Why Do Christians Commit Public Sins?

(As opposed to heart sins)

We would all acknowledge that a true disciple of Christ has the potential while in this flesh to do anything that this flesh is capable of doing. But why would we?

·         Why would any Christian, much less a respected preacher of the gospel of grace, be unfaithful to his spouse?

·         Why would any Christian choose to live in the fantasy world of lust and pornography?

·         Why would a Christian binge eat, or turn to alcohol or drugs to escape emotional pain or loneliness?

·         Why would a Christian isolate himself in pity and spiral into a pit of depression?

·         Why would a Christian slander another, accuse falsely, or gossip?

Why do we do it?

·         Is it because we are living under such an understanding of grace that we know that we will be forgiven and therefore we don’t fight the strong urges or pull of sinful tendencies?

·         Is it because we have a view of the cross of Jesus Christ that liberates us in our spirit from the need or desire to fight the temptation of the world, flesh and devil?

·         Is it because we have immersed our minds in the teaching that essentially says God loves everything and hates nothing? He is angry with no one? Go ahead…God doesn’t care?

·         Is it because we justify our choices? (It is amazing the way the mind can work to give green light!)

Example: God knows I am but flesh. I am sure He understands. Surely He doesn’t expect me to lose out on fun, excitement, relief, etc.…I just can’t handle all the pressure – I’m only human!

Example: she did such and such which caused me to do such and such (Adam/Eve syndrome).

Why do we do it?

·         Peter says (1Pe 1:5) we are kept by the power of God through faith. Faith connects to the power of God.

·         A basic reason why Christians make sinful choices…especially sinful choices that are public in nature: we forget about our relationship to God!  This is a manifestation of unbelief.

• When we choose to sin, especially openly, are not living by faith! Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1Jn 5:4); faith is the conduit that unites us with God in a daily practical way!
• When our heart/devotion is divided, regardless of past accomplishments in our Christian walk or present status in the church, we are headed for a fall.

Consider one who didn’t do it: Joseph – Genesis 39:7-10.

·         Joseph’s circumstances were rotten. Mistreated. Disrespected. And now, in a position of respect in his master’s house, he is desired by his master’s wife! Why didn’t he give in? Why didn’t he do it?

• Respect for his master. Relationship to the sovereign God he trusted (45:5;50:20). Recognition of sin.
• Joseph had a heart that was devoted to God! That’s where resistance to temptation begins.

·         If we will live with Joseph’s awareness of God’s sovereign rule and care, we will not choose sin as the remedy or solution for any of life’s needs or desires, no matter how difficult the circumstances!

·         If we do choose to sin, especially sins of public nature, do not offer justifying excuses! Take responsibility. It’s no one’s fault but our own!

• If we speak, talk like David, Against thee, thee only have I sinned (Ps. 51)…When confronted, he didn’t blame Bathsheba for bathing on top of her house! His was the sin – against God first!
• If we speak, talk about grief for being a stumbling-block to the world who is evaluating God and Christians in light of our sin.
• There is forgiveness, even of the most egregious sins. But temporal consequences are often deep.

What will keep YOU from doing it? (whatever sin IT might be in your life)

1. Live life (all of it; everyday) in relationship with God through Jesus Christ who gave His life for you.

2. Remember that your sinful choices (some more than others) can bring great shame upon the truth and the God of truth: 2 Peter 2:2; 1 Peter 2:12.

PRAYER SHOULD BE JOY

PRAYER SHOULD BE JOY, NOT DRUDGERY

My Thoughts Provoked by Mike Reeves

(http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/the-holy-spirit-and-christian-living/getting-stuck-in/how-to-enjoy-your-prayer-life.htm)

What is prayer to you? Is it merely something you do, along with many other “Christian” things? Is it part of the Christian check list, something you do to get it done? Or, is it truly an expression of your relationship to God…do you pray as dependent ones who are actually relating to God?

Prayer requires and assumes a relationship: Luke 11:2, Our Father… We know there is no access to God without a qualified High Priest: Hebrews 4:14-16. Approaching God apart from Jesus (in Jesus’ name) is to approach Him only as Almighty Judge. Approaching God through Jesus is to know and approach Him as our Father.*

Our access to God is not merely to give a list of petitions. We are approaching our Father. We are part of His family: adopted by His grace, He chose to include us.

