ABUSING GRACE - GUILTY!

We used to call it backsliding. That term comforted us because it made it seem like it was something that happened outside of our will and decision. That was, of course, never the case! We just don’t like to take responsibility for our missteps! Such a kind word – missteps. It doesn’t sound bad at all. We’ were just walking along and suddenly – we misstepped!

It was an accident! We didn’t mean to do it! It just sort of happened.

But, in reality, it was an act of our will! We can use all the user-friendly language we want to make it sound innocuous – but it was sheer rebellion in most cases.

I knew what I was doing! Sometimes I even thought it through so thoroughly that I knew I was defying God, but – after all – I could always seek His forgiveness and kick in the I John 1:9 caveat! [Paraphrase: If I confess my sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.]

Voila! I’m clean again! Assured of Heaven!

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For those few of us who can admit that we’ve actually had thought processes like this, what a horrible presumption! How dare we try to 'play' God! Do we think He isn’t aware of this game? Do we think He isn’t all that concerned about our dalliance with sin? [Imagine God saying] “It’s ok, Hal. I see what you’re doing here and it really doesn’t bother Me that you’re playing frivolously with my grace!”

ARE YOU KIDDING?

God doesn’t like it when we play with His grace!

What a great time to reflect on the corruption and fickleness of the Old Testament children of Israel.

Their unfaithfulness and persistent rebellion is notorious!  Remember that God eventually had His own Temple destroyed by the Babylonians and watched as His people were carried away to Babylon – where they resided for the next seventy years!  All this took place after years of warnings from God’s prophets!

This is the whole story of the Old Testament: a rebellious people whose story ended without any authentic resolution! Their sinfulness triggered the end of the Old Covenant and revealed the need for a New Covenant!

But we think we can repeat the behavior of the Israelites and God will be okay with that!

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We know this! God loves and rewards FAITHFULNESS!

That’s why He was so pleased with Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Joseph, Moses, David [despite his well-known flaws], Samuel, and a whole host of prophets – even including some kings of Judah!

God is looking for those who will be faithful – not those who manipulate His grace!

Why not just stop it? Stop what?

How about this sin – repent, sin – repent, sin – repent, sin – repent pattern that has dominated your adult life for far too long!

Lay a firm foundation!

Consecrate yourself to a commitment!

Change your patterns!

Resolve to be God’s man or woman!

Conquer sin instead of playing with it!

It likely begins with a prayer like the following:

Kind and gracious God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

I’ve abused Your grace!

I’ve done it over and over – beyond counting!

It’s become a pattern in my life!

I know this displeases You!

I’m sorry!

Genuinely sorry!

But today – You’ve gotten my attention!

I want to be done with this atrocious behavior.

I don’t want to plan to sin…

or deliberately abuse Your wonderful grace!

I want to be an example of faithfulness.

I want to please You!

I know that I’ll always need forgiveness.

All of us do!

But I want to stop these thought-through,

fully aware of what I am doing,

playful flirtations with SIN!

I’ve disappointed You!

I’ve hurt You!

I’ve tried to use You!

I can do better.

I want to do better.

I plan to do better,

Though Your grace and help!

May my life and light shine for You!

AMEN! 

INTEGRITY: GOING, GOING, - GONE!

Years ago, my good friend - Chip Poole - shared a resource with me that he had worked up.  It was two pages that included his research into the word 'integrity'.  

Some of his observations:

"Integrity is NOT a title we can give ourselves, it is something that others must see in us."  

He started with Webster's definition of the word:  

• the quality or state of being complete;  unbroken condition; wholeness; entirety.
• the quality or state of being unimpaired; perfect condition; soundness.
• the quality or state of being of sound moral principle, uprightness, honesty and sincerity. 

He noted that the Latin root meant: untouched, whole and entire.  "It is where we get the word 'integer', which is a whole number with no fraction or decimal."

The crux of Chip's resolution was that:

"Integrity comes from God. To have integrity, we must be in a proper relationship with God.  Apart from God, wholeness, completeness and integrity are impossible."

"Nehemiah described Hananiah (his brother) as a man of integrity for one reason and one reason alone, because he 'feared God more than most men do.'"  [Nehemiah 7:2]

He also observed that after Job lost everything, he "did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing"  [Job 1:22].  His wife asked him, "How long will you hold on to your integrity, curse God and die."  Later in the book when Bildad verbally attacks him, Job responded: "I will never admit you are right.  Till I die, I will not deny my integrity" [Job 27:5].

