2003-01-20 - I'm Hacked (and Hurt)

I am about to rant, so look out. First I would like to ask you a question which has nothing to do with my tirade. I love to ask people what their favorite place in the world is. I love to ask what their favorite city is. I love to ask what is their favorite country to visit. That is the easy part and I hope many of you will reply (Place, city, country). I will not be able to respond to all of them, but I will read them all. But that is not my question. My question is why? Why is that place, city and country your favorite? I hope to learn from your responses and turn them into a devotional (or ten), but I have no idea what I will learn from this question. But here we go with today...LOOK OUT:

Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

I am sick and tired of ministers cheating. I have known of many over the years, but the most recent one hurt bad and has caused some reflection on my part. I am not going to give any details, but it sure is time to size up my life and I commend you to do the same. Do you know the dishonor that public sin does to Jesus Christ and His cause and the advancement of His kingdom? Sure you do, but when a minister does it, well, it does more damage. However, there are even greater aspects (I call them spider webs) that go out to the community and those who have ever trusted the said "Man of God". Ministers are intrusted with God's cause, His honor, and His truth. When a minister can't even honor God in the public arena, why should his congregation be expected to do better? I have gone from sadness, to anger, and now I am back to sadness. The church of Christ will prevail, but it is only by God's mercy. I will stop there because I wish to make it personal to us all and not gossip.

We all sin. I sin. Some sins are obvious, others are in the dark recesses of our lives. Such is life. I would not wish to beat this guy up. He is repentant. He will lose his church. At some point he may be restored to service in the cause of Christ's kingdom. I have been crying for a few days over this and am now. But here is something I am learning from this (and it does not excuse the sin)...we are all subject to falling from grace.

I will expand upon that thought. There is a difference between sanctification and definitive sanctification. We are both sanctified in Christ and yet being sanctified in Christ. Because of Christ's atonement those who rest in Christ are holy, but we still have indwelling sin as long as we live. It is no easy task for any one of us to forsake sin. If you think you are sinless, stop reading, drop to the floor, and take a clean look at your heart. What we all must do, pastor's, or just garden variety Christians, is to look to our hearts and seek to live for Christ and not for our own selfish lusts.

Sorry for saying it like it is, but that is the truth. Rest in God's grace and trust in His mercy. Seek to follow Him in all you do and (I think) you will be blessed by His providence.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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