is described as following a string.  The string is always readily available, easy to follow, and contrary to human wisdom.  (consider Colossians 2:6-10)  Attention to it’s guidance is both saving and full of adventure.  No expertise needed;  just trust.  This approach, of God’s, does not congratulate the haughty, so it is usually bypassed by those who “love to have preeminence.”  They find it much more satisfying to be in charge and lead others down whatever path they choose to follow.

The word “theology” means ” the study of religious doctrines and matters of divinity,” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th edition).  Jesus Christ, and His first apostles, speak only of knowing Him – and only Him.  Walking with Him.  Being a friend, a bride, a son, a living temple occupied by Him.  Part of a family.  Who needs a theologian?

The trouble with Christianity is that it is just too straightforward and simple.  Acknowledge your sinful heart; believe in Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior; then be free to live a grateful life, followed by a delightful eternity.  Why are so many opposed to this?

Some say Christians are gullible fools, that it couldn’t be that easy.  That’s like being out in a frozen wasteland and having someone sneer at you for putting on a coat.  It takes care of the problem perfectly, but they argue.  “Have you no pride?”  They offer complicated, self-esteem building exercises such as running fast in place.

Other say Christians are weak, or being cold is all a matter of perspective.  Sure, everyone in coats looks comfortable, but they are just putting up a front so you’ll be tricked into wearing one.  The disapprovers can’t really explain why the “coat-wearers” benefit from you also putting one on, but they are certain there is a sinister plot.  Instead they say, “Toughen up and deal with it.  Life is cold.”

I understand some of the confusion.  The label “Christian” has been co-opted.  Whereas to choose Christ requires nothing from a person other than acceptance  (but results in a brand new heart), sundry groups would attach all kinds of baggage to the relationship.  This creates cultures that only mimic Christian life, and the participants are merely puppets on strings.  The name Christian is retained, but each group is really just another man-made religion trying to fulfill the desire to be good enough by human effort.

Imagine giving a developmental test to a toddler.  Surely, if the child is quick to place the round block in the round space of the same dimensions, he is a good problem-solver.  On the the next challenge and let’s build some bridges!  But, no, the poor soul who struggles to jam the square block in by brute force is labeled “creative” and “forward thinking.”  If they succumb to the false praise, they spend the rest of their lives building on these misconceptions.  That is what human philosophies are like when compared with the seamless beauty of God’s solution.  These philosophies, even if the term Christian stays tacked on, are like a phony key.  You can hammer them into the keyhole, but they absolutely won’t open the door.

Real Christianity simply transcends all cultural boundaries, illuminates all questions, and provides ultimate answers.  It reveals condemnation only to immediately offer a compassionate way out.  It warns in order to save.  It offers omnipotent care from the Power that holds the universe together.

Minds darkened and resistant due to pride and power mongering conjure an astounding array of similar sounding alternatives.  They deceive themselves by recreating ancient lies.  Then they get mad at the truth and real Christians because, well, it’s irritating to see others so sure of themselves and happy.

Truly, some college professors are there to teach and they are doing a good job.  I have studied under many such professors.  My older children have had the benefit of several well-qualified and dedicated faculty.  However, we all labor under the weight of a college system encumbered by foolish, ancient philosophies.  Some professors revel in these erroneous notions with an air of superiority, attempting to intimidate, claiming powers of influence over our children.  I laugh at them.  My children laugh at them.

They think they wield the power of ideas that will humiliate me and snatch my children from me.  They have no concept of the Power of the God we serve, the one true living God.  They have given themselves over to a proud delusion and think they can easily disorient real Christians from the Truth.  Ha!  They deserve no quarter because they have openly defied Him, thinking I, the Christian am on the defensive.  They should be cowering at the feet of their Maker.  I and mine are in His hand, strong and joyful.

From the beginning of time, all like them have been fighting a losing battle.  They and the-father-of-lies strain at worldly dominance, gleefully making motions of throwing off so-called bondage of following God Almighty.  They are like toddlers who have recently discovered they can say, “No!” and imagine just saying it gives them some sort of honor.  In every age, they think their ideas are new and enlightened, not seeing that it is all a rehash of the same old whopper.  They want to be gods.  Unfortunately, they can never account for life and they can never give it any substantial meaning.  They conjecture that by convincing others of the same emptiness, it validates it.  Okay, let’s just all jump over the cliff.   At least we’ll be together.

There may be statistics they have come up with about what happens to a person’s “faith” in college, but they, having no grasp on the Truth, may have failed to understand the results of such research.  Certainly, they have misunderstood the nature of the One True God and what it means to follow Him.  We are not a political group, based on man-made ideologies.  We are not a social club easily disturbed by posturing bullies.  We are not at all an institution invented to propagate self-serving religious ideas.  Our children know this.

We do not tremble or shrink back from discussion of ideas, but there is no reason for us to take seriously the arguments of those whose most foundational tenet is that there is no God as shown in the Bible.  They only seek to comfort their own pride, dressing up their refusal-to-believe-in-actualities in a myriad of guesses about life.  Our children are well-prepared to filter the fabrications from the facts.  We are the real Christians and I’m pretty sure they are not ready for us.

