We Have Too Small a View of Sin

"Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight." (Psalm 51:4)

The following is perhaps the best analysis of sin and exposition of David's confession in Psalm 51:4 that I have read. It effectively gets deeper to the root of sin than most people usually go. Sin is so much more than just doing or thinking things I shouldn't that displease God ("sins of commission") or not doing or thinking things I should ("sins of omission"). I commend to you this excerpt of a sermon by Rick Gamache entitled "Whiter Than Snow" for your thoughtful, prayerful meditation.

I believe what David is saying in verse 4 is that all sin is a preference for the fleeting pleasures of the world and the flesh over the everlasting joy of God’s fellowship. This is why the Christian life is a life of repentance (like Martin Luther said), not because every time we sin we lose our status as God’s children and have to get saved all over again. Our status never changes. We are always God’s children, we are still declared to be holy even when we sin, we are still the heirs of his Kingdom.

But our sin affects our relationship with God. Our sin breaks our fellowship with God. David realizes that before he ever committed adultery with Bathsheba, he committed spiritual adultery against God. Why did he need her? Why was he willing to murder his own friend for her? It is because before David ever sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah, he lost the joy of his salvation. That is why he asks for the joy to be restored [Psalm 51:12].

We sin because we forget God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy. When we are not ravished by him, we forget the superior pleasures that there are in God and give ourselves to the inferior pleasures of sin. And this is why David says, “Against you God, you only have I sinned.” He goes deep with his confession because he knows repentance is the way back to fellowship with God.

I think it is absolutely amazing and very telling, given what we know about the situation, that David never mentions sexual sin in Psalm 51. He’s not mainly praying that the Lord would provide him with good accountability. He’s not mainly praying that God would give him self-control and protect his eyes and his mind. Those are all good things. But David does not mention them here because his sexual sin — and every sexual sin — is the symptom of the disease not the disease. Sexual sin is a symptom of lack of fullness of joy and gladness in Jesus. It’s a symptom of a lack of being ravished by the love and kindness and mercy and goodness and beauty and excellence and majesty and glory and honor and power of God.

Are you willing to admit with me that multiple times on any given day we lose our joy in God and His salvation? We are so easily distracted and lose the "fullness of joy and gladness in Jesus" and fail to be enthralled with the greatest Treasure of the universe who should be at all times our Supreme Joy.

When we view it this way, sin becomes the hideous monster that it is. "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7:24,25a)

Dear reader, when we truly see our sin for what it is and the offense that it is to a holy and loving God, we will recognize our need to become abandoned to our glorious Savior and to His Spirit-empowered Word which alone transforms our calloused hearts to embrace new and holy affections!

"God came through"

"The Lord does whatever pleases Him..." (Psalm 135:6)

"Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases." (Psalm 115:3)

"I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:2) 

The other day I was watching a short promotional video online for some new church ministry resource. I honestly don't even remember what it was for, but one thing did catch my attention - hence this blog post today... The speaker painted the picture of some bleak situation and as he set up the resolution for how God intervened, he said, "God came through."

I'd like to invite us to think carefully and critically about that expression, as it's one that probably crops up from time to time, and of course used in innocent ways by people who want to honor the Lord and His sovereign intervention in our lives to help those in need. But think about what that expression implies. Doesn't it subtly suggest that things were really out of control (even God's?!) until God finally figured things out and got the upper hand? Doesn't it likewise carry with it the idea that we are wiser than God and are the ones who really should be calling the shots and that we are glad that God finally came around to our point of view and finally did what we always knew needed to be done?

We also need to think about what we're implying if God did NOT "come through" in the prescribed manner. Did God fail to "come through" for Stephen as he breathed his last with his eyes beholding the glory of Christ at the right hand of the Father (Acts 7)? Is God failing to "come through" for our many Christian brothers and sisters who face another year of imprisonment and/or persecution for their enduring faith? And did God fail to "come through" for our own Savior, who asked that He might be spared from having to drink the cup of God's wrath for our sin?

Friends, God's back is never up against a wall. He is never wringing His hands, trying to figure out a way to help us out of our predicaments. If you are prone to using this expression, may I urge you - I hope lovingly! - to stop, and to instead allow God to test and refine your faith as you endure in Your delight in Him, regardless of what He may or may not do according to your expectations!

Tolerance Based on What?