Additionally, Chip recognized that Jesus was the perfect example of integrity.  "Teacher...we know You are a man of integrity and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.  You aren't swayed by men because You pay no attention to who they are" [Matthew 22:16 and Mark 12:14].  

To conclude his argument, Chip cited Titus 2:7-8 where we are instructed to live lives of integrity:

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

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I wholeheartedly agree with my friend's observations about integrity!  At the same time, I am greatly concerned that many followers of Christ are thoughtlessly compromising when it comes to integrity.  

I'll make myself subject to ridicule here by stating that the way we drive often calls our integrity into question [notice the collective 'we' in this observation]. Think:

• speed limits
• stop, then turn right at a red light
• actually stopping at stop signs

Then, of course, there are the taxes that we just filed in April...

Lots of us stretch the truth when we're telling stories.  We don't call it lying, we call it embellishing!

Naturally, all of us fill out job or loan applications with integrity!

I know!  Nitpicking!  C'mon, Hal, some of these things are just the normal practice for all people.  

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A few weeks ago, we received a letter regarding a class-action lawsuit being filed regarding the impact of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.  Our landlord has told us that we live within three miles of the incident 'as the crow flies'.  

We each read the letter and considered whether or not we should apply.  Together, we agreed that other than minor inconvenience and a few weeks of concern, we had not been directly impacted and discarded the letter.  

We watched in terror as the plume of smoke rose over East Palestine and blew to the northeast and east.  It did not come anywhere near our direction.  It was remarkable to me that within days someone from North Lima claimed that this smoke had killed some of her goats.  North Lima is 6-7 miles northwest of East Palestine - a direction that the wind rarely blows in our area!  

Recently, we were in a group where this was being discussed and relatively large/generous amounts were being mentioned as potential rewards for participating in this lawsuit.  Some expressed an eagerness to file a claim.

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How does integrity factor into your life?  

Do you choose the high road in the decisions that you make?

Is financial gain something that negates your integrity?

How about the private sins that we indulge in?  

Would you be comfortable with someone else seeing your 'search history'?

Fortunately, I'm not the judge of any of these issues.

I have my own life to look after.  I must do my best to maintain a walk with God that thoroughly impacts my life in all areas!  I am challenged by scripture to bring my decisions and actions into accord with the commands of God's Word and the guidance of His Holy Spirit!  

As one who has tried to maintain this walk for many decades, I can tell you that it is a challenge to do so!  

• we have to live counter-culturally [we turn a lot of TV shows off after fifteen minutes]
• we have to constantly monitor what we take in
• we must also monitor what we give out (even our choice of words)
• we must be vigilant about our behavior - no matter where we are
• with the tens of thousands of decisions we make every day, we must try to be consistently wise
• we must operate in awareness that others are watching and our influence has impact

But Hal, this sounds so all-consuming!  How can any person measure up?  

Believe me, I understand!  

But God never intended this process of living the Christian life [a life of integrity] to be exasperating!  He does not want us to be viewed as neurotic, hyper-focused, super-sensitive, living-statues of perfection.

God wants us to live a monumental life of freedom in Christ that daily remembers - and counts on - the fact that our daily discretions, misjudgments, distractions, rebellions can be forgiven if we just ask!  

In II Corinthians 3:3, the Apostle Paul refers to us as 'living letters' for others to read!  

Our mistakes, failures, rebellions, accomplishments, habits, conversation, example [plus so much more] is out there for others to see!  We are not perfect and will be the first to acknowledge that;  however, we strive to live our lives with an integrity that shines in the darkness of a distracted culture!  

To maintain consistency, we must walk with God and support one another!  The darker our culture gets, the brighter our lights will shine!    

MERE HUMAN BEINGS

 The Apostle Paul founded the Corinthian church and, after leaving to plant more churches in other cities, continued to correct it through his letters.  Scholars are quite certain that Paul wrote them at least four letters.  Sometimes, he's simply answering questions that they've asked.  However, in other places, he's clearly trying to correct their beliefs and behavior.  In I Corinthians 3, he is clearly expressing his disappointment in their lack of spiritual growth.

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?  [vs.1-4]

Paul is not happy with the Corinthians!  They are divided:

...there are quarrels among you.  What I mean is this:  One of you says, "I follow Paul";  another, "I follow Apollos";  another, "I follow Cephas [Peter];  still another, "I follow Christ."  Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Were you baptized into the name of Paul?  [I Corinthians 1:11b-13]

While Paul was among them, he gave them 'milk' - the elementary truths of the Gospel.  By now, they should be eating 'meat' - having matured and moved on to deeper truths and practices.  But instead, they have failed to grow and mature and are still drinking 'milk'.  Consequently, as their spiritual father, Paul chastises them for their spiritual adolescence.  

