I didn’t have a friend in the world. That’s how I felt as a boy. And it hurt.
People I loved let me down. I was blamed and punished for things I didn’t do. As a result I felt unloved, rejected and alone. Like I didn’t have a friend and no one understood the real me.
In a perfect world people wouldn’t treat me like that. But we live in an imperfect world. One in which virtually every problem in our lives can be traced back to one root cause: Sin.
“Now hold on just a minute! We’re modern people. Who’s to say what sin is or causes?”
Great question! And the answer is God.
One reason the Bible was written was to help us understand how humankind got in the mess we’re in. Then it offers the only real solution that works every time it’s used.
To solve the problem, we must get at the sin behind the bad behavior. And then use the gospel of Jesus Christ on it. But that proves difficult because it is painfully self-incriminating.
Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher and theologian, offered a good explanation of the sin underneath our sinful behavior. He said in “Sickness Unto Death” that sin is building your identity on anything but God.
That’s why the first of the Ten Commandments in the Bible is “You shall have no other gods before me.” And the second commandment adds, “You shall not make for yourself an idol.”
Why did God say that? Was it because he didn’t want us to have freedom of choice? No.
God knows that if we allow something else to be the focus of our affections, if we seek the main source of our life, happiness, and self-worth in anything but him, we will be disappointed.
Most of us fancy ourselves to be modern people. The idea of an “idol” sounds so primitive. However, we all have idols. Not some little statue or image we worship but something that is more important to us than anything else.
For some it’s money or sports. For others it’s another person’s approval. It could be pleasure or power—controlling others—that makes them feel alive and secure.
Everyone at some basic level thinks, “If I had that, if I did that, if I chose that, then my life would be worth living. Then I will feel alive.” And that thing is the main idol of your life. You adore it. It brings you pleasure. You worship it.
Whatever that thing is for you, you’ll need to have it and it will enslave you. If you actually get it, it won’t completely satisfy you. And if you fail it--it will curse you the rest of your life.
Do you remember the Bible story about the rich young man who came to Jesus? He said he had kept all the commandments. (Read about it in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 19.)
What a great disciple or church member he would have made! But he left Jesus. Why?
He was disappointed because Jesus told him, “‘If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
What was Jesus saying? That he needed to be more generous, more charitable? No. Jesus knew that his god, his idol, his security and his savior were all wrapped up in his wealth. And until he gave up its hold on him, Jesus could never be his Lord and Savior.
Jesus Christ is the only master that satisfies. And if you fail him, he died on the cross to forgive your sin. Your idols can’t do that. No one else can die on the cross for your sin.
I believe Jesus would say to us today, “Give up your false gods. Then come, follow me.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Inner Beast
Every week the news gets more grim. What’s going on in America?
“Sunday School Teacher Abducts, Abuses and Murders Daughter’s Friend.” “Medical Student Robs and Kills Women.” “Murder-Suicide Discovered in Maryland Hotel.”
Troubling headlines like these make us doubt the goodness of humankind. Until these events, the alleged perpetrators seemed normal to many of their friends. What’s wrong with people?
What’s wrong is human nature! If we’re honest with ourselves, we must all admit that we have an “inner beast” whose bent is evil and not good.
“Now hold on for just a minute! Aren’t most people basically good at heart?”
Many people think so, but the evidence is quite to the contrary. And if we ignore the obvious we do ourselves a disservice. As author Joel C. Rosenberg observes, “To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it.”
In “The Heavy Bear Who Goes With Me,” poet Delmore Schwartz implies that being human has a beastly side to it. The poem shows us a violent and unflattering picture of humanity.
The “Heavy Bear” represents both our bodies and the uncivilized primitive core of the human personality. It is the “id” of Freud, the “unconscious mind” of psychologists and the hard-to-control brute within each one of us. And it is always with us.
Saints and poets through the ages have chronicled the endless struggle between the flesh and the spirit. And nowhere in modern verse has this struggle been portrayed with greater power than it is in “The Heavy Bear.”
The amazing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that God can tame your “inner beast.” But not everyone wants to be tamed. Why? Because there is a frightening, intoxicating exhilaration to venting our rage and indulging our evil side.
Now go back and read the headlines above. Ponder the damage and destruction wrought by human wrath. Think of the lives and property ruined every year.
The inner beast needs taming. But how?
Lasting inner peace is the solution. And that peace has only one source--God.
The Apostle Paul writes in the Bible, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And once you have peace WITH God he adds, “The peace OF God…will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Paul knew whereof he spoke. He was a former religious zealot and a murderer of Christians (by his own admission). But then he became a compassionate evangelist following a personal encounter with the risen Christ. And he was not alone.