Once upon a time "tolerance" was based on truth. Specifically the truth that if I am able to coerce you (by manipulation or force) to adopt my position/belief/faith, I have not truly converted you; I have simply driven your convictions below the surface because of my superior force or intellect or threat of retribution. Conversion by force is no true conversion. This kind of "truth-based tolerance" used to be "the power that kept lovers of competing faiths from killing each other" (Piper). When practiced (and of course it was not always practiced!), such tolerance allowed those with competing truth claims to live peaceably, but also encouraged healthy dialogue regarding those truth claims.

Of course, "once upon a time" seems oh so long ago, for the prevailing sense of tolerance is no longer based on truth, but (I would argue) on "peace." Especially when it comes to matters of religious faith, the prevalent view is that the various faiths do not compete with one another, but rather complement each other. It takes the "truth-based tolerance" beyond the truth that we cannot seek to bring about conversions by force, adding the idea that attempts to convert others should not be practiced, since they are unnecessary because there are no superior truth claims with all being equally valid. This is (supposedly) the path to peace. This is the solution to, "Why can't we all just get along?!"

I am compelled to ask:  How can it not be readily seen that truth claims that are mutually exclusive do not and can not "complement" each other? How is it that all it takes for someone's beliefs to be "true for them" is their level of sincerity of those beliefs (or perhaps how widely held or respected those beliefs are by others)?

Much can be/needs to be/has been written about this, so I will simply - for now! - conclude with this longing for the Church of Jesus Christ. I hope followers of Jesus will quickly see that such "peace-based tolerance" is no tolerance at all, but rather a strategy of our enemy to silence the Church! Peace (or "love," or "unity," etc. - or the world's view of these things) cannot and will not come at the expense of Truth! Truth trumps this kind of peace all the time.

Speak the Truth, friends! But do so in love!

"Foolish and Dangerous"

In his preface to his book, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals ("A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry"), John Piper writes, "More and more, true Christianity is becoming what it was at the beginning: foolish and dangerous.

The Gospel and "true Christianity" is "foolish" to the world because until the Spirit of God enables blind eyes to see and corrupt hearts to desire the truth and beauty of the glorious Gospel, it remains incomprehensible (1 Cor. 1:18-23). God actually became a Man? Most people did not recognize this Man to be God-sent? He was rejected by the very rulers of His own people who knew their religious system better than anyone else? He was crucified along with other common criminals? And then He supposedly came to life again?! And His followers claim that trusting this crucified, risen-again God-Man is the ONLY way to know God or enter heaven with your sins forgiven and wiped clean, without any contribution of your own? I will endure the eternal wrath of God for my "sin" if I continue on my own way without this Jesus? ~ Scandalous! Incredulous! "Foolish"!

Those whose eyes have been opened and hearts have been changed to turn to embrace the glorious Gospel will then likewise be seen as "foolish." And therefore - for many - the "way of the Cross" will also become "dangerous". "Dangerous" because those who daily take up their crosses to follow their Master will live lives and hold values that are in stark contrast to everyone else. And as they do so - living as "the light of the world" - the world will run from the light (John 3:19-20), as the cockroaches used to do in our home in South Carolina! The result will be that some will think they are doing good by doing harm to Christians (John 16:2).

In this context, the temptation for individual Christians and churches alike will be to try to find ways to make the Gospel more attractive and less confrontational. Against this tendency we must reinforce our resolve to proclaim the scandal of the Cross. To this point Piper writes, "the center of Christianity...is the dishonorable, foolish, gruesome, and utterly glorious reality of the tortured God-Man, Jesus Christ. More and more, He must become the issue. Not a vague, comfortable, pleasant Jesus that everybody likes but the one who is a "stumbling block" to Jews and "foolishness" to Gentiles. The closer you get to what makes Christianity ghastly, the closer you get to what makes it glorious." (Emphasis added.)

Dear Christian, are you willing to endure hardship for our Captain? Are you prepared to sacrifice whatever it takes to make the glorious Gospel of our Jesus known to those for whom Christ died? You are the aroma of Jesus to the world around you - perhaps the only source of that for some. We all want to be the fragrance of eternal life, but for some we may be the stench of death! (2 Cor. 2:15-16) March into the fray today, dear friend, with your eyes on Jesus and let Him lay out the course you are to run (Heb. 12:1-3)... then run as a "fool for Jesus"!**

(**Two businessmen once approached a man walking the streets of New York wearing a sandwich board over his shoulders. They snickered in mockery as they read the front: "I'm a fool for Jesus Christ." Their sneers turned into thoughtful contemplation as they read the back: "Whose fool are you?")