God has manifested Himself to be relational through the dependence the Son expressed upon His Father while He was on earth. John especially emphasizes this point throughout his gospel account: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: (John 5:19; see also 8:19,29). The relationship that we observe between Jesus and His Father while He was on earth is the nature of our relationship to God through the Son: John 17:20-23. Prayer is engaging in this most intimate relationship. Prayer is enjoying what the Son has always enjoyed: communion with the Father! (Note: this is not to say we cannot speak to the Son and the Spirit who are equally God, but that our primary attention in prayer is to the Father.)

Prayer requires faith (John Calvin said it is the “chief exercise of faith.”): not simply believing that what we ask will be given, but that as we speak we believe we are heard by God as our Father. We have nothing to prove to Him. The Son has satisfied all that is needed to engage in this relationship. We have the right to be called the sons of God because of Jesus Christ. When we pray there is no need to convince God that He should hear us. We’ve been adopted. We are going to our Father.

Jesus wants us to think this way as we pray. Listen Jesus’ words recorded by Luke (11:5-13): And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The Father will not refuse good things/needs to his children who cry out to Him: ask, seek, and knock. In the context of teaching the disciples how to pray, Jesus speaks about an earthly father’s kindness to his child. Our Father in heaven is incomparably kind! What greater gift can He give than Himself? Luke 11:13, tells us that He will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. If He gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask, what lesser good gift will He withhold? You can go to Him at any time, for every need, and for any reason, as a child would go to a father. Jesus wants us to think of prayer this way! Our Father…

Apply the command to pray without ceasing to this relationship aspect of prayer. Why would we not frequently go to our Father in prayer if we really believe He has brought us into such a familial relationship? Why would it be a drudgery to pray? Could it be that we think our relationship to God, and His response to us, depends upon us? Or, perhaps we think that praying is a futile attempt to get God’s attention? But, if we think of prayer as we should (Our Father), we can go into His presence in prayer with thanksgiving and joy! We can and should view prayer as a joyful privilege, not a dutiful drudgery.

________

*The distinction between God as our Father and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ must always be understood. Our relationship to Him as Father depends upon the eternal relationship of the Son to the Father. So, if we say “my Father” in the personal and intimate communion with God we have in common with all saints, we must not forget the unique relationship that is eternal between the Father and the Son, Who is only begotten.

Decision-Making as a Christian

Decision-Making as a Christian:

Five Questions

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  –Col 3:17

Some things are clear from God’s Word: thou shalt not steal, kill, or commit adultery, etc..  But some things are not so clearly stated. What about the ordinary lifestyle choices we make every day?  How do we work out how to live daily in a biblical way?

The Christian life is not about following man-made rules.  It is about setting our minds upon the Lord Jesus Christ: all of life flows from our relationship with Him.  Joined to Christ by faith we have died to the law, which could only condemn us, and we are liberated from the principle of sin that used to control us.  Our union with Christ is like a marriage, and just as a marriage produces children, so our union with Christ will produce a lifestyle of godly choices.

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.  –Rom 7:4

Unless we are in union with Christ by faith, our best efforts will only amount to good moral choices, but will not be acceptable fruit unto God.

Grace teaches us to abandon self-effort to obtain righteousness that will justify us before God and trust in the righteousness of God found in Jesus Christ alone.  Grace continues to teach us to depend on the Spirit of Christ to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.  If Christ is your life, your life will show it.  You will walk in Him.  He will be the reason you live.

You will not be focused on do’s and don’ts, but upon Him.  You will not be asking how far you can go, how close to the edge you can get.  If Christ is the center of your life, all else orbits around Him.  God’s will does not feel restrictive—it is your delight.

You have one Master, and every decision must be submitted to His Lordship.   For the submissive heart, knowing the will of God is first.  Glad obedience follows, even when it is not what you might have originally desired.

Sometimes questions are asked of me as a pastor: Should I work on Sunday? Should my wife work outside the home? Should I watch a particular movie . . . or any movie?  Should I listen to this band or that group?  Should I read this book?  Should I drink this beverage, smoke this plant, or wear these clothes?

Every word and every deed needs to be laid before the Lord.  When faced with decisions like these, there are five questions that will help toward a godly answer:

Does God have ANYTHING to say about it? Does Scripture in any way address this issue?  You might not know the Word of God well enough to answer. It is helpful to obtain wise counsel from other believers who have a better knowledge of the Word.  Bible study tools, such as the Strong’s concordance, are useful as well.

If not forbidden, is this lawful thing beneficial?  Not everything that is allowed is helpful:  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient” —   I Cor. 6:12a.  Is it helpful?  Is it necessary?

Does this lawful thing have a hold on me?  Am I controlled by it?  Can I give it up?  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any –I Cor. 6:12b.

