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| | Sinning Sinners
Funny, but I've not written any faith stuff since we had to let Remmy go in February. This doesn't mean I've not been "eating" so to speak; nor does it mean I've nothing to share, because instead of sharing here, it's been pouring out in fits and starts on Flickr, of all places. Of course, the mission statement for my photography is, in short, Soli Deo Gloria, so it probably makes sense, but it's just odd, and I'll admit to feeling guilty because usually I share those things with you. Suffice to say things have been screwy since we lost Rem, for me especially; while per usual I cling to God more tightly than ever, maybe...I don't know. Perhaps there are times we are capable of nothing more than or are supposed to rest under His wings until He decides it's time for us to venture forth again.
While God has shared many things with me, the energy and ability to write them is just starting to return. In the meantime, though, I can (and have been) sharing with you things written by other wonderful Godbloggers.
Tim Challies is one of my favourites. I know something interesting, broadening will always be found there, usually something that gives me plenty of food for thought. He's also one of the more balanced and thoughtful bloggers out there.
Today (yesterday, I don't know, 20 minutes ago I thought it was Wednesday) he put up a most interesting post regarding something most churches are loathe to touch upon: sin.
I have met countless people who consider themselves Christians and who admit to sin in their lives and feel guilt and remorse for individual sins, but who seem unable or unwilling to admit the incontrovertible fact that their hearts are in rebellion against God. The Bible tells us in plain terms that we are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners.
...When sin has been defined merely as individual acts of the will, it is possible for humans, even devoid of God’s help, to overcome those evil acts and deeds. A man who explodes in anger or a woman who grumbles against her husband can overcome those sins in their own power. Unbelievers can throw off addiction and poor behavior through an act of the will. But they can never address the heart of the issue. While they may make cosmetic changes, they can never overcome the deeper issues because they can never change their hearts.
Tim goes on to rightly point out that believers do the same thing, covering up or even overcoming the outward manifestations of our sin while our hearts still remain in rebellion.
The other thing to consider, one Tim doesn't really deeply touch on (of course, it's not his topic) is that on our own, we can do nothing. Even Jesus Himself said He could do nothing without the Father. Without the hand of God in our life, we, too, are helpless. We may be able to cover up our sin for a time, or hide it, but ultimately it will come to light one way or the other. We cannot really change "through an act of the will" because our will is faulty to begin with; we're sinners. We can't change on our own. It isn't possible. The crux of the matter is, as usual, "self".
Tim does note that Christians do attempt to change and fix themselves, but try to do so without the help of the Holy Spirit. (Note the "self" in there again.) He also points out that while we may admit our actions are wrong, we do not submit to the truth that our very nature is sinful and at war with God. "They may never feel or acknowledge guilt not only for what they do but for what they are," he writes.
People did not realize that the will is wholly bound by the sinful nature. They felt that they were able, in their own power and through their own freedom, to change their behavior. They did not understand or care to understand the depth of their depravity. They may have sought God’s assistance in doing this, but did not rely on His grace and power. ...Take a book from the shelf of your local Christian bookstore and you should not be surprised to read that your fundamental problem is not your sinful nature but your individual self-destructive acts.
The solution today is the same as it was in Edwards’ day. “People needed to be properly convinced of their real guilt and sinfulness, in the sight of God, and their deserving of his wrath.” No one has properly apprehended God’s grace until he has understood his own sinfulness and knows that he fully deserves God’s just and holy punishment. The evangelical church of our day is a wrathless church—a church that speaks often of God’s love and grace, but rarely of the deepest necessity of this love and grace. ...The gospel portrays us as we really are — as sinners who sin because of our fundamental guilt, our fundamental hatred of God. Only when we see ourselves as sinners can we truly see Christ as Savior. (emphasis added)
One reason we need to be reminded of God's righteous wrath and our wholly deserving it is that it also reminds us of the great mercy He has offered to us, the great love Jesus exhibited by dying in our place, by having God's fury poured out upon Himself so it would not be sent upon us, as we so very richly merit.
It is no wonder that sacrifice and that love is mocked and belittled when we are told, even from the pulpit, that we can not only earn that love, but are deserving of it.
We are not.
Yet His hand is still there, waiting for us to grasp it.
| | | Posted 5/6/2008 10:29 PM - 2 comments
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