In doing so, he refers to them three times as mere men or mere human beings.  

God wants us to be SO MUCH MORE than mere human beings!

God has called us to be holy!  In Matthew 5:48, Jesus challenges us to Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Paul clearly admonishes that he expected the Corinthians to rise above petty arguments and dissensions.  By failing to do so, they besmirch the name of Christ!  

In II Corinthians 4:16-18, Paul tells them how to respond:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

 His advice here is clear and seems to involve two primary steps:

1. Allow yourself to be renewed day by day!  This means that just attending Sunday worship can't be expected to carry you through the week!  You must make a daily effort to allow the Holy Spirit to mold you, mend you, correct you and teach you.  Our feet are continually rooted to this earth!  We cannot change that.  We will always have human responses to the stimuli of our world.  We must give the Spirit of God regular opportunity to transform those responses and give us a divine perspective!  If we fail to do so - we will revert to being mere human beings!
2. Keep focused on your eternal destiny!  Like Larry Norman said in 1972, "I'm only visiting this planet!"  Our presence here is short - like the dot on the 'i' in 'infinity'.  We will spend ETERNITY in Heaven with our Lord - if we are faithful here!  Don't you see how important this daily renewing is?  In Colossians 3:2, this same Apostle Paul instructs us to set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things...When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.  WOO HOO!

Overly Generous God,

Help us to ignore the daily frustrations and temptations of politics, pandemics, and petty preferences!  Soon, we will be done with the troubles of this world.  Soon, and very soon, we are going to see the King!  We need to rise above these things and be more than mere human beings.  We are Christians - Christ Ones!  We live in daily (hourly) (moment-by-moment) dependence upon You!  

Only through daily renewal and keeping focused on Heaven can we rise above these worldly distractions and be the salt and light that You desire us to be!  Thank You for the Apostle Paul and his wisdom!  Thank You for Your Word as it has been preserved for over 2,000 years!  Thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit to live in us as a ready resource for living godly lives!  And thank You for Jesus and His saving grace and work of redemption!  

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.  Amen.

TRANSFORMATION #2 - CALLED TO BE HOLY!

 I love Paul's tact and strategy.  He begins his letter to the Corinthians by affirming and reminding them of some very important things:

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord and ours...[v.2]

Just a few verses later, he reminds them again that they are called:

 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.  [v.9]

Eugene Peterson - in THE MESSAGE - paraphrases verse two:

I send this letter to you in God's church at Corinth, Christians cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life.  [v.2]

Sanctified = cleaned up

Called = set apart for a God-filled life!

The Corinthians needed to be reminded of these facts.  So do we!

In his introduction to this letter, Peterson writes:

When people become Christians, they don't at the same moment become nice.  This always comes as something of a surprise.

Conversion to Christ and his ways doesn't automatically furnish a person with impeccable manners and suitable morals.

The people of Corinth had a reputation in the ancient world as an unruly, hard-drinking, sexually promiscuous bunch of people.  When Paul arrived with the Message and many of them became believers in Jesus, they brought their reputations with them right into the church.

Paul spent a year and a half with them as their pastor, going over the Message of the "good news" in detail, showing them how to live out this life of salvation and holiness as a community of believers.  Then he went on his way to other towns and churches.

Sometime later Paul received a report from one of the Corinthian families that in his absence things had more or less fallen apart.  He also received a letter from Corinth asking for help.  Factions had developed , morals were in disrepair, worship had degenerated into a selfish grabbing for the supernatural.  It was the kind of thing that might have been expected from Corinthians!

So, Paul writes them a letter - reminding them first of all that they were cleaned up by God and set apart to live God-filled lives!  

That's always the starting point!  I need to be reminded of these two things frequently.  Don't you?

Left to my own devices, atrophy sets in.  My nature - like a rubber band - tends to return to its natural position.  I need constant input to keep me growing and becoming.   The inputs that are most helpful to me include:

• reading the Word
• talking with God
• worship
• sacraments
• fellowship
• study
• acting out my faith
• meditation
• accountability

When I ignore these practices - I cease moving forward.  I become luke-warm.  I back-slide.  I need an intervention!

Paul's letters were interventions.  Fortunately for us, they've been preserved for two thousand years!  

