Would anyone read “My Utmost for His Highest,” if we found
out some dirt on Oswald Chambers? What if we learned, he was a terrible father,
who ignored the rape of his daughter by one of his sons. That he seduced
another man’s wife, then had the man killed so he could have her. Then, at the
end of his life, he took a count of the number of books he’d sold, to glory in
his achievements.
Most of us would disqualify that kind of man and trash his books. Still, we read the Psalms of David. In them we find healing, encouragement, strength and refreshment.
I’m struggling with the pursuit of morality in the evangelical church. Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe Christ calls us to a life of holiness. He says if we love him, we will obey him.
Here’s the thing, he is the one we love, obedience is the product. Not the other way around. Forcing obedience doesn’t create love for God. The difference is subtle. It’s pharisaical. It’s wicked.
It seems, for the past 30 years or so, this is what the church has been trying to do. Organizations were created to lobby and legislate. Then we wonder why people get upset and call us “judgmental.” We protest and say, “But we preach a gospel of love and grace!”
No. No we don’t. We explain the rules.
Somewhere along the line we started telling people how to live, instead of who to serve. We started telling people what to do, instead of who to follow.
Our Bible is full of screwed up people, with messy stories, who loved God. They blew it in ways we would consider unforgivable. Still, they are forgiven.
I wonder how things would be different if we preached Christ crucified. If we spent time each day reading and wondering what loving him really looks like, then tried it. I wonder if our world would be different. If I would be different.
David had some significant moral failures. And penned the most beautiful words. For some reason, God chose to look past the failure, into his heart and use him anyway. I hope he’ll do that for me. I hope we’ll do it for each other.
Most of us would disqualify that kind of man and trash his books. Still, we read the Psalms of David. In them we find healing, encouragement, strength and refreshment.
I’m struggling with the pursuit of morality in the evangelical church. Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe Christ calls us to a life of holiness. He says if we love him, we will obey him.
Here’s the thing, he is the one we love, obedience is the product. Not the other way around. Forcing obedience doesn’t create love for God. The difference is subtle. It’s pharisaical. It’s wicked.
It seems, for the past 30 years or so, this is what the church has been trying to do. Organizations were created to lobby and legislate. Then we wonder why people get upset and call us “judgmental.” We protest and say, “But we preach a gospel of love and grace!”
No. No we don’t. We explain the rules.
Somewhere along the line we started telling people how to live, instead of who to serve. We started telling people what to do, instead of who to follow.
Our Bible is full of screwed up people, with messy stories, who loved God. They blew it in ways we would consider unforgivable. Still, they are forgiven.
I wonder how things would be different if we preached Christ crucified. If we spent time each day reading and wondering what loving him really looks like, then tried it. I wonder if our world would be different. If I would be different.
David had some significant moral failures. And penned the most beautiful words. For some reason, God chose to look past the failure, into his heart and use him anyway. I hope he’ll do that for me. I hope we’ll do it for each other.
Thanks for the reminder Jeff!
ReplyDeleteA fish gets cleaned AFTER it's caught. We keep trying to clean fish before they are caught.
Both catching and cleaning is the Holy Spirit's job...on occasion we get the privilege of being used by Him as He does that. Amazing that He ever uses us messy sinners.
Why he chooses to use us and his ability to do so is truly amazing. Thanks for the comment.
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