Into the Fire

This is a tough one to write—knowing when some of you read it, there’s going to be mad all over the place.

Hypocrisy: the feigning of beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess [or practice]; insincerity

Funny thing about the unbelievers—they recognize it in an instant. You know why? Because even the lost know the difference between someone who follows Jesus Christ and someone who follows the devil. They can see the difference between holiness being practiced and holiness being preached without the practicing part. The “Do as I say, not as I do” thing is instantly recognizable. When a “real” Christian blows it, the first one to point the finger at him is someone who is not in Christ with something akin to “And you’re supposed to be a Christian!”

Yes, at some point we all face our challenge—our particular flavor in the battle with hypocrisy. The thing we’ll let slide because, well, because we just really wanted to do it again. Or is it really wrong? I mean, so and so is a Christian, and they don’t think anything about doing it. As if so and so is our model for right and wrong, good and evil—as if so and so died on the cross for us.

The one thing we know for sure is Jesus Christ loves us. While we were sinners, He gave His life for us. Our names are engraved on His hands (Isaiah 49:16).

Lest we get confused about the tendency of the human flesh: “I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” (Romans 6:19)

Either we accept Jesus Christ was without sin or we do not. We can’t manufacture sins we’ve decided are not really sins and then decide He probably did them because it suits our purposes. He was pure, holy, and just. He loved purely, wholly, and justly. He gave His life and took the punishment for sin. Do you remember how brutal that punishment was? Why are we watering down the content(s) of sin to suit our own purposes? We’re trapped in a body of flesh, always subject to blowing it and having to confess to our Lord to receive His grace and forgiveness. But I don’t get why we want to campaign for attitudes, actions, and words which defend, exonerate, or somehow glorify what His word would indicate is sin.

If the holier-than-thou crowd offends you, don’t act like them. If the hip crowd seems flippant to the values you profess, don’t act like them. But for crying out loud, love them anyway and quit snarling and quibbling over the differences. “My brothers, whoever turns a sinner away from his error will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)

If you think you really want to reach the lost, then you better act like Jesus did. He was totally different from them even when he was hanging out in their haunts. It was no different for him when He was with the Pharisees than it was when He was with the drunkards. He remained the same: set apart with His eyes on the cross. Giving them more than miracles, He gave them his unconditional love, attention, grace, truth, and compassion. He didn’t “bend” his values depending on who he was with—He didn’t have to because His were perfect. That’s precisely why sinners were saved.

So, if you’re spouting love for the lost, then you better first love your brother and sister in Christ because none of us are any more lovable than the lost. We’re just people—all of us. Nothing more, nothing less.

So, to bring it on home for writers, established, published, and unpublished . . . Who do we think we are anyway? Those with expertise offer their advice, services, opinions. Those who need it, take it. Those who don’t, don’t. Each one of us has an opinion, right or wrong. None of us is any more valuable in the eyes of God than another.

If God has given us a call, a job, an exercise to complete for Him, then make sure it’s done for His glory. As John the Baptist said so eloquently: “I must decrease. He must increase.” And if God has given this call, job, etc. to you, it’s up to Him—not you—what He does with it. Have faith in God, not man, not yourself. Apart from Him, you can do nothing. Make sure it’s Him you’re honoring with your writing, your voice, your diligence. Make sure your determination is driven by Him, not you. Put aside your pride and act accordingly. Die to yourself. If you were worthy to do what you wanted before you were enveloped in the love of Jesus, you wouldn’t have turned to Him and given your life back to your Creator. He will lift you up—you’re not capable of it.

And finally, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14-15)

Father, there is hurt, anger, and frustration out there. The enemy is clever with his schemes. I pray that each one of us would see how the evil one is trying to influence us in our relationships, reactions, reading, and writing. I pray we would be diligent in seeking hard after you, Lord. You are Truth. Help us all to honor you in all that we do, say, teach, believe, know, and show. We ask your blessing on all of our efforts to obey. Strengthen us with your divine touch and let our ears be attentive to your voice. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.