How will this affect fellow believers?  It is good neither to eat flesh, or to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.—

Rom 14:21  Devotion to Christ changes our perspective—it’s not all about me anymore:

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.—Rom 15:1-3

If our choice might affect another believer in a negative way, we should model Christ and deny ourselves.

How will this decision affect my testimony for Christ?  Will doing this affect my ability to be taken seriously as a follower of Christ in my culture? Will this affect my effectiveness in speaking  about the gospel so that others might be saved?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.—I Cor 10:31-33

If Christ is your life, you will care how you live!

What Would Love Say?

SPEAK TRUTH IN LOVE

I recently read an article in a Christian publication (http://christiannews.net/2012/11/18/franklin-graham-mormonism-will-never-be-labeled-a-cult-again/) dealing with Franklin Graham’s decision to remove a note from their website that named Mormonism as a cult. His decision was not made because he believes their doctrine is sound, but because he didn’t want to shut the door to possibly ministering to a Mormon. In his opinion, to call them names (classifying them as a cult) is not helpful in keeping dialogue open.

In that same article John McArthur spoke:

[Mormonism] is a damning religious system,… It is so far from Christianity that it is more like paganism than Christianity.

Evangelicalism is in a desperate situation, and that is made manifest by its inability to distinguish who is a true Christian. We have abandoned any clear understanding of what it means to really be saved… We have no right to redefine [salvation] in our own terms in order to be be popular or in order to be accepted. True and historic Christianity has never been confused about what it means to be a Christian.

I am of the opinion that in our attempts to keep doors open and practice love, we have in fact shut doors and done anything but demonstrate true Biblical love. To muddy the waters of pure gospel truth with the idea that it is possible to have eternal life apart from the righteousness of God through His eternal Son, Jesus Christ, plus nothing, is to shut the door upon eternal life and to act in a most unloving manner.

How can it be construed as love to hide or confuse the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to keep dialogue open? Dialogue about what? What does such thinking hope to accomplish? Was Jesus unloving when He told the religious, well-meaning, Nicodemus that he must be born again? Would it have been more loving for Him to have encouraged Nicodemus to continue in his religious pursuits, just as he was?

The most loving things we can do for others is to lovingly communicate the truth! Eternity hangs in the balance. For those with whom we have already shared the gospel truth, we should live out that gospel in our relation to them. Do not bend your life to accommodate their wishes. Live your life with purpose to distinguish yourself as a Spirit-filled believer. 

The Spirit of truth blesses truth! Speak it and live it!

Will You Murmur?

NO REASON FOR CHRISTIANS TO MURMUR

There is no greater joy in this life than to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. What joy there ought to be in every person who knows his sins against a holy God who made him are all forgiven because of the sacrifice of His Son upon the cross. Yet, often times Christians murmur and complain as much as anyone else.

Thomas Brooks, a well-known preacher in his day (17^th century ) in England, wrote a book to instruct Christians on how to properly face sufferings and trials of life. The following is an excerpt from that book. Christians reading this will understand what Mr. Brooks is saying and will hopefully be positively impacted. To non-Christians, I offer an apology that we Christians have been all too guilty of murmuring!

And will you murmur?
Is not Christ your treasure?

Is not heaven your inheritance—

and will you murmur?

Have you not much in hand, and more in hope? 

Have you not much in possession, but much more reserved in heaven—

and will you murmur?

Has not God given you. . .

     a changed heart, 

     a renewed nature, and

     a sanctified soul—

and will you murmur?

            Has He not given you. . .

     Himself to satisfy you,

     His Son to save you,

     His Spirit to lead you,

     His grace to adorn you,

     His covenant to assure you,

     His mercy to pardon you,

     His righteousness to clothe you—

and will you murmur?

Has He not made you. . .

     a friend,

     a son,

     a brother,

     a bride,

     an heir—

and will you murmur?

Has not God often turned. . .

     your water into wine,

     your brass into silver, and

     your silver into gold—

and will you murmur?

When you were dead, did not He quicken you?

When you were lost, did not He seek you?

When you were wounded, did not He heal you?

When you were falling, did not He support you?

When you were down, did not He raise you?

When you were staggering, did not He establish you?

When you were erring, did not He correct you?

When you were tempted, did not He support you? and

When you went in dangers, did not He deliver you?—

and will you murmur?

What! You who are so highly advanced and exalted above many thousands in the world? Murmuring suits none so badly as saints.

Love and Faith

FAITH-BASED  LOVE

We sing, Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free, as if we really believe it. At times it rolls off our tongues from a heart that is swelling with the sense of that amazing love. But then, there are those times when we are only mouthing the words. The sense is gone.