We appreciate that the problem didn’t become urgent until our youngest son had arrived at work and exited the car.  Then, we’re thankful that a few minutes later, a co-worker noticed the smoking under the hood of the  vehicle.  And, we are glad our oldest son called the fire department when he did.

He had called us first, so we were on our way with a tow rope, not knowing if it had just overheated or some such thing.  However, in the interim, he made the decision that immediate help was prudent.  We arrived to see the front end of the car covered in flames and the fire crew hosing it down.

When the vehicle was more approachable, but only by those with heavily gloved hands and breathing masks, a large circular saw was put to work on cutting the hood open.  It was a messy procedure, leaving the hood looking like modern art.  The gush of water was now applied more directly and thoroughly to the well melted engine.

The hood sections were pushed back down, we completed the necessary paperwork, and the fireman offered to call a tow truck for us.  During the half hour wait for it, we did some clean-up work.  The folks at Greenhurst Nursery loaned us a couple of brooms, the largest dust pan I have ever seen, and pulled the dumpster over from across the parking lot.

It is not easy to sweep charred car parts off of asphalt.  The edge of the dust pan was useful for prying some the melted goo from the pavement.  Never one to unnecessarily throw anything away, Greg grinned when he found a large bolt in good shape amidst the debris.

Out of curiosity, I asked the fireman how often they put out car fires.  I was amazed by his answer of “about one a week.”  That’s quite a few!  But as he says, there are a lot of cars and they do have explosions going on inside of them whenever they are running.

It is a new reminder of what it means that “our God is a consuming fire.”  Dangerous and cleansing.  That was just one little, localized flame.  He, on the other hand, can’t be contained.  That’s power.

Writing about Christian priorities reminds me of a time line.  It should be straightforward for any one given person, but once all the time lines of other people are thrown in it becomes overwhelming and even incomprehensible.  Fortunately, God is up to the task of managing all of these threads; he chooses to set us in a certain time and place to live.   He sets forth some simple guidelines for us limited humans and is somehow patient with us until His appointed “end of the world as we know it.”  Yet, that simplicity is constantly threatened by the imaginations of men.

Do not be concerned that I confuse simple with stress-free.  Life in a fallen world generates stress in various forms.  Some of it is unavoidable.  There is sickness.  People are selfish and regularly fight.  Governments are corrupt.  Persecution happens.  Everyone dies.  However, Christians, since this is the topic of our discussion,  also create unnecessary stress by weighing down others with religious requirements or extra-Biblical guilt.

Much of the disagreement hinges on what is “required” of Christians.  Or, in other words, what will they be doing if they really are Christians.  What will their “works” be?  The culturally acceptable list often contains items such as giving away a large portions of wealth (usually to foreign countries), spending time working for “ministry” organizations,  telling every homeless person you see how to be saved, and generally exhausting time, resources, and energy.  If you haven’t done that, the rather papal verdict is that you aren’t really “committed.”  Making progress with this sort of checklist can easily result in a false sense of righteousness or lack of it, or even a false sense of salvation.

The Biblical version of Christian works is along the lines of I Thessalonians 3:11.  “…and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”  The list of things we are to look for when considering whether or not to follow someone as a leader, or mature Christian example, mirrors this same idea.  “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity…(etc)”  (I Timothy 3:4)  “Having children who believe…”  (Titus 1:6)  “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  (1 Timothy 4:8)  “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”  (Ephesians 6:4)  These things take time and the home is the center, as well as the point of evaluation.  If a Christian isn’t mature there, he isn’t fit for taking part in other people’s lives.  If other attempts to help people interfere with the primary concerns at home, God wants us to attend to those first.

Other important items on the real list of Christian qualities are things that can’t be faked.  We are supposed to be patient, kind, and forgiving, for example, in our everyday relationships and contacts.  The Bible says a lot about developing heart grown attributes like these which will be shown in our actions as we go about our mundane responsibilities.

So how do we reconcile this obvious emphasis with other places that say things about leaving families, giving to the poor, and taking up our cross?  Quite simply.  If our family makes us choose between faith in Christ and them, we choose Christ.  There is nothing said about “sacrificing our families” as some way to honor God.  If we come across people in need, especially other Christians, we wisely lend them assistance in an appropriate form.  This often necessitates knowing them and being around them.  We keep our eyes open, but we can be completely at rest in knowing that God directs our steps and knows everyone’s needs.  We die to self in terms of self-will, yet live in joy in the life that God has blessed us with.  All of this is low profile, giving all glory to God, and hopefully no one even knows “who that Christian was.”