After warning Christians, “the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God,” Paul adds, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified [made holy], you were justified [made righteous], in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
God alone has an amazing track record of taking angry, violent, evil, hopeless people and turning them into saints. The Bible is full of such success stories. Read it sometime.
While we can’t personally do much about the grim headlines we hear, we can do something about our own “inner beasts.” God offers the only solution that works every time it’s tried.
God says “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Saved from sin and saved from your “beast.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
“Sunday School Teacher Abducts, Abuses and Murders Daughter’s Friend.” “Medical Student Robs and Kills Women.” “Murder-Suicide Discovered in Maryland Hotel.”
Troubling headlines like these make us doubt the goodness of humankind. Until these events, the alleged perpetrators seemed normal to many of their friends. What’s wrong with people?
What’s wrong is human nature! If we’re honest with ourselves, we must all admit that we have an “inner beast” whose bent is evil and not good.
“Now hold on for just a minute! Aren’t most people basically good at heart?”
Many people think so, but the evidence is quite to the contrary. And if we ignore the obvious we do ourselves a disservice. As author Joel C. Rosenberg observes, “To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it.”
In “The Heavy Bear Who Goes With Me,” poet Delmore Schwartz implies that being human has a beastly side to it. The poem shows us a violent and unflattering picture of humanity.
The “Heavy Bear” represents both our bodies and the uncivilized primitive core of the human personality. It is the “id” of Freud, the “unconscious mind” of psychologists and the hard-to-control brute within each one of us. And it is always with us.
Saints and poets through the ages have chronicled the endless struggle between the flesh and the spirit. And nowhere in modern verse has this struggle been portrayed with greater power than it is in “The Heavy Bear.”
The amazing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that God can tame your “inner beast.” But not everyone wants to be tamed. Why? Because there is a frightening, intoxicating exhilaration to venting our rage and indulging our evil side.
Now go back and read the headlines above. Ponder the damage and destruction wrought by human wrath. Think of the lives and property ruined every year.
The inner beast needs taming. But how?
Lasting inner peace is the solution. And that peace has only one source--God.
The Apostle Paul writes in the Bible, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And once you have peace WITH God he adds, “The peace OF God…will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Paul knew whereof he spoke. He was a former religious zealot and a murderer of Christians (by his own admission). But then he became a compassionate evangelist following a personal encounter with the risen Christ. And he was not alone.
After warning Christians, “the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God,” Paul adds, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified [made holy], you were justified [made righteous], in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
God alone has an amazing track record of taking angry, violent, evil, hopeless people and turning them into saints. The Bible is full of such success stories. Read it sometime.
While we can’t personally do much about the grim headlines we hear, we can do something about our own “inner beasts.” God offers the only solution that works every time it’s tried.
God says “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Saved from sin and saved from your “beast.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Dirty Secrets
Do you have a “Dirty Little Secret?”
Many people do. But to do the equivalent of spring-cleaning in your soul you must first admit your life is not “as pure as the driven snow.”
I’m always amused to hear someone say, “Deep down inside, everyone is basically good.” As much as we’d like to believe it, all the evidence points to the contrary.
We can tell what we’re really like by two things: 1) What we think about when we’re all alone and 2) What we do (or would do) if no one is watching and we don’t think we’ll be caught.
A T-shirt I saw on a young student perfectly describes the attitude that drives this behavior. It proclaimed, “It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught.”
Evil behavior is fast becoming a standard on the Internet. Web sites across the Internet are flooded with vicious and slanderous comments. People are attacked for their looks, their weight, their opinions and their behavior. Civility has all but disappeared.
An AP news story observed, “The Internet—and the anonymity it affords—has given a public stage to people’s basest thoughts, ones that in earlier eras likely never would have traveled past the water cooler, the kitchen table or the next barstool.”
Notice that the Internet doesn’t make our behavior worse--it just allows what we already are to be more public. It provides the cover human nature needs to “rear its ugly head.”
Communication experts are at a loss to explain “the rowdy Wild West situation” that anonymity provides “with no one to filter it.” So far the only solution has been to take down the message boards that give offenders a forum.
The Apostle James in the New Testament of the Bible got it right when he said, “The tongue is…a world of evil…and is itself set on fire by hell.”
Jesus went further when he pointed out the source of our words. He said, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” And “the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Later he added, “No one is good—except God alone.”
Ouch! The truth hurts.
It would be easy to become a cynic about the human race--and many have. It looks hopeless.
But--hold on just a minute! There is good news. God can change the human heart. He can take what is corrupt and make it clean. In fact that’s one of the reasons for the Bible. It shows us real people whose lives God changed for the better. No one is beyond God’s help.
One of the worst was Saul who became the Apostle Paul. He was full of hatred and, by his own admission, a murderer. God changed him from a killer of Christians into a planter of churches. Read his story in the Bible book called The Acts of the Apostles, chapters 22 to 26.