Two Kinds of Sinning?

Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. (Psalm 19:12-13)

"So is a born again Christian susceptible to presumptuous sins that knowingly contradict God's will?"

That's how this interesting and thought provoking post from DG Ministries begins. And the way it should end is with some honest and diligent soul searching by every child of God.

I urge you to read the post here.

"You Put This Love In My Heart"

With all that's going on in my life right now I suppose it's time to get back to blogging a bit about some of it! Most pertinent to this post is that at present, Sue and I are preparing to adopt a 12 year old girl from NH whose mother irrevocably relinquished all parental rights last fall. We met at the beginning of February and are currently in the mode of visiting once midweek and then she spends the weekend with us. This in preparation for the newly settled move-in date of March 30! Our girl, whom I'll call KC, has been in 8 foster homes in the last 5-6 years.

So the latest very cool "God thing" is that last week we were bringing her home after our mid-week visit. I had been listening to an old CD in my car in recent days, but at the time did not have the player turned on. It had been so long since I had listened to the CD (a compilation of classic Christian songs) that I didn't really even remember what was on it. Well, about 2/3 of the way to her present foster home, I decided to put some music on. The following song was cued up (again, I didn't know!) and after only the first couple of lines KC said, "This is a really appropriate song!" And then after a few more lines, she said, "This should be OUR song!"

Without further comment I'll just post the lyrics to the song here, and I think you'll see why Sue and I got a bit choked up!

You Put This Love In My Heart

I found it hard to believe

Someone like You cared for me.
You put this love in my heart.

I tried but could not refuse,

You gave me no time to choose.

You put this love in my heart.

          I want to know where the bad feelings go

          When I'm depressed and I get down so low

          And then I see You coming to me and it's alright.

I want to tell You right now

I'm not afraid to say how

You put this love in my heart.

There are sometimes when I doubt,

But You always find me out.

You put this love in my heart.

          Cause when I see all that You've done for me

          It's hard to doubt, I just have to believe,

          Cause You followed up, provin’ all of Your love.

Well I know the loneliness I had before

Is gone now, I'll never feel it anymore.

‘Cause Your lovin’ has released me from all that's in my past.

And I know I can believe You when You say I'll never be forsaken,

Your love is gonna last.

There's so much more I should say
If I could just find a way.
You put this love in my heart.
Is all this real or a dream?
I feel so good I could scream!
You put this love in my heart.

by Keith Green, from the album, For Him Who Has Ears To Hear (Sparrow Records, 1977)

My New Master

a meditation on Romans 4 - 6 (Feb., 2011)

I’m amazed at Your mercy, enthralled by Your grace.
You’ve loved me and drawn me to gaze on Your face.
Condemned by Your righteous and holy decree,
Your Son took my place and now I am free.
With Jesus’ blood covering my guilt and my shame,
My heart is now stirred and with passion enflamed.
I’ll live for Your glory and name and renown
Until Jesus my Savior with worship is crowned.

My master, once cruel, a taskmaster grim,
Reminded me always of my guilt within.
Enslaved by my sin, I was hopeless and lost,
My death and destruction, the infinite cost.
But blind eyes were opened, You caused me to see
That Jesus in love came, my Ransom to be.
Now clothed in Your righteousness, walking in love,
I gladly surrender to Your will above.

Your mercy and kindness, no merit could earn;
Your glory, the standard of righteousness spurned.
In Jesus alone is forgiveness assured,
My standing in glory forever secured.
When guilt or despair seem to flood o’er my soul,
When even my victories others extol,
When Satan my past puts before me to see,
Then “Jesus, my Righteousness” shall be my plea.

I’m amazed at Your mercy, enthralled by Your grace.
You’ve loved me and drawn me to gaze on Your face.
Though wretched and vile, Your love set me free
To magnify Jesus, the whole world to see.
With Jesus my Life and my Joy and My All,
My once heart-of-stone is now heeding Your call.
I’ll live for Your glory and name and renown
Until Jesus with honor and worship is crowned.

