I had two conversations with two different friends at church tonight that basically bore the same subject from two different angles. I don't think my two good friends would mind me sharing, though they will remain nameless. One friend is a female, and one is a male. The one friend had rightfully expressed concern that every show on television has at least touched on the subject of same sex partnerships in some way. It is as if the topic is far too over publicized for the minority of the population it represents. Clearly, there is an agenda of either the networks, or society as a whole to desensitize the population at large to the idea. As if for the last 8-10 thousand years American culture is the first to experience the CHOICE some make to pursue an alternative lifestyle, and the attempt to force its assimilation into main stream culture. It doesn't make us more civilized, advanced, nor tolerant, only ignorant to real history.
The second conversation I had was about the propensity of the American (little c) church to elevate the relativity of one sin above others, and minimize the effect of other sins on believers and non-believers alike. For example consuming alcohol, or gambling which are of a public and taboo nature because of their obvious implications in regards to behavior, and a lack of self control, verses tobacco use, or excessive secular activity, which seem to be more private, and effect only the sinner directly.(I guess?) And possibly their family, and relationship to God, but that is beyond my ability to judge, and is between them and the Lord.
"Well yes I smoke and watch dancing with the stars for the outfits and obvious innuendo, but I don't drink or buy lottery tickets!"
I too am disgusted by the assault on our beliefs, and tempted to elevate myself above a lost and dying world. I love God, and am offended by the worlds disregard for Christ and His gospel. But I'm not sure we are fighting the right battle as believers.
Men deny God and quench the Holy Spirit, as well as reject Jesus for a number of reasons, too many to mention. Chiefly, its because they want to do what THEY WANT to do. If there is no (g)od they don't have to be worried about what (h)e has to say.(They actually do know that God exists see Romans 1:18-20) Once they've convinced themselves that they don't "believe" in (h)im,(suppressed the truth) they have to place the conviction they feel somewhere, so they begin to try to convince the rest of us that there is no (g)od(2nd Peter 2:12-14). Once they get on that train they begin to pick fights with people who are believers. By doing this, they feel as though they give themselves validity. They now have a cause; enlighten the ignorant, and defeat the tyrannical, oppressive evangelical, thus protecting the ignorant masses from the poisonous fairy tale of a sovereign, benevolent, creator. At this point they are ready to debate in favor of a truth that we already know; Man is free to do whatever he wants. Then there is us.
We know that God is real, we know that the Bible is His communication to man, we know that human kind has a sin nature. We have heard and believed the gospel of Christ. But being trapped in our sinful bodies(Romans 7:21-24)we are tempted to set ourselves above all others by looking down on them and deeming ourselves morally superior. This way, we can rest assured that we are not on the same slow boat to hell that "they" are,(which we're not but not simply because we know what is right and what is wrong). So what do we do when they pick a fight with us, guided by their desire to disprove God's true existence? We tell them they are hell bound dirt bags, based off of the "one" in dwelling sin they are trying to protect and defend. When in reality, what we should be screaming is that any person outside of a relationship with Jesus, is condemned.
Romans 3:23
John 3:18-21
John 3:3
Don't get me wrong, when faced with discussing particular sinful activity we should be lovingly honest, bringing the truth of Christ to bare on the conversation. But to harp on just one hot button, controversial, or common sin, is short-sighted, and neglects the truth of the gospel. Jesus came not to condemn but to save(John 3:17).
When faced with these type discussions I am drawn to John 8, and the story of the adulterous woman. She meets Jesus in verses 1-10, he facilitates her redemption. It is only after that, that He says, "go and sin no more." Jesus points out that the only way they can take it upon themselves to "punish" the woman, is if they are completely without sin. They weren't and neither are we. We are fighting people who don't know Him, because they are not following Him? His birth, life, teaching, miracles, death, burial, and resurrection mean nothing to them, let alone the Bible. Until they KNOW HIM they will continue to war against us by flaunting their bad behavior, mocking our every belief, and daring us to stop them. When they meet Him, they will war against themselves(1st Peter 2:11). "Do I need to quit all my bad habits, and sinful behaviors to come to know Christ?" Is the wrong question, and "Yes" is the wrong answer. Jesus paid the price for sinners like you and me. Don't leave the spreading the good news of Christ to the pastor in favor of proving your point about bad behavior, the negative effect thereof, and its modification through morality training. He has called us to "Go and make disciples"(Matthew 28:19) THEN teach them how to act as Christians.(Matthew 20:20)
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"-Romans 3:14
SPREAD THE GOSPEL-JOHN 3:16
Leave the behavior modification to the Holy Spirit.
Dusty
Wisdom
Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old fellow who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.
He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this....
I got an old barn out back.
It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of weather, it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.
It's still standing.
But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.
So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on it's leaning side so it wouldn't fall.
Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn.
I've been around a long time.
I've withstood a lot of life's storms.
I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing, too.
But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time,
so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.
Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred,
leaning toward cussing, leaning toward jealousy, leaning toward revenge, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't.
So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''
"In God we trust!"
There are 3 kinds of people,
People who make things happen,
People who watch things happen,
And people who wonder what happened!
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