Are you sick and tired of covering up who you really are? The message of the Bible is that God knows our hearts and he still loves us. He offers to forgive us and clean us up from the inside out. Forget about turning over a “new leaf.” God offers a whole new life.
The Bible says Jesus died for our sins so we could be forgiven and reconciled to God. The solution begins with a prayer of confession--calling on Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior--and it ends with a “clean slate.” God offers to take away your guilt and give you a fresh start.
Jesus called it being “born again.” It’s starting a whole new life as God’s child.
Does your soul need a spring-cleaning? God is up to the job if you give him a chance.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Many people do. But to do the equivalent of spring-cleaning in your soul you must first admit your life is not “as pure as the driven snow.”
I’m always amused to hear someone say, “Deep down inside, everyone is basically good.” As much as we’d like to believe it, all the evidence points to the contrary.
We can tell what we’re really like by two things: 1) What we think about when we’re all alone and 2) What we do (or would do) if no one is watching and we don’t think we’ll be caught.
A T-shirt I saw on a young student perfectly describes the attitude that drives this behavior. It proclaimed, “It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught.”
Evil behavior is fast becoming a standard on the Internet. Web sites across the Internet are flooded with vicious and slanderous comments. People are attacked for their looks, their weight, their opinions and their behavior. Civility has all but disappeared.
An AP news story observed, “The Internet—and the anonymity it affords—has given a public stage to people’s basest thoughts, ones that in earlier eras likely never would have traveled past the water cooler, the kitchen table or the next barstool.”
Notice that the Internet doesn’t make our behavior worse--it just allows what we already are to be more public. It provides the cover human nature needs to “rear its ugly head.”
Communication experts are at a loss to explain “the rowdy Wild West situation” that anonymity provides “with no one to filter it.” So far the only solution has been to take down the message boards that give offenders a forum.
The Apostle James in the New Testament of the Bible got it right when he said, “The tongue is…a world of evil…and is itself set on fire by hell.”
Jesus went further when he pointed out the source of our words. He said, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” And “the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Later he added, “No one is good—except God alone.”
Ouch! The truth hurts.
It would be easy to become a cynic about the human race--and many have. It looks hopeless.
But--hold on just a minute! There is good news. God can change the human heart. He can take what is corrupt and make it clean. In fact that’s one of the reasons for the Bible. It shows us real people whose lives God changed for the better. No one is beyond God’s help.
One of the worst was Saul who became the Apostle Paul. He was full of hatred and, by his own admission, a murderer. God changed him from a killer of Christians into a planter of churches. Read his story in the Bible book called The Acts of the Apostles, chapters 22 to 26.
Are you sick and tired of covering up who you really are? The message of the Bible is that God knows our hearts and he still loves us. He offers to forgive us and clean us up from the inside out. Forget about turning over a “new leaf.” God offers a whole new life.
The Bible says Jesus died for our sins so we could be forgiven and reconciled to God. The solution begins with a prayer of confession--calling on Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior--and it ends with a “clean slate.” God offers to take away your guilt and give you a fresh start.
Jesus called it being “born again.” It’s starting a whole new life as God’s child.
Does your soul need a spring-cleaning? God is up to the job if you give him a chance.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, June 23, 2008
God’s TV Guide
Is watching TV bad for you?
My guess is that people watch what interests them at the time. Seems harmless enough. But what if your favorite TV show is shaping your beliefs, your behavior and your speech?
Hold it right there for just a minute. It’s just TV. What harm could it do?
Last year the Culture and Media Institute reported that 68 percent of Americans think media has damaged the moral values of our nation.
The report, The Media Assault on American Values, concluded that the more a person watches television the less likely he will be to accept responsibility for his own life. He will also be more likely to ignore his obligations to the people around him.
In addition, the more a person watches TV, the less likely he is to conduct himself honestly, reliably and fairly. And the more permissive his attitudes toward moral issues—such as divorce, sex outside of marriage, abortion and homosexuality—are likely to be.
It also observed that the more a person watches television, the less likely he is to honor godly values and religion in public life. Religious principles and obedience to God become less important.
In other words, when you put an idle mind in front of a TV set, watch out. Bad things can happen. Responsibility, morality and critical thinking skills all deteriorate.
So before you dismiss concerns about watching too much TV as just “parent talk” or “preacher talk,” think again. (Not to mention that those concerns come from a reliable source!)
Long before the age of television, God warned his people about the danger of images. Why? Because he knows that what we see affects how we think.
In the Ten Commandments, God said, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”
For people in Bible times, the danger was images (idols) representing pagan gods and behavior God had forbidden. Why? Because those images might seduce them into sin.