A certain passage in Matthew 25:31-46 has been used a lot.  The spin is that if we aren’t taking care of all of the poor, searching for them across all boundaries of the earth, and under every park bench, then we are falling short.  However, if we look carefully at the King’s answer, we see He says “to the extent that you did it to ONE (emphasis mine) of these brothers of Mine…”  He knows our limits; and He is specifically referring to other believers.  Obviously, I’m not saying we only help Christians or that once we’ve helped one person we can check that off.  But we should know what the teaching is referring to and what it is suggesting.  If that one lost lamb was so important to Jesus in the parable, then we can not only take comfort in how much we each mean to him, but we can rejoice in one person helped.

I would like to offer two examples of faith and works.  First, Abraham.  He was counted as righteous because he believed the promise of God.  This faith was given feet as he took his son up to offer him as a sacrifice, knowing that God would just have to raise Isaac again to fulfill the promise.  This example of works is interesting because it doesn’t have anything to do with helping anyone.  It was kind of scary, but take comfort in the fact that he had very specific directions.

Job had faith, so much that God wanted to show him off to bring glory to His name.  Job comes through, has the benefit of a very insightful conversation with God,  and is blessed with twice as much in earthly goods as before.  He continued to live a faithful, prosperous life, beginning with offering sacrifices for his friends who had misrepresented God’s character and intent.  We need to be careful about that, too.

The bottom line is that Christians have reason for and access to great peace.  If a certain perspective, a choice, or attitude of ours results in stress or turmoil, it is highly suspect.  If you see the need, but are not omnipotent, fall on your knees and talk to the One who is, but without trying to take His job.

We were recently asked for our response to this question:  Should secular music be played in ‘church’ in an effort to ‘evangelize’ and make it more ‘comfortable’ for non-believers?  Is it a part of becoming all things to all people that some might be won to Christ?  Or is it hypocritical for Christians to listen to secular music and then not want to play it in ‘church?’

Greg and I talked about it, got some thoughtful input from our kids and here is our consensus:

1.   First of all,  we talked about the purpose of believers gathering together.  The principle goal seems to be the strengthening of the body of believers by fellowship by such things as encouraging words, edification to good works, common prayer, and singing, based on the truths of God’s Word, love for one another,  and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.   Non-believers may be present and may make decisions based on what they see among the body, but evangelizing is not the purpose of the church gathering together.  In fact, if non-believers are constantly present and the focus of attention, the building up of the body may be unacceptably inhibited.

2.   The distinction between secular and Christian is false and misleading.  For a Christian, everything is Christian.  That is, out of a pure love for God, but being free in Christ, we make choices about what we enjoy, whether it be music, clothes, food, activities.  If a particular song is labeled “Christian” because it mentions the name Jesus and is sung by someone who claims to be a Christian, but the overall tone is one of defeat or melancholy, is that more uplifting than singing a joyful, fun song that celebrates life in a way that God commends even if that song is thought of as “secular?”

Many accepted “Christian” songs are not based on truth, are immature, are shallow, are self-centered, or could easily be interpreted to just be a “secular” love song if heard by someone who doesn’t know it’s origin.  That being said, every song doesn’t need to be a complete Biblical treatise.  It just shows the limits of the label “Christian” in our culture and in application when choosing music.  There is certainly nothing sacred about the tunes, a case in point being the older hymns that were re-written pub songs so that they could be more easily learned.

3.   Examples of evangelizing, by everyone from Jesus to Paul, seem to be mostly that of being out in the community and meeting the non-believers where they are.  This occurred, for example,  in synagogues to talk to Jews, by wells to meet questionable women,  at places business people hobnobbed like the riverside, locations where they had unknown idols, and along open roads where dignitaries were returning to their own countries.  People were approached with the truth or came up and asked about it.

Often the discussion was entered into on a level that the non-believer could relate to, but never with the intention of making them comfortable.   On the contrary, the gospel makes people quite uncomfortable at first as it makes them admit their sinfulness and absolute need for Christ.  Greg humorously suggests that “Highway to Hell” by the group AC/DC could be useful in getting such a conversation going, a possible modern day version of Paul going in to talk to the Greeks about their altar to the unknown god  (Acts 17:23).  For the woman at the well (John 4), Jesus began with asking her for something rather normal, but with an obvious goal in mind for directing their dialogue.

4.  Finally, “being all things to all people” would seem to mean doing your best to fit in with a group, but never compromising truth.  If you are with non-believers, you may want to avoid commonly overused or easily misunderstood religious terms.  It might mean dressing a certain way or avoiding certain things that they, in their non-believing status, would be confused by.  Possibly it means letting go of some “legalistic” Christian rituals and standards that are based on man’s ideas and culture.  It doesn’t mean watering down truth or being a different personality or adopting marketing techniques.  Paul said he would be as a Jew among the Jews so that some might believe, but then he severely rebuked Peter for conforming to Jewish tradition when it involved Christian Jews and hindering fellowship with Gentile believers.  Jesus followed Jewish customs, but openly criticized those who performed just so they would look good to others.  Man made creeds have a way of complicating these issues.  Let each do as they see fit as they are being honest before God, becoming more mature in their walk,  and operating out of sincere love.