A Christmas Prayer

We so enjoy this season, Lord. We thrill at the sights and sounds of Christmas. We love the glitter, the tinsel and the lights. But Father, the lights can, if we're not careful, blind us to the One True Light of Christmas. And as much as we love the Christmas carols and holiday songs, we confess that they are too capable of drowning out your gentle call to us to faithfully come and worship. And Father, we love the decorations and the wreaths and the Christmas trees... But oh how easily they can obscure that other tree of Christmas - the one that stands in the shadows of the manger - the tree of Calvary.

So God, would you persistently point us this Christmas to the manger - and then on to the Cross to recognize Your consummate gift of love. Help us look to the Babe of Bethlehem as the Light of the World; let us see Him born and laid in a humble manger, yet destined to die and be laid in a borrowed tomb – the One born King was "enthroned" on a cross! All because of His great love for us! And Lord, let us do more than just sing songs that tell the story; let us come and joyfully, triumphantly worship.

"I praise You 24/7!!!" - Oh really?!

Reading the first line you might be encouraged. "I praise You 24/7!!!!..." So Tweeted Steve Johnson, the Buffalo Bills wide receiver who dropped what would have been the game winning touchdown pass in overtime of last Sunday's game against the Steelers. He was wide open in the end zone and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick did what he needed to do and laid the ball right into his hands.

Now I don't know if Johnson claims to be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, but one might have read that and thought he would continue along the lines of, "...And I continue to praise You. My identity and security do not come from my profession as a football player. I dropped the ball and let my teammates down, but You never drop me..." That would have been awesome. But instead, here's the full edition of Johnson's Tweet:

"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO...,"

I'm taking the time to briefly blog about this because it bears on at least two very important issues. First and foremost, it has to do with taking responsibility for our actions. May we all learn from this negative example to not pass the blame for our failures - both our sinful actions, but also our honest mistakes & shortcomings - onto someone else, least of all God! Whether it's sinful behavior that is exposed or failing to fulfill a responsibility that affects others on our team (at work or play), may we be quick to admit, "It's on my shoulders alone."

The second of the obvious issues this raises is how we see God and the reason why we follow Him. Do we really believe the cliche, overused and yet true, "God is good all the time"? Or is God only good when He's good... to me? And then, do I follow Him because He's good to me? ...because of His (material) blessings He bestows? Or do I follow Him because He is God, worthy of my praise, adoration, and obedience, regardless of what I may (or may not) receive from His hand?

Steve Johnson begins saying he praises God "24/7," and yet by his comments reveals that he knows nothing of the nature of true praise. Justifying himself by his own righteousness and then castigating God is in fact blasphemy. A far cry from praise.

There's so much more that I want to say about this, but I don't have time. I need to take responsibility for my work and get to it!

Soli Deo gloria!

Broken Crystal

It may be the statement from Robert Schuller that comes the closest to the truth:  "No church has a money problem; churches only have idea problems." (From his 1986 book, "Your Church Has a Fantastic Future".) And in the wake of the Crystal Cathedral's filing for bankruptcy last month (with well over $50 million in debt to its creditors!), it may also be his most ironic statement, let alone prophetic.

Any good start that he may have had (he was ordained in the Reformed Church in America), was quickly torpedoed, indicated with this comment from his autobiography in 2001, "My Journey":  I realized that every sermon I preached (whether formally from the pulpit, or casually at the coffee shop) should be designed, not to 'teach' or 'convert' people, but rather to encourage them, to give them a lift. I decided to adopt the spirit, style, strategy, and substance of a 'therapist' in the pulpit.

There's an old gag about preaching that actually contains a lot of truth, which, if Schuller had taken to heart may have steered him in a better, more God-honoring direction. The joke is that the role of the preacher is "to afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted." As it is, it seems to me that Schuller's own words condemn him, as they seem to very much echo Paul's warning to Timothy:  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (1 Tim. 4:3)

I agree whole-heartedly with Al Mohler on this issue who assesses the situation this way: The most significant problem at the Crystal Cathedral is not financial, but theological. The issue is not money, but this ministry's message. The "gospel of success" is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, therapy is no substitute for theology, and "Possibility Thinking" is not the message of the Bible. (See http://twe.ly/uHl)

We can only pray that the leadership of the Crystal Cathedral will repent of its errors, and correct its "idea problems." God may yet redeem the situation for His greater glory.