Some think God forbids things as sin because he doesn’t want us to have any fun. But the truth is that God wants us to enjoy life to the fullest. Since he created us, he knows what brings us joy or what brings us sadness.
What God forbids as sin are things that will harm, sicken or destroy us. And what doesn’t harm us physically may hurt us spiritually. Or destroy our closest relationships.
No wonder the Psalmist, David, says, “I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate” (Psalm 101:3).
You could call that statement God’s TV Guide. If you use it as your entertainment filter, it rules out more than half of TV programs and movies!
Later the psalmist prays in Psalm 119:37, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.”
Is that a prayer you need to pray? Pray it and then change the channel.
Or, instead of watching something, read a good book. How about the Good Book? When was the last time you picked up a Bible just to encourage your faith?
If the Bible is new to you, start by reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament. It will introduce you to Jesus Christ. You’ll hear his amazing teaching about God’s love for you. And you’ll see why Jesus chose to die on the cross for your sin and mine. It’s a real page-turner!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
My guess is that people watch what interests them at the time. Seems harmless enough. But what if your favorite TV show is shaping your beliefs, your behavior and your speech?
Hold it right there for just a minute. It’s just TV. What harm could it do?
Last year the Culture and Media Institute reported that 68 percent of Americans think media has damaged the moral values of our nation.
The report, The Media Assault on American Values, concluded that the more a person watches television the less likely he will be to accept responsibility for his own life. He will also be more likely to ignore his obligations to the people around him.
In addition, the more a person watches TV, the less likely he is to conduct himself honestly, reliably and fairly. And the more permissive his attitudes toward moral issues—such as divorce, sex outside of marriage, abortion and homosexuality—are likely to be.
It also observed that the more a person watches television, the less likely he is to honor godly values and religion in public life. Religious principles and obedience to God become less important.
In other words, when you put an idle mind in front of a TV set, watch out. Bad things can happen. Responsibility, morality and critical thinking skills all deteriorate.
So before you dismiss concerns about watching too much TV as just “parent talk” or “preacher talk,” think again. (Not to mention that those concerns come from a reliable source!)
Long before the age of television, God warned his people about the danger of images. Why? Because he knows that what we see affects how we think.
In the Ten Commandments, God said, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”
For people in Bible times, the danger was images (idols) representing pagan gods and behavior God had forbidden. Why? Because those images might seduce them into sin.
Some think God forbids things as sin because he doesn’t want us to have any fun. But the truth is that God wants us to enjoy life to the fullest. Since he created us, he knows what brings us joy or what brings us sadness.
What God forbids as sin are things that will harm, sicken or destroy us. And what doesn’t harm us physically may hurt us spiritually. Or destroy our closest relationships.
No wonder the Psalmist, David, says, “I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate” (Psalm 101:3).
You could call that statement God’s TV Guide. If you use it as your entertainment filter, it rules out more than half of TV programs and movies!
Later the psalmist prays in Psalm 119:37, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.”
Is that a prayer you need to pray? Pray it and then change the channel.
Or, instead of watching something, read a good book. How about the Good Book? When was the last time you picked up a Bible just to encourage your faith?
If the Bible is new to you, start by reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament. It will introduce you to Jesus Christ. You’ll hear his amazing teaching about God’s love for you. And you’ll see why Jesus chose to die on the cross for your sin and mine. It’s a real page-turner!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Truthiness or Truth?
Do you believe in truth or truthiness?
“Truthiness” is a word that television comedian Stephen Colbert popularized in 2005. He came up with the word “truthiness” minutes before taping the first episode of “The Colbert Report.” He decided the word “truth” in his script wasn’t ridiculous enough.
“We're not talking about truth, we're talking about something that seems like truth—the truth we want to exist,” he explained. “Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything.”
Colbert added, “Truthiness is ‘What I say is right.’ It's not only that I FEEL it to be true, but that ‘I’ feel it to be true. There's not only an emotional quality, but there’s a selfish quality.”
Many people call themselves “Christians” and believe truthiness instead of truth. In fact it’s common for them to describe their faith as “choosing what I want to believe.” --As if the Bible was a cafeteria line, picking what you like and leaving what you don’t!
Well hold on just a minute. Isn’t that how most Americans view their faith?
Probably. But while some religions may include that approach, the Bible does not.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Notice that Jesus said he is “THE way” and not “A way.”
Another time he added, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Think about that. For the truth to set you free you must believe it’s true and act on it. It’s not an option for you to adjust the truth to your preferences or make it fit your view of reality.
We can’t adjust truth in a math class. What makes us think we can do it with faith?
