Call It As It Is… According to the Bible

       I have a problem.  I do not like to admit I am wrong.  Mind you, I will do so if I am wrong, but if I believe I’m not wrong, I can’t say that I am because that would be lying, and I hate lying, falsehood, deception, etc.  Never could tell my kids less than the truth even about Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc, and when I had cancer, despite the fact they were only ten, I had to tell them the danger of my surgery because I couldn’t promise them I’d survive when it’s impossible to know for sure.  Instead, I told them the likelihood of survival.

Some sins we justify... there are many we don't consider sins.

       Do I sin?  Yep.  Everyday.  Sorry for those of you who think I’m perfect… :P but I’m not.  I sin.  I get angry and it isn’t always for unrighteousness.  Sometimes I don’t do what God tells me to do.  There are times I still swear.  It doesn’t bother me to say sin is sin, even if it is in me.  But have you ever noticed we have changed the acceptance of sin as sin?

       We aren’t breaking the law, we are just ‘going with the traffic’ or ‘within acceptable limits’ over to not incur a ticket.  We aren’t oppressing people, we are ‘asserting our authority’ in a controlling way.  We aren’t lying, we are ‘protecting people’s right to privacy’ when we just want to hide the naked truth.  THIS IS THE WORLD SYSTEM! 

       When the church accepts the world’s way of speaking, thinking, believing, dealing with things, it is not good.  The Bible is our ultimate source of truth and we should live according to the teachings in it.  Sin is sin no matter the reason, and attempting to justify it for any reason, or call it by a different name will not make it less a sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. 1Jh. 1:8-10

Abstain from every appearance of evil. 1Th. 5:22

        If there is a relationship problem between two people it is highly unlikely there is no sin on one of the two.  But wait you say, he committed adultery.  True but perhaps you failed to meet his needs, love as you ought, etc.  Got let go at work- tell people you were downsized but neglect to admit you were caught ‘borrowing’ supplies from work.

       The problem with not calling sin a sin is that we deceive ourselves.  We can only find forgiveness when we confess, to the Lord (and others).  If we act like we’ve not sinned by using other terminology, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us.  And Jesus is the Word.  If He is not in us, we are not saved.

Be careful not to live like the world!

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Rm. 12:2

Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. Cl. 2:8

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ep. 5:11

The Kindness of Strangers

       So busy, and I’m so tired, but this is better told while it is fresh, well, alive anyway, in my mind.  Yesterday I had to drive four hours out of town with my mom to go to the memorial for my in-laws dad when we knew and loved.  So we packed up and left around 2:30 pm and were about an hour out when I realized an unsettling thing.  I had forgotten the name of the place it was to be held.  For me it wasn’t as simple as contacting someone.

       Hubby was sleeping after midnights, sister was at job, other sisters long distance which I have no coverage for on my prepaid, and worst of all, I was with my mom who overly stresses about stuff like that.  So instead of telling her I mulled it over for the next hour figuring out who to text that could get back to me quickly- no one.

       Okay wifi would work since I was on the highway and there are service stations and I could retrieve the information from my gmail- nope, don’t have any device to use with wifi.  Perhaps I could beg one of the managers to let me use their computer- blech, didn’t like that choice.  The only option I felt I had was asking around to see if someone would allow me to use their device.

       My mom wondered why we were stopping.  I had to tell her so I braced for the worst.  Instead of negativity, all I got was a lack of technological understanding- they have wifi so you can find out, right?  There weren’t too many in the station, but there was a foreign looking older man on a computer.  I was concerned about communication and the fact he looked like he was working.  Then, just sitting down, another man pulled out a computer.

       I calmly walked over and said, “Hi, I know I’m a stranger and all, but I’m in a bit of a fix.  My mom and I are going to a funeral and I left the place and address at home.  Would you allow me to access my gmail from your computer?”  It took him a few minutes to figure out how to sign out of gmail so I could go in.

Do not withhold good...

       When I checked my account the two emails pertaining to the memorial place and time were missing.  I knew I didn’t delete them, move them or put them in different tabs.  I checked my server’s web mail to no effect.  I expressed my disappointment and Mike asked why I didn’t call.  I told him the issue with my phone.  He let me use his phone and probably his minutes.  Then he found the place on an online map.  A total stranger… yet so kind.  (Thank you Mike!)  It reminded me of two verses of Scripture:

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. Pr. 3:27

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Jm. 4:17 ESV

Get a Little Closer…

       There was a time when I was interested in dating Albert (now my hubby).  Back then I would try to spend as much time with him in amongst the friends.  Often I would physically get closer to hear him, to speak with him, and to ‘accidentally’ touch him.  It felt good/ exciting to be close to him and as I did so, we became better friends.  Eventually we began to date, got engaged and married.  It is now 25+ years later.

       God isn’t just interested in our service, worship and talents, but He actually wants to be more intimate (close, dear, cherished, personal) with us.  There is a reason Adam and Eve didn’t flip out when God came to walk with them in the garden.  It’s because they were used to walking with Him.  He wanted to be with them so He spent time with them face to face!

       God continued to try to get through what He really wanted from people.  He wants us to know Him and draw near to Him.  These are most important for when we truly know Him we will WANT to follow Him, be like Him in every way possible, and love Him more- proven by putting Him first, loving others and using the gifts He’s given us. 

    that I may know Him… Php. 3:10

…everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. 1Jh. 4:7

So says Jehovah, Do not let the wise glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty glory in his might; do not let the rich glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me… Jr. 9:23,24

 

       That we may know Him… understand Him…  Just like with Albert when I kept trying to get closer to hear him better, speak with him and get close enough to ‘touch’, the Lord wants us to draw near to Him, and we should want to do this.  If we don’t, we should question our Christianity.  We should be crying out like Job, “Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!” (23:3)

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, double-minded ones. Jm.. 4:8 
    (not this- which incurred judgment) …this people draw near me with their mouth, and with
    their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me… Is. 29:13

       Draw near means to bring near or join one thing to another, to approach.  (using analysis of verbs) The subjects (plural- you) are entreated or commanded to draw near, cleanse and purify as an act of our own volition/ choice. As a result the Lord states what He will do, what will be as a fact or certainty.  Isn’t that awesome?

If you seek Him, He will be found by you. 
1Ch. 28:9