Need an intervention in your life right now?  Open to I Corinthians and let the Apostle Paul speak into your heart!   

 

 

 

 

 

OLDER BROTHERS

In reading Luke 15, I did some creative meditating on the familiar story of  "The Prodigal Son."

One common way to make scripture applicable is to place yourself in the story.  I quickly identified myself in the role of the older brother.  I never wandered off into deep rebellion and defiance.  I was an obedient son.  I have stayed in the church throughout my whole life.  I even went to Sunday School and worship when I was at college!

So, what is the mindset of the older brother?

Words like jealous, angry, bitter, vindictive, uncaring, brooding, and moody come to mind. 

From the VOICE NEW TESTAMENT:  (vs.28-31)

The older brother got really angry and refused to come inside, so his father came out and pleaded with him to join the celebration.  But he argued back, "Listen, all these years I've worked hard for you.  I've never disobeyed one of your orders.  How many times have you even given me a little goat to roast for a party with my friends?  Not once!  This is not fair!  So this son of yours comes, this wasteful delinquent who has spent your hard-earned wealth on loose women, and what do you do?  You butcher the fattest calf from our herd!"

The father replied, "My son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours.  Isn't it right to join in the celebration and be happy?  This is your brother we're talking about.  He was dead and is alive again;  he was lost and is found again!"

You get to finish the story.  We're not told how it ends.  Did the older brother join the celebration?  Or did he stay outside and fume?

APPLICATION
As mature believers we have to be very careful not to become older brothers! 

• We must not allow ourselves to think that sinners should get what they have coming to them.  If God dealt with us that way, He'd send us straight to Hell!
• We must not allow ourselves to get to the place where we think our service for God has earned us a "goat to roast".  Our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  We can never earn what God has given us!
• We must not envy sinners!  The older brother hadn't even spoken with his younger sibling.  How did he know what kind of life he'd been living?  It sounds like he was jealous of the things he thought his brother was out there doing.  We must deal with any longings for sin that reside in us. 
• All the while, the older brother had been dutifully working the farm for his father.  When our faith becomes a duty instead of a service, we're heading down the wrong path!
• We must not hide our anger.  It seems that the older brother and his father had failed to cultivate an open and honest relationship.  The older brother seems inordinately angry that his father had never thrown a party for him.  Anger may be the favorite sin of old brothers.  But it's a self-righteous, self-justified anger.  There are a lot of mature believers out there who are holding grudges against God!

As we mature in our faith, God wants to do a deeper work in our lives.  His goal is to make us increasingly like Himself!

CORRUPTION

Psalm 53:2-3 (NASB)
God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God.  Every one of them has turned aside;  together they have become corrupt;  there is no one who does good, not even one.

I read a story this morning about Billy Graham making some anti-Semitic  remarks to President Richard Nixon many years ago.  These remarks were picked up in a recording and reported.  Dr. David McKenna writes:  "One can envision Billy Graham, the North Carolina farm boy, being seduced by the power of the Oval Office and for a moment losing the prophetic voice that would have dared to refute the president of the United States."

However, Graham immediately admitted he was wrong, repented of his words, and asked forgiveness.  In addition, he disciplined himself by limiting the subject of any presidential audience to prayer and spiritual counsel.  A wise decision!

How do you handle the sin that creeps into your life?  We are all sinners.  God struggles to find one of us who is living life His way! 

The real issue seems to be how we handle indiscretions.  Are we quick to repent?  Do we apologize to God and others?  Do we set guards to keep it from happening again? 

These are the actions that lead us to long-term holiness!  That's what I'm seeking - how about you?

Right Between The Eyes

Last night I read the book Radical, by David Platt.  On page 127 I read this line and knew I was going to have to change my life:  "God has given us excess, not so we could have more, but so we could give more."

Before that, Platt states:  "...if you and I have running water, shelter over our heads, clothes to wear, food to eat, and some means of transportation (even if it's public transportation), then we are in the top 15 percent of the world's people for wealth" (pp.114-115).

This was not new information to me;  I'd read this before.  But somehow, Platt got my attention - or was it God?

This blog is my notice:  I'm taking Platt's challenge to live for a year by the following standard:

1. I will pray for the entire world.
2. I will read through the entire Word.
3. I will sacrifice my money for a specific purpose.
4. I will spend time in another context.
5. I will commit my life to a multiplying community.

Tonight, I will begin to re-read Radical, with Debbie!

God, help me to live with eternity's values in view!