Selfishness and Sin

1 John 3:4 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

The essence of sin is man’s transgression of the commands of God.  To sin is to violate His holy standards.  It is disobeying or not conforming to God's law in any way.  But let me also say that the impetus of sin is selfishness. Can you think of a sin that doesn’t involve an “I want?” Think about it….

• Pride?  This is the motive of sin in us.  Flesh wants what it wants.
• Lust?  This is to unlawfully want what we want.
• Jealousy/Envy?  “You can’t have that; I want it.”
• Murder?  "I want to kill you." Or maybe… “It’s not convenient for me for you to live.”
• Lying?  Self-preservation, aggrandizement, or advancement.
• Idolatry?  That when we decide to worship gods we are more comfortable with.
• Not giving God one day in seven?  That's about our schedules, our leisure, and our comfort.
• Greed?  Again, that says, "more for me."
• Disobeying parents?  Again, about how we feel and what we want.

So then sin, at it’s core, is about us, not Christ. 

In fact, the spirit of the age is humanism.  You could call it self-ism.  So if this is true….

Then why do so many churches and preachers foster this attitude with ear-scratching (2 Tim 4:3)?  Why are so many books about what we can get from God?  Why are so many programs offered for spiritual consumers?  When the church becomes about man and man’s desires, it actually flows with a sinful paradigm.  Look at church marketing.  Look at our ads.  "Best church in such and such city!"  "Awesome youth ministry!"  I know I've done this too.  :(

Great care must be taken to keep the focus on Christ and every mindset God-ward.  For so many, it’s not “let’s go worship;” it’s “let me go get my blessing.”  Me. My wants.  My felt needs.  My desires.  What I’m comfortable with.  What is best for me.

This destruction (that we cultivate!!!) manifests in other ways, then we wonder why “Christians” say and do stuff like this:

“I don’t want to be married.  I don’t want to be a parent.  This church isn’t meeting my needs.  I ain’t forgiving anybody!  Forget this I’m out.  I’m not giving.  I’m not serving.  Their choir is better.  I don't 'feel led' to evangelize.” Etc.

God’s Word is perfect.  All that is needed for our healing is there…it just doesn’t look like it to modern eyes sometimes.  I wonder if we don’t preach the whole counsel of God because if we did, we know people would leave for blessings and breakthroughs.  We’ve fostered a massive, sinful attitude of Christian selfishness for decades.  We are so blanketed with it we can't always see it.  And we are paying a price right now. 

The prophetic voice reminds us to crucifiy self and sinful desires, and find our ultimate blessings and security in Christ and His finished work alone.

2 Timothy 3:1-2 ESV - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. (2) For people will be lovers of self…

Family Integration Intangibles

Two and a half years into Family Integration (keeping families together in services) and still standing! :)

There are some things about this "model" of corporate ministry I just love.  They are "intangible" things though...stuff you wouldn't necessarily think about as fruit of keeping families together...and could not script or program if you tried.  Here are some of my favorites:

1.  The comments the young children make to me after the message about what I preached.  And I'm talking 3-10 year olds.  It's amazing what they can absorb and understand!

2.  Observing the interaction between the older saints and young families and their children.  So much wisdom and counsel being passed back and forth...so much encouragement! :)

3.  Seeing young people worship.  Those who are being discipled to love God and worship Him...worship!  What a sight to behold!

4.  Seeing those who've been through tragedy engage in ongoing healing through intergenerational fellowship and interaction.  Perfect example: a spiritual daughter who lost a child, laughing and giggling with my 8 month old son (and he SO returns the favor with a toothless grin :)).  How does she receive that love if he's in a nursery somewhere?

5.  The random "catechism" competions among tweens in the hallway.

6.  Watching grown men and women serve alongside their sons and daughters on ministry teams..and watching our singles interact with younger children on those same teams.  Amazing!

7.  Seeing a love for children simply explode throughout the church!  Everybody holding each other's babies, talking about adoption, being foster parents, grandchildren, discipling teens and those challenges, family worship ideas, etc.  Could it be this wonderful?  Yes it can!

8.  Watching this refreshed perspective change homes and education choices.  You go God!

9. Seeing the power of the Sufficiency of Scripture impact other parts of life: money, modesty, missions, hospitality, personal holiness, work ethic, etc.

10.  The fact that families of all types come together, sit together, sing together, pray together, partake of the Lord's supper together, serve together, hear the preached word together, leave together, and then continue this throughout the rest of the week.

Deut 29:10-12 - All of you are standing today in the presence of the LORD your God--your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel, 11 together with your children and your wives, and the aliens living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water. 12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your God.

Joshua 8:35 - There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them.
 

Queen James Version! ARRRRGGGGGGGHHH!

Link to Christian Post Article

Stunned.  Angry.  Sad.  Angry.  Broken. 

Weeping that God's Name and Word would be so blasphemed.  Weeping that the church has lost her will to declare the Law of God in love and call sin sin.  Weeping that popular pastors would get on TV and waffle and not totally call out this mess.  Weeping that in the name of political correctness, attendance, and popularity our backs have become so limp and our doctrine so squishy.  Weeping that so many will end up in hell due to lust and deception.  Weeping that good is called evil and evil good.  Weeping that many mainline denominations have ordained gay clergy.  Weeping that so many Christians support this unglodly agenda in the name of "love."

Weeping.

Rev 22:10-20 ESV:

And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. (11) Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." (12) "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (14) Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (15) Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (16) "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." (17) The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (18) I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, (19) and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (20) He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

With Broken Hearts...We Pray

Another school shooting.  20 kindergarten age children dead.  Several adults dead.  So with broken hearts…we pray.

Lord….

We ask for comfort, care, and peace for the families who have lost their children, spouses, and friends.  We pray that by your Spirit that you would cover them, love on them, and wrap them up in your arms.  We pray for the strength and tender touch of local churches that will serve these grieving families, and the spiritual wisdom of pastors and counselors.  We ask that somehow, you’d show yourself strong even now for those who are experiencing the worst pain of their lives.

Lord….

We pray against the culture of violence and death in America.  From our sports to our music to our video games to the way we talk to one another…deliver us from the murderous spirit.  As we weep for these children, we also weep for every child who is a victim of violence, born and unborn.

Lord…

We ask you to help us recover/reform foundations.  Evil continues to thrive.  Your precepts and commandments have been thrown out of the public discourse and public institutions.  Your Name is mocked.  Our children don’t know your Word.  They are taught ungodly constructs…paradigms that actually foster nihilism and hopelessness.  When your moral absolutes aren’t there ("You shall not murder"), man has nothing else but fleshly instincts.  When you aren’t our source, all that is left is evil…for only you are good.

Lord…

Give pastors the courage to rightly address the true causes.  Give us the right touch of love and tact.  Give us the right timing.  Help us exhort and gently reprove until households change and our foundations in every area of life are biblical and honor you.  And help your church powerfully preach the transforming Gospel of Christ.

And Lord…

Bless our Nation.  We need you more than ever….

In Jesus Name. Amen.