Should you speak of His love for you only when you feel it? Should you speak of your love for Him only when you feel it?

Is the depth of God’s love for you determined by your sense of it? Is your response to God’s love for you determined by your sense or your level of emotional connection to His love for you?

Could it be that keeping yourself in the love of God (Jude 20) has more to do with faith than feelings? And, could it be that as feelings fluctuate, faith keeps you consistently responding to His love which you have come to know and appreciate, and which you prayerfully seek to comprehend more fully (Eph. 3:18,19)? And then as you dwell upon that love that you know by faith, is it possible that emotions will follow that will increase your delight in Him, and motivate you toward more fervent devotion to Him and service for Him?  (2 Corinthians 5:14)

As you think about this concept of relating to God’s love with the kind of consistency that faith produces, perhaps you can apply it to your human relationships. Your love for one another, and especially your love for your spouse, is to mirror God’s love for you, and your response to His love.  It is the Spirit of God who places this love in our hearts (Rom. 5:5; Gal. 5:22).

So, should you say to your wife, I love you deeply, even though your emotions or feelings are not necessarily connecting with that concept at the moment? Remember, God’s love for you is not simply an emotional statement. God’s love has been, and is, demonstrated! Thus, if you are loving as He loves, you should say and do, whether you feel it or not! In fact, if you say you love her deeply and then treat her in unloving ways, you words are mere words.

Thankfully, God’s love for us is more than mere words! Neither is He void of emotion. May the love He has made known to you through faith be manifested in your relation to others, especially your spouse.         

What is in a Greeting?

GO AHEAD, TRY IT!

I was recently confronted with a thought in a chapter of Love Dare (Kendrick, P&H Publishing Group), which addressed the matter of greeting your spouse. My thoughts expanded beyond simply greeting my spouse. Think about it with me.

The word translated “salute” and “greet” in our AV is found 49 times in the NT. At the close of several of Paul’s letters he gives a list of folks that he wished to be greeted. He often sent a general greeting from a church or churches. Friendly and kind relationships seemed important to Paul.

Jesus informs us that greeting your enemy is an evidence of genuine love: Matt. 5:47.

§  Jesus assumes that we will greet our closer relations, either bio-family or spiritual family.

§  Greeting others is a simple way to demonstrate love. Everybody can do it!

Four times in Scripture we find the direct exhortation to greet one another!

Ro 16:16  Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

1Co 16:20  All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

2Co 13:12  Greet one another with an holy kiss.

1Pe 5:14  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus.

Greeting is the introduction to a relationship – this is where each personal interaction begins.

§  Paul and Peter agree that Christians especially should be guided by a holy affection for one another.

§  When we come together, there ought to be a spirit of love guiding us, which is manifested by a kind and affectionate greeting.

§  Our holy kiss may be a hand shake, or an hello with a smile and eye contact! There should be the sense communicated that we care, are engaged and find some satisfaction in relating as brothers and sisters in Christ.

§  Spirit produced fruit of love enables us to overcome fleshly weakness and self-focus to engage others primarily for their sake, not our own. (Phil. 2:4)

·       A proper greeting expresses interest in another.

·       A proper greeting opens the door for the possibility of meaningful conversation.

·       A proper greeting may be an encouragement to the one you are greeting! (We all know how it feels to receive a cold, aloof, and indifferent sort of greeting from someone.)

§  What if they don’t respond with equal affection? Love does not act based upon response – your demonstration of love, consistently demonstrated, honors Christ and will have positive effect.

Thinking about how we greet one another forces us to think beyond ourselves!

§  Forces our minds out of our small, limited world to consider the person we are meeting.

§  Forces our minds to think about how we might positively interact to God’s glory with others.

There are times in which our countenance betrays our pain, trouble, sorrow, difficulty, etc..  In such case, we need the affectionate greeting and attention of others. But this should not be the rule of our lives!

If greet one another with affectionate kindness is important in relation to brethren in Christ, and greeting our enemies with kindness a display of genuine love, how much more should this apply to our spouses?

§  How do you greet your spouse in the morning, on the phone, or upon returning home at night?                   

§  Do you think your spouse is encouraged by your greeting? Do you think he/she anticipates your show of kindness in your greeting? Do you look forward to a kiss reserved ONLY for him/her?

We all might be surprised at the improvement our relationships might enjoy if we took this simple Christian instruction seriously: greet one another with an holy kiss. Go ahead, try it! I dare you!