Category: Righteousness

  • Avoid Rabbit Trails – Remember what the church is called to do

    Young Cottontail rabbit on grass

    Often, we get sidetracked on our walk with the Lord and pulled down any number of rabbit trails. It can even start with good things, but before long, we find ourselves tangled in the brush, covered in scratches, and wondering which way to turn next. We may even have completely lost sight of both our original goal and the path back.

    We can get lost in arguing about unimportant doctrines and practices. Now, before you get your hackles up, let me assure you that I am all for sound doctrine and wish that the “average Christian in the pew” knew what they believed and why they believed it better than they do. There is an appalling level of biblical illiteracy and doctrinal weakness within the church as a whole.

    Having said that, there are many divisions within the church over unimportant and trivial matters. While admonishing Timothy about sticking to sound doctrine, he also warned him about foolish arguments.

    Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:23-26 ESV

    In all likelihood, the Lord does not care what color the sanctuary carpet and walls are. Yet many churches have been decimated by arguments over such things. Should the pastor weigh a suit, a robe, or blue jeans? Again, I suspect the Lord probably does not care if the truth is being proclaimed and people are being drawn to Him. Yet, I know pastors who have been admonished because their shoes were not shiny enough.

    Another is the exact timing and nature of the second coming. Will we be raptured? If so, when? This is great material for discussion and has strong opinions from all sides. Ultimately, we will not know until He comes back or we join Him in the air. So why do we not accept it as an area where good and godly people can disagree?

    Bible translations are yet another. Oh, I can already feel the hate mail being typed. Some translations are superior to others, and a translation beats a paraphrase hands down (for accuracy, although not always for ease of reading) … yet even a poor paraphrase that is being read beats no Scripture or a great translation that sits on the shelf gathering dust. Yet churches divide over such things. Lighten up people! Jesus never spoke a word of English during his entire life on earth. All translations are people’s best efforts to be faithful to the truth.

    Let us stick to winning people to Jesus, ministering to them, equipping them to minister, and sending them out. Let us not wander into the rabbit trail of foolish arguments and, in avoiding those trails, avoid the snares of the devil.

    Until next time, as someone once said, “Remember to keep the main thing the main thing.”

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Self – the source of our problems

    Man wearing a blindfold that says SELF

    A familiar passage in the gospels warns of the  dangers of self-righteousness.

    He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14 ESV

    Hopefully, most believers understand that our salvation is solely based on the completed work of Christ by grace and faith. Yet self-righteousness is a trap we can all easily fall into.

    We do it when we want to deny the effects of our own sin, thinking, “Well, yes, I do that, but at least I’m not as bad as someone else.”

    The battle against self is the greatest one we will ever face. Self is the source of all sin. Adam and Eve wanted to be like God. 

    Jesus’ brother, James, puts it this way.

    Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:13-15 ESV

    Our sinful nature is selfish. This is compounded by the fact that we live in a fallen world that encourages us to be self-centered and follow our sin-filled hearts. Giving into temptation is glorified as a victory and our right. That thinking is straight from the pit of hell and smells like smoke.

    To battle self, let us fix our eyes upon Jesus. The Holy Spirit strengthens us, and the Word encourages and directs us.

    Lord Jesus, teach us to understand who we are in you and to live accordingly. Help us set aside our old, self-reliant ways and guard us from sin.

    Until next time, may you be ever more like Jesus.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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