Thought for Tuesday, July 9th

July 9, 2013                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

All Or Nothing

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

-          St. Augustine

The Bible ends with this warning: “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” – Revelation 22:19

Yet, how many times, in our current society, do we try to water down or selectively ignore certain parts of God’s words to codify and satisfy the itching ears of those who are around us so that they can feel good about themselves and so that we don’t have to feel convicted or responsible for our words and deeds.  Even many who profess to believe that the gospel is the unerring words of God for the souls of men selectively teach and preach a soft gospel of love and tolerance so that the pews will stay filled and the coffers will be full.

God does love us but He does not love our sin and calling it anything other than sin, does not change what it is or the consequences it will bring.  Society and modern philosophy tells us we need to feel good about ourselves and we need to surround ourselves with positive energies: yet God says we need to humble ourselves and repent of our wicked ways and seek His face, while on our knees calling out for His grace and mercy to sustain us and His Spirit to empower us.

Lying is no longer a sin: it is a justified manipulation of the manner in which we present the reality so that it is more palatable and less offensive.  We can no longer call sinners heathens, vipers and snakes, as Jesus did:  we feel we must label them as troubled souls seeking their place in the world.  We are in fear of calling Hell hot and real because it has a negative connotation: so we must propagate a theology that says everyone one is good and there is no absolute evil or consequence for sin.

I often wonder if modern pastors preached the gospel and spoke with the same boldness that Jesus did, if they would hold their jobs for very long.

We need to get back to the basics of the gospel and take it all for what it really is: God’s truth for our lives and the guidelines by which we need to live.

It’s an all or nothing proposition, when you stop and think about it.  You either believe it all or you don’t really believe any of it.

Prayer:

Father, it is far to easy to water down the gospel to justify our lives: but that is not what you require of your children: help me to embrace to total truth of your Word, even when it hurts and requires me to change who I am or what it is I do.