Many people say they believe the Bible and believe in God. They’ve heard the gospel story and agree that Jesus lived, died on a cross for the sins of mankind and rose again on the third day. But hearing it and agreeing with it is not the same as believing in it.
If you truly believe something it changes your behavior. In this case you decide to put your trust in Jesus Christ to forgive you and save you from sin’s penalty—eternal separation from God. And then you choose to obey him.
The Bible says that Christians are people who “no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” If you’re a Christian you live for Jesus.
Some don’t see the need to obey Jesus. They don’t believe his teaching is the only truth.
Instead they believe the truthiness about Jesus. They think what THEY want to believe is true.
They might say, “I’m a Christian. I believe in God. I pray and attend church. I do the best I can.” And if asked what they’ll find on the other side they might say, “Heaven--I hope.”
Contrary to popular opinion, God doesn’t grade us on our efforts. The Bible says salvation is a gift of God received through faith and not by works.
According to the Bible, when you decide to follow Jesus Christ and “believe” in him, you receive eternal life. It says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
God sent Jesus so we could KNOW our sins and mistakes are forgiven and so we could KNOW we have eternal life. And when you know that, you can finally forgive yourself.
Jesus Christ lived, died and rose from the dead to give sinners a full and blessed life now and eternal life in Heaven later. That’s the truth. And that truth is worth celebrating this Easter!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
“Truthiness” is a word that television comedian Stephen Colbert popularized in 2005. He came up with the word “truthiness” minutes before taping the first episode of “The Colbert Report.” He decided the word “truth” in his script wasn’t ridiculous enough.
“We're not talking about truth, we're talking about something that seems like truth—the truth we want to exist,” he explained. “Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything.”
Colbert added, “Truthiness is ‘What I say is right.’ It's not only that I FEEL it to be true, but that ‘I’ feel it to be true. There's not only an emotional quality, but there’s a selfish quality.”
Many people call themselves “Christians” and believe truthiness instead of truth. In fact it’s common for them to describe their faith as “choosing what I want to believe.” --As if the Bible was a cafeteria line, picking what you like and leaving what you don’t!
Well hold on just a minute. Isn’t that how most Americans view their faith?
Probably. But while some religions may include that approach, the Bible does not.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Notice that Jesus said he is “THE way” and not “A way.”
Another time he added, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Think about that. For the truth to set you free you must believe it’s true and act on it. It’s not an option for you to adjust the truth to your preferences or make it fit your view of reality.
We can’t adjust truth in a math class. What makes us think we can do it with faith?
Many people say they believe the Bible and believe in God. They’ve heard the gospel story and agree that Jesus lived, died on a cross for the sins of mankind and rose again on the third day. But hearing it and agreeing with it is not the same as believing in it.
If you truly believe something it changes your behavior. In this case you decide to put your trust in Jesus Christ to forgive you and save you from sin’s penalty—eternal separation from God. And then you choose to obey him.
The Bible says that Christians are people who “no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” If you’re a Christian you live for Jesus.
Some don’t see the need to obey Jesus. They don’t believe his teaching is the only truth.
Instead they believe the truthiness about Jesus. They think what THEY want to believe is true.
They might say, “I’m a Christian. I believe in God. I pray and attend church. I do the best I can.” And if asked what they’ll find on the other side they might say, “Heaven--I hope.”
Contrary to popular opinion, God doesn’t grade us on our efforts. The Bible says salvation is a gift of God received through faith and not by works.
According to the Bible, when you decide to follow Jesus Christ and “believe” in him, you receive eternal life. It says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
God sent Jesus so we could KNOW our sins and mistakes are forgiven and so we could KNOW we have eternal life. And when you know that, you can finally forgive yourself.
Jesus Christ lived, died and rose from the dead to give sinners a full and blessed life now and eternal life in Heaven later. That’s the truth. And that truth is worth celebrating this Easter!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Stuck In The Middle
Why do people act like they do?
I wish I had ten dollars every time I thought that, said it or heard someone else say it. If I did, I could probably retire somewhere warm, wet and beachy.
It amazes me when I see people who know better acting stupid. They make choices and do things to hurt themselves and the ones they love. And they’re the only ones who don’t see it!
How pathetic. And yet I just described every one of us.
You know and I know it’s true. Vainly we hope that no one else suspects. Yet deep down in our hearts we know. We are all hypocrites.
There. I said it. Hypocrites. Judging others with rules we don’t intend to keep.
Our predicament reminds me of the old Gerry Rafferty song, “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Do you remember it? “Stealers Wheel” recorded it back in the 1970s. The lyrics went, “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am, Stuck in the middle with you.”
That’s us! We’re surrounded by people just like us. And we don’t like it.
Author C. S. Lewis is reported to have said, "People are good at expecting others to live in a manner that they are not willing to live themselves." Ouch. That hurts.
