Most of our readers probably know that the word gospel means good news. However, think about this — it’s only good news once we realize that we are sinners who need to be saved. If we believe we’re already “good” people, or can become good through our own efforts, there’s no need for it.
Take a look at this video clip of our new Pastor at St. Paul’s, as he clearly explains the Gospel and what it means to each of us.
For more posts about the Gospel see:
I’ve started a lectio divina study of 1 John. Here’s what caught my eye (and pierced my heart) in Chapter 1.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8
It’s easy to deceive ourselves when it comes to sin. We like to think that we’re basically “good” people. Maybe we don’t lie, steal, murder, or commit adultery, and so we feel pretty complacent. Other people are sinful — not us!
Lately I’ve been thinking about something that’s contained in the Via de Cristo examination of conscience that I use sometimes. Here’s what it says about how we might sin against God:
“Not made an effort to bear with Him the sins of the world, especially those of my own social group.”
Recently my husband and I watched a documentary called Final Account, in which Germans who had grown up in Nazi Germany were interviewed. Most of them felt guilty about what had been done to the Jews and others. They admitted that most people knew or had suspicions about what was going on, yet they didn’t try to intervene. Why? They were afraid. They felt powerless. They believed their own lives and the lives of family members were at stake. Would I have behaved differently? I’m not sure.
Here’s a closer example. When I was a child, growing up in the 50’s, segregation was still the rule in school and other public places. Interracial marriage was considered wrong. This was not fair, or just, but it was accepted. It was the way things were. My family and most others, went along with the status quo. We were busy with our own lives and problems, so it didn’t seem like something to worry about. Of course, I was quite young, but if I had been older, would I have acted? Probably not.
Today we like to believe that we have progressed and would no longer treat those of another race so callously, but think again. Many of the consumer good that we enjoy quite cheaply (some prime examples are coffee and clothing) are produced by people in other countries who are being used as slave labor, or something close to that. Yet, as a nation, we trade with these countries. Why? It’s in our own self interest. We don’t see people being used this way, and so it’s easy to deny.– but it is happening.
So friends, you can see how easy it is to deceive ourselves, to believe that we are not responsible. We do it because we’re young or fearful; we do it because it’s easier to go along with the crowd, or because it’s beneficial to us.
There’s just no getting around this fact– we’re all sinners.
“The most experienced psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the Cross of Jesus. The greatest psychological insight, ability, and experience cannot grasp this one thing: what sin is.
Worldly wisdom knows what distress and weakness and failure are, but it does not know the godlessness of men. And so it also does not know that man is destroyed only by his sin and can be healed only by forgiveness. Only the Christian knows this.
In the presence of a psychiatrist I can only be a sick man; in the presence of a Christian brother I can dare to be a sinner.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
Other quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the Church
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Praying For One Another
“Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45
In our Bible Study this week, somebody mentioned a time when she often missed church because on the weekends, she had to care for her mother who had developed Alzheimer’s. She said it was a time when she learned to become a servant to another person, someone who often wasn’t very nice to her.
I respect this lady for her devotion to her mother during a difficult time. I’m sure it was made easier because she was able to remember times when her mother had cared for her lovingly, times before her brain became affected by disease. Often in our daily life, we are all called to be servants to people who seem rude or mean, and we find it hard to love them and excuse them, because we don’t see a reason for their behavior. They don’t have a faulty brain.
It’s good at those times to remember that all of us are afflicted by the same disease which sometimes causes us to act out in ways that appear selfish and incomprehensible. That disease is called SIN. I’m not saying we submit to abuse from another, but we can give them the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes people act badly when they’re tired, they’ve had a bad day, feel out of control or somebody just “pushed their buttons.” Sometimes they act badly because they’ve learned bad behavior from others, or feel insecure, or have had to deal with trauma in the past. There are a million reasons. They don’t excuse sin, but they help to explain it. It is a kind of brain affliction and we all suffer from it to one degree or another, and sometimes we all need to be forgiven.
Sometimes we decide to avoid people who irritate us, annoy us, don’t appreciate us. That’s not the best solution. Getting to know another sinner (remember that’s someone just like you), may lead you to see their good qualities; it may allow you to influence them in a positive way; you may come to love them, even if you don’t always like them. It may even lead them to give you a second chance on the days you need it!
In the verses above, Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms that servanthood is required. We should probably start practicing today.
For more on being a servant, view these posts:
I’ve heard sin described in different ways. Obviously, whenever we disobey one of God’s laws, we sin. Sin has been called “missing the mark.” The literal meaning of the Latin word for sin is “curved in on itself.” So sin is being self-centered, considering only our own wants and needs. In a recent sermon, my husband described sin as our “condition.” That’s a bit different, but I liked it. Because of the original sin that we’re born with, sin is simply our condition, no different from any other physical disease or abnormality we deal with.
