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 A
popular, and in many ways an appealing philosophy is expressed
on posters and cards for our ‘now” generation.
“I do my thing, and you do your thing. I
am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you
are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you, and I
am I; and if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful.”
Frederick S. Pens
It’s
beautiful all right, until finding “you” makes an “our”
responsibility, and one or both of us want to maintain our own
selfish ways. Is “my thing” whatever I want to do regardless
of how it affects others? In an “our” situation, have we no
obligation to live up to one-another’s expectations? Is there
no place for “our things —- beginning with the family unit,
and extending to neighbors, and finally to the whole world?
Doing “my own thing” often disclaims accountability to
others. It becomes a childish, irresponsible philosophy that
disregards the needs of society.
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Of
course the “expectations” of others can be arbitrary and
unfair. That is why laws must be formed among men. If each one
of us went about “doing our own thing” it would result in
chaos and anarchy, with each of us slaves to our own folly. But
citizens of a law-governed society have the right to “expect”
something of others.
Each
of us must act upon personal convictions (Rom. 14:5); and yet
“none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself”
(v. 7). And “why is my liberty judged by another’s
conscience?” Because I recognize a Master greater than man,
who would have me be considerate of my fellowmen’s feelings
and interests — “that they might be saved” (1 Cor.
10:25-33). The Christian is greatly concerned about the “expectations”
of his Maker. But unalterably “doing my own thing” means
having no respect for God’s wishes — in essence, denying the
existence of God. It is the antithesis of His teaching, viz., to
be more concerned for others than for your self (Phil. 2:4).
Today’s
“beautiful’ philosophy may deny the true beauty of our
Maker.
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