Well, hold it right there for just a minute. If everyone does it, what’s the problem?
The problem is we’re blind to our own hypocrisy and complain about everyone else’s!
We need someone to slap us up side our head and say, “Doctor, heal yourself! If you’re so good at diagnosing other people’s problems, why can’t you see your own?” Indeed.
What’s the answer?
Listen to Jesus. He said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye. How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’”
He nailed us, didn’t he? We’re super speck inspectors. Nit picking other’s failures and ignoring our own.
The problem is our unforgiving hearts. We’re all good at giving ourselves excuses but not allowing them for anyone else. We expect God to forgive us but we don’t offer others the forgiveness we think we deserve—even though they are just as deserving.
Face it. We’re all a mess of mistakes. Without God’s mercy we’re sunk. You can’t be good enough for even your own standards and you know it. It’s just a show. Inside you know.
So what should we do? Jesus said that we should first pay attention to our own shortcomings. That means humble ourselves and admit we make mistakes.
Turning away from the sin you love and asking God to forgive you is the way to remove the plank. Then when you experience his wonderful forgiveness through Jesus Christ, you can offer that same forgiveness to others who so desperately need it.
This simple prescription from Jesus will go a long way toward healing what’s wrong in our relationships. But as long as we think we know better, we’ll still be stuck in the middle of the clowns, the jokers and the hypocrites.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
I wish I had ten dollars every time I thought that, said it or heard someone else say it. If I did, I could probably retire somewhere warm, wet and beachy.
It amazes me when I see people who know better acting stupid. They make choices and do things to hurt themselves and the ones they love. And they’re the only ones who don’t see it!
How pathetic. And yet I just described every one of us.
You know and I know it’s true. Vainly we hope that no one else suspects. Yet deep down in our hearts we know. We are all hypocrites.
There. I said it. Hypocrites. Judging others with rules we don’t intend to keep.
Our predicament reminds me of the old Gerry Rafferty song, “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Do you remember it? “Stealers Wheel” recorded it back in the 1970s. The lyrics went, “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am, Stuck in the middle with you.”
That’s us! We’re surrounded by people just like us. And we don’t like it.
Author C. S. Lewis is reported to have said, "People are good at expecting others to live in a manner that they are not willing to live themselves." Ouch. That hurts.
Well, hold it right there for just a minute. If everyone does it, what’s the problem?
The problem is we’re blind to our own hypocrisy and complain about everyone else’s!
We need someone to slap us up side our head and say, “Doctor, heal yourself! If you’re so good at diagnosing other people’s problems, why can’t you see your own?” Indeed.
What’s the answer?
Listen to Jesus. He said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye. How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’”
He nailed us, didn’t he? We’re super speck inspectors. Nit picking other’s failures and ignoring our own.
The problem is our unforgiving hearts. We’re all good at giving ourselves excuses but not allowing them for anyone else. We expect God to forgive us but we don’t offer others the forgiveness we think we deserve—even though they are just as deserving.
Face it. We’re all a mess of mistakes. Without God’s mercy we’re sunk. You can’t be good enough for even your own standards and you know it. It’s just a show. Inside you know.
So what should we do? Jesus said that we should first pay attention to our own shortcomings. That means humble ourselves and admit we make mistakes.
Turning away from the sin you love and asking God to forgive you is the way to remove the plank. Then when you experience his wonderful forgiveness through Jesus Christ, you can offer that same forgiveness to others who so desperately need it.
This simple prescription from Jesus will go a long way toward healing what’s wrong in our relationships. But as long as we think we know better, we’ll still be stuck in the middle of the clowns, the jokers and the hypocrites.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Forget About It!
Most people don’t like to forget.
I had a great idea last week, but I forgot it before I could write it down. Does that ever happen to you? It’s frustrating, to say the least.
Then, in the Sunday paper, I read an article about forgetfulness. It said forgetting is a normal part of aging. For everyone. And that’s supposed to make us all feel better.
I feel better already, don’t you? Wait. What was I supposed to feel better about? I forgot.
For a number of years I’ve used a Palm PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) to help me remember events, birthdays and information. It was a great help until its hard drive crashed before Christmas. So it can’t remember either. Bummer.
Now I walk around wondering if I’m forgetting to do something important. I don’t like to forget what I’m supposed to remember!
So it struck me when I learned of someone who forgets things on purpose.
Now hold on just a minute! Why would anyone do that?
Well he didn’t actually say he forgets things on purpose. He said he remembers them no more. So it’s kind of like forgetting on purpose--but not exactly. Let me explain.
There are some things we hope people will forget. Like our failures. Or “great” ideas that flopped big time. Or times we let our family down—especially those.