For example, I have slightly high blood sugar. That is my “condition.” Last year I took a Prevent Diabetes class, hoping to control it. For an entire year I learned about what I could do. I lost weight, added exercise to my daily routine and began to eat healthier foods. I was convinced that my hard work would have the results I wanted — lower blood sugar! Unfortunately my recent tests revealed that my blood sugar levels remained the same. My efforts did have some effects — it is certainly better for me to weigh less, exercise and eat a healthier diet–but they couldn’t change my underlying condition. It is evidently hereditary and I can only hope to hold it in check. I’ll never get rid of it.
The same is true of sin. It’s part of our DNA. Sinners are simply what we are. We can study the Bible, pray and attend worship services. We can do good deeds and serve others. All of these things will make us healthier spiritually, and maybe even physically…. but, will they change our condition? No. We’ll still be sinners, no matter how hard we try. We just can’t be saved on our own, and we can’t look down on other sinners, because we’re all in the same fix.
So, what is the solution? Well, admit our sin and our helplessness to change it. Give thanks that we have a Savior and so we don’t have to take care of the “sin condition” on our own. Then in thanks and gratitude, do those healthy, spiritual things that will lessen the effects of our sinful natures; things that will help us and help others.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:21-15
For further discussion on sin, you can go to these posts:
In Sunday School recently, we had a discussion about our church family, and how we should relate to these people who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are meant to be a blessing to the family of God, and that isn’t always easy. I found this quote from Eugene Peterson’s book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, and I think it addresses the situation well.
But of course, the fact that we are a family of faith does not mean we are one big happy family. The people we encounter as brothers and sisters in faith are not always nice people. The do not stop being sinners the moment they begin believing in Christ. They don’t suddenly metamorphose into brilliant conversationalists, exciting companions and glowing inspirations. Some of them are cranky, some of them are dull and others (if the truth must be spoken) a drag. But at the same time our Lord tells us that they are brothers and sisters in faith. If God is my Father, then this is my family.
So the question is not, “Am I going to be a part of a community of faith?’ but “How am I going to live in this community of faith?” God’s children do different things. Some run away and pretend the family doesn’t exist. Some move out and get an apartment of their own from which they return to make occasional visits, nearly always showing up for the parties and bringing a gift to show that they really do hold the others in fond regard. And some would never dream of leaving but cause others to dream it for them, for they are always criticizing what is served at meals, quarreling with the way the housekeeping is done and complaining that the others in the family are either ignoring or taking advantage of them. And some determined to find out what God has in mind by placing them in this community called a church, learn how to function harmoniously and joyously, and develop the maturity that is able to share and exchange God’s grace with those who might otherwise be viewed as nuisances.
Which kind of a family member are you? Do you bless others, or do you just want to be blessed?
Welcome to today’s blog post on Ecclesiastes 3…we continue with verse 8
A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
Such a contrast between these… love/hate, war/peace… But, God’s Word says, through King Solomon, that there is a proper time for both.
The first thing Verse 8 made me think of when reading it was the saying “love the sinner, hate the sin”. There are many people I know that live in sin… living together/sexual immorality outside of marriage, drug and alcohol addiction, people who are continually dishonest, cheat, or steal. I have friends who live in alternative lifestyles, people who have shopping/spending addictions, I have a friend that is addicted to food, I have people in my life that are dealing with abuse of some kind, friends who have anger management issues. Some of these people are Christians and some of them are not. But they all have one thing in common…my love.
If you have read some of my blogs, or you know me personally, you know that I love people! I have been a people person all my life. I was modelling my love for people, the way Jesus did, before I ever even gave my life to Him. I have always wanted to love people.
Growing up, I got into a lot of trouble. Some of my own doing, but some because of the company I kept. I always gave people the benefit of the doubt, never understood how someone could be cruel to someone else, and I always stood up for people that were picked on because I knew how it felt.
I had a lot of heartache in my childhood. I was picked on, made fun of, called names, had cruel jokes played on me more than once, and not just by kids at school but my own family as well. I never felt as though I really belonged anywhere. I always felt like an outsider and always felt like the “black sheep” of the family.
It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that Jesus started to change my perspective. I realized how to look at people through what I call, “God goggles”. My opinion of others behavior didn’t change but I was able to look at them with a new filter. One thing I’ve learned in my life is that people who are angry, bitter, committing crimes, abusing others, trying to escape reality with drugs, alcohol, or alternative lifestyles…they are people who are hurting… just like I was when I have displayed some of those traits in my own life. People express the hurt in their hearts in so many ways.
And so that is why I am friends with all types of people. I don’t discriminate. People have asked me “How can you be friends with so and so?” And I tell them, “Just because you can see their sin doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle with some of those same sins, you just don’t see it.” With some people I do take more caution for obvious reasons… I can now love them but hate the things they do. How can I do this? I’ve learned something as a Christian that I wished I had learned a long time ago… boundaries. I stick to my boundaries and guarding my heart above all else.
