Adventures in Missing the Point

If it Doesn't Effect You, Leave it Alone

This is a saying said very often. That if it's not, something that effects you, then just leave it alone. This is typically said in relation to one's actions.

The biggest problem with this is that it's so very rarely true. There are very few things, though I'd probably say nothing, that someone can do that doesn't have an effect on other people. Many, if not the vast majority, of the things that people say this in relation to do actually have an effect on others, even if it is not clearly seen.

I could go into a very long point on how this clearly works with abortion, since it takes a human being away from being able to have an influence, in a multitude of ways in the world. However, that will probably left for a later time. But, the point is, it's very easy to prove that an abortion can change the world in a drastic way and does have an impact on those who would have known and been close to the person had they not been killed before being born. Though for many the effect may have taken years to be seen, it still does have an effect on others.

This is a saying that gay people, lesbians, and transgenders love to use. That it's there life and what they do does not clearly effect other people. While it's not as easy to show that their choices to live out their lives romantically with someone of the same gender, or changing their gender themselves have an impact on others, it's still there.

Consider this, you are a woman and the man that you are to marry, in which you and him could have had the best impact on the world together being married, is living in a relationship (or relationships) with a man (or men). That not only has an impact on that woman, but also on those who might have been influenced by their union.

While I'll be the first to admit that's not a great example, it still makes a point. I do very much understand that a person does not choose to be gay or lesbian (or any other "different" sexuality), but they do make the choice to practice the sexual and romantic aspects related to that. I'm not here to make a point on anything related to people's sexuality, I'm only trying to say that it can have an effect on others.

A good example of how this can effect others is a man who is married and has children choosing to leave his wife and children to be with another man. This has a major effect on the wife and the children. While there are times that the divorce can happen on good terms and the man won't leave the kids behind, it still has an effect. Divorce, no matter how "necessary" it might be, always has negative aspects to it. In other words, a divorce can never be 100% good, but will always in some shape or form leave hurt in its aftermath.

So, a person's sexuality, in choosing that over the people they are already close to does have an effect on those around them. While that doesn't say whether it's a good effect or not, my point is showing that there are very few things, if anything at all, that don't effect other people.

The point could very rightly be made that a person turning to Christ and submitting Himself under the Lordship of Jesus has an effect on those around them. To many, much of that could be viewed in a negative light. While I could believe that if that person is truly following Christ and doing things right, it would only be positive, it can still be viewed as negative.

Again, this all comes down to the reality that any choice you make will ultimately have an effect on others. So, please, stop with the saying "if it doesn't effect you, leave it alone." It effects everyone. It's not just your life. Our lives are all connected in some way, shape, and/or form. So, consider that before making choices and realize how important that saying truly is.