Have you noticed how people remember our failures more than our successes? We know we failed. But some people have to remind us about it. They must think they’re doing us a favor. Some even seem to enjoy it.
So it’s a surprise to learn that God is the exception. He forgives and forgets. Really.
When a person comes to Jesus Christ and trusts in him as their Lord and Savior, the Bible says God forgives all their sin. All the failures. All the things they wished they’d never done.
Now being forgiven is an unusual experience for us humans. Usually people want revenge. So we’re not sure about this forgiveness deal. God knows that so he keeps it simple.
The Bible says God separates us from our sin, “as far as the East is from the West.” It says he has thrown our sins “into the depths of the ocean.” We start to get the idea. He’s not planning to bring it up again and rub our noses in it.
But the best part is when he says, “I will never again remember their sins.” That’s even better than forgetting. How? Forgetting is passive. It’s something that happens and we didn’t plan on it. We intend to remember but forgot instead.
However, to “never again remember” is active. It’s like God is saying, “I know about your failure but I don’t plan to think about it again. I will not remember it. I will not remind you of it. Ever.” Now that’s amazing. God is the only one who does that.
How can he do it? He can do it because the Bible says Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin in full.
God doesn’t want you to feel dirty, grovel or be ashamed any longer. There’s no need. Once he forgives you, you’re clean. He gives you a fresh start.
Only it’s not automatic. God did his part by sending his Son, Jesus, to take the rap, the punishment for our sins on the cross. All he asks us to do is believe. To trust him. He will forgive and forget. And once God forgives you, you’re at peace with him.
Your sins? “Forget about it!” Now go make things right with others you’ve hurt.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
I had a great idea last week, but I forgot it before I could write it down. Does that ever happen to you? It’s frustrating, to say the least.
Then, in the Sunday paper, I read an article about forgetfulness. It said forgetting is a normal part of aging. For everyone. And that’s supposed to make us all feel better.
I feel better already, don’t you? Wait. What was I supposed to feel better about? I forgot.
For a number of years I’ve used a Palm PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) to help me remember events, birthdays and information. It was a great help until its hard drive crashed before Christmas. So it can’t remember either. Bummer.
Now I walk around wondering if I’m forgetting to do something important. I don’t like to forget what I’m supposed to remember!
So it struck me when I learned of someone who forgets things on purpose.
Now hold on just a minute! Why would anyone do that?
Well he didn’t actually say he forgets things on purpose. He said he remembers them no more. So it’s kind of like forgetting on purpose--but not exactly. Let me explain.
There are some things we hope people will forget. Like our failures. Or “great” ideas that flopped big time. Or times we let our family down—especially those.
Have you noticed how people remember our failures more than our successes? We know we failed. But some people have to remind us about it. They must think they’re doing us a favor. Some even seem to enjoy it.
So it’s a surprise to learn that God is the exception. He forgives and forgets. Really.
When a person comes to Jesus Christ and trusts in him as their Lord and Savior, the Bible says God forgives all their sin. All the failures. All the things they wished they’d never done.
Now being forgiven is an unusual experience for us humans. Usually people want revenge. So we’re not sure about this forgiveness deal. God knows that so he keeps it simple.
The Bible says God separates us from our sin, “as far as the East is from the West.” It says he has thrown our sins “into the depths of the ocean.” We start to get the idea. He’s not planning to bring it up again and rub our noses in it.
But the best part is when he says, “I will never again remember their sins.” That’s even better than forgetting. How? Forgetting is passive. It’s something that happens and we didn’t plan on it. We intend to remember but forgot instead.
However, to “never again remember” is active. It’s like God is saying, “I know about your failure but I don’t plan to think about it again. I will not remember it. I will not remind you of it. Ever.” Now that’s amazing. God is the only one who does that.
How can he do it? He can do it because the Bible says Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin in full.
God doesn’t want you to feel dirty, grovel or be ashamed any longer. There’s no need. Once he forgives you, you’re clean. He gives you a fresh start.
Only it’s not automatic. God did his part by sending his Son, Jesus, to take the rap, the punishment for our sins on the cross. All he asks us to do is believe. To trust him. He will forgive and forget. And once God forgives you, you’re at peace with him.
Your sins? “Forget about it!” Now go make things right with others you’ve hurt.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Cold War
For two weeks I’ve been battling a rather nasty virus.
It began with a burning feeling in my chest. Then it tried to steal my voice.
My response was to declare all out war. I drank plenty of fluids, took the best cold medicine I could find and got plenty of sleep. But when the medicine wore off, I woke up coughing. The cold had won. I knew I was in for the long haul.
All my life I’ve been fighting another nasty condition called sin. Once I realized I had the condition, my response was similar to my battle with the cold: I tried to fight it. And the outcome was the same as with the cold. Sin won and I lost.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. What’s the big deal with sin? Isn’t that just a hang-up for religious people?