The second thing verse 7 made me think of was war and peace… no, not the book! I thought about war and peace in my heart. There are times in my life when I have been at war with myself, at war with God, at war with other people. There have been times in my life when I have had extreme peace in my heart, contentment within myself, my relationships, and my faith. Like I wrote in yesterday’s blog post, it is possible to be in a state of two opposite conditions of the heart simultaneously.
One for me that comes up often is spiritual warfare. As a warrior in God’s army, I am constantly fighting to protect myself from the devil’s attacks but I am at complete peace because I know that no matter what fiery arrows come my way, God is walking alongside of me. He is my heavenly father, my protector, my healer, my counselor, my provider, my comforter, my strength, and my power. That is where my peace comes from. Without it I would be lost, just like I was before I found it. Without it, I would be just like the lost, hurting people I know, who have no hope.
I love to sing! If you know me, you know that about me too! There is a song that I love to sing when I am praising my Savior for all He is for me… Because of Who You Are by Vicki Yohe. She is my favorite gospel singer. In fact it is one of the songs I have been practicing to sing at church. These are the lyrics…
Because of who you are, I give you glory
Because of who you are, I give you praise
Because of who you are, I will lift my voice and say
Lord, I worship you because of who you are
Lord, I worship you because of who you are
You see your Jehovah, Jehovah Jireh, my provider
Jehovah Nissi, Lord, you reign in victory
Jehovah Shalom, my Prince of Peace
And I worship you because of who you are
The words to this song remind me that I am His and He is mine. He is my everything, just because of who He is.
Who is God to you? Is He your everything? Or do other things hold a higher place in your heart? Are you spending more time with God or with the things of the world?
How about those “God goggles”? Do you look at others through the eyes of Christ? Or do you sit in judgement at the speck of sin in the eyes of others, meanwhile forgetting the log of sin in your own?
God loves you and so do I,
Leslie
photo courtesy of hannahhelpme.com
(and by the way, my chihuahua looks just like this pic!)
We witness to others out of love. God is love and the gospel is His Good News for sinners(that’s all of us.) We love others because He first loved us, and we want to share that message with the world. Wouldn’t life be better if we loved God with all our heart, mind and soul, and our neighbors as ourselves? What could be more loving than to tell someone about Jesus?
I’m not a friend of Bill’s and I’ve never been to an AA meeting. However I have read a number of books written by members of AA and also books about AA. I think people who practice the 12 steps are some of the most spiritual folks around and I often wonder if all us shouldn’t use them as a guide to Christian living. After all, don’t we all suffer from addiction to sin?
Imagine what would happen if we got up in front of a group of people on some regular basis and said, “My name is (fill in the blank) and I’m a sinner.” I know, we confess every week as part of the worship service, but that can easily become rote and meaningless. Many of us say the words (at least some of the time) without really thinking about them.
Imagine how it would feel to regularly do a “fearless moral inventory.” You know, actually admitting and taking responsibility for the sins we have committed, instead of sweeping them under the rug and hoping we could just “move on” by ignoring them and hoping they never come out into the light.
Imagine what the world would be like if we actually tried to make amends to people when we wronged them. Saying “I’m sorry and I’ll try not to do that again” can mean a lot if it’s sincere. Doing what we can to correct the situation we created means even more.
What if we tried, actually tried to be open to God’s leading and grow closer to Him? What would happen if prayer became a priority in every Christian’s life? Not something reserved for Sundays, but an integral part of each day.
Suppose, having worked through the steps ourselves, we committed to carrying the gospel message to others? Not because it’s our duty as a good church member, but because we knew what relief and peace it would bring to many suffering souls?
These are some of the things AA promotes and that addicts who are “working the program” do. It doesn’t work for everyone, because as one author says,
“Many less desperate alcoholics tried AA, but did not succeed because they could not make the admission of hopelessness.”
In other words, they have to hit bottom. The same is true of Christians. We know we have a problem with sin, but we have the mistaken illusion that we’ve got it under control. We can live with it. It causes some problems but nothing we can’t handle. Well, read the sermon on the mount (our sermon topic last Sunday) and think again. If you’re angry with someone, you’re on the path to murder; if you insult your brother by calling him a fool you’ve born false witness, when you look at someone lustfully, you’re in danger of adultery; if you divorce (no matter if it’s legal or amicable) you’ve broken a covenant relationship. We all have done these kinds of things and more. We can’t manage our sin on our own. We need a Savior.
Think of the church as “Sinners Anonymous.” Take the first step and admit the hopelessness and helplessness of your life without Christ. Then live like someone who knows things have to change. I’m going to try to.
Lutheran Ladies Connection 