Most honest people recognize a dark side to their personality. Sometimes alcohol lets the beast out. Other times it rears its ugly head on its own. Most of the time we try to hide it and pretend its not there. But those we’ve hurt and those to whom we’re close know the real truth.
To deny our evil self is as foolish as spitting into the wind.
I fought it as long as I could. But as a child I discovered that, try as I might, I couldn’t be good all the time. I wanted to obey my parents and knew I should. But that knowledge had no power to help me overcome my rebel’s heart.
Not only did I disappoint my parents, I disappointed myself because I wanted to do right.
Why is it when we hear “Don’t” something inside of us says, “Do it!”?
This “dark side” to humanity is cross-cultural and affects both men and women. To discover the source of this “criminal” behavior governments have spent great amounts of time and money. But the only definitive answer is found in the pages of the Bible.
In Genesis Adam’s disobedient choice inflicts sin and its consequences on the human race. In Exodus God reveals a Law to show us our shortcomings and our need for mercy. Then in the New Testament God holds a mirror up to our soul to show us we “all have sinned.”
Most religions recognize the reality of sin. When I was in Japan I visited several famous religious shrines. At one the faithful believed that smoke from a fire would cleanse their sin. At another, the faithful washed their faces and hands and then rinsed their mouths with water to wash away sin. They hoped these rituals would cleanse them. At least temporarily.
But there is only one permanent remedy for sin that can remove its penalty and its grip on the human heart. Jesus Christ said that he could forgive sin. And it’s not just for Christians.
Jesus’ disciple Peter made it clear that God’s intention is for all people to receive forgiveness through Christ. He said, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).
Salvation from sin doesn’t belong to one ethnic group or a particular religion. The God who made the heavens and the earth offers it to people of every nation, language and tribe.
For almost 2,000 years people worldwide have discovered the truth in Peter’s message. They’ve been set free from all kinds of addictions and destructive behaviors. The reason is that the good news about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is more than just words. It is more than just a fact to believed. It is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
The Gospel has worked for millions of others. It changed my life. It will work for you.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
It began with a burning feeling in my chest. Then it tried to steal my voice.
My response was to declare all out war. I drank plenty of fluids, took the best cold medicine I could find and got plenty of sleep. But when the medicine wore off, I woke up coughing. The cold had won. I knew I was in for the long haul.
All my life I’ve been fighting another nasty condition called sin. Once I realized I had the condition, my response was similar to my battle with the cold: I tried to fight it. And the outcome was the same as with the cold. Sin won and I lost.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. What’s the big deal with sin? Isn’t that just a hang-up for religious people?
Most honest people recognize a dark side to their personality. Sometimes alcohol lets the beast out. Other times it rears its ugly head on its own. Most of the time we try to hide it and pretend its not there. But those we’ve hurt and those to whom we’re close know the real truth.
To deny our evil self is as foolish as spitting into the wind.
I fought it as long as I could. But as a child I discovered that, try as I might, I couldn’t be good all the time. I wanted to obey my parents and knew I should. But that knowledge had no power to help me overcome my rebel’s heart.
Not only did I disappoint my parents, I disappointed myself because I wanted to do right.
Why is it when we hear “Don’t” something inside of us says, “Do it!”?
This “dark side” to humanity is cross-cultural and affects both men and women. To discover the source of this “criminal” behavior governments have spent great amounts of time and money. But the only definitive answer is found in the pages of the Bible.
In Genesis Adam’s disobedient choice inflicts sin and its consequences on the human race. In Exodus God reveals a Law to show us our shortcomings and our need for mercy. Then in the New Testament God holds a mirror up to our soul to show us we “all have sinned.”
Most religions recognize the reality of sin. When I was in Japan I visited several famous religious shrines. At one the faithful believed that smoke from a fire would cleanse their sin. At another, the faithful washed their faces and hands and then rinsed their mouths with water to wash away sin. They hoped these rituals would cleanse them. At least temporarily.
But there is only one permanent remedy for sin that can remove its penalty and its grip on the human heart. Jesus Christ said that he could forgive sin. And it’s not just for Christians.
Jesus’ disciple Peter made it clear that God’s intention is for all people to receive forgiveness through Christ. He said, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).
Salvation from sin doesn’t belong to one ethnic group or a particular religion. The God who made the heavens and the earth offers it to people of every nation, language and tribe.
For almost 2,000 years people worldwide have discovered the truth in Peter’s message. They’ve been set free from all kinds of addictions and destructive behaviors. The reason is that the good news about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is more than just words. It is more than just a fact to believed. It is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
The Gospel has worked for millions of others. It changed my life. It will work for you.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
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