Uncle Pharisee Wants You!

How To Be A Pharisee Tip #101:  Get so caught up looking righteous that you forget the need to pursue righteousness. 

As I continue to create posts that deal with the human condition of sin, I want to make a very clear distinction between my growing hatred for sin and a self-righteous, Pharisaical attitude. 

It's not natural for us to hate the things our flesh is craving for.  It is natural for us to crave self-piety and a sense of "arrival" in the things of God.  I write about the dangers of sin and their enslaving nature because the more I can expose sin for what it is, the more I become aware of my ever-increasing need for Christ; the more I realize my need for Christ, the less I desire the things of the flesh; the less I indulge in the desires of the flesh, the more I allow Christ to shine through me; the more I allow Christ to shine through me, the less Pharisaical I become; the less Pharisaical I become, the more I can genuinely reach people with the truth about sin and it's enslaving nature. 

It can appear to be a fine-line between legalism and the pursuit of righteousness.  One is sinful; one is necessary.  Don't allow the former to overshadow the latter. 

Just One More...

"Just one more."  "Just one more time." 

These are the famous last words of those who have come to realize their sin is enslaving them but refuse to let God change their heart.  They continue to allow pleasures, sensations, feelings, desires and habits to be the worshipful center of their lives.  The alcoholic says "just one drink, I can handle it this time;" the glutton "one more splurge, then I'll start a diet; the adulterer, "just one more fling, then I'll work on the wife;" the pornographer, "just a few more clicks then I'll ask for help;" and the list goes on. 

The thing is, people that use those phrases above "get it" and yet they still choose the flesh over the Spirit; bondage over freedom.  Just like the golden calfs in the OT, these people choose rediculous things over The One who gives abundant life and freedom both now and in eternity. 

Sin isn't a freakin' diet that you choose to do "one more time" and then start fresh on Monday.  It's a matter of the heart.  If you have the attitude "one more time," you're heart is clearly fixed on the flesh and "one more time" equates to "one more dig" into the grave of a damned soul.  Just sayin'...

Ready by Relationship

We shouldn’t need to “rise to the occasion” but rather step in and do what we have trained to do (i.e. “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; criticize, rebuke, and encourage, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Being ready to “speak graciously, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)

Are we prepared for this? Are we in such relation with Christ that we are ready AND willing to step in and do the work he is ready and willing to give us? The Creator of the Universe wants to use you and I to communicate his goodness to all people and see them set free from the bondage of sin. (Yea, that’s Brad Pitt x Infinity on the awesomeness scale). In fact, he has set up a system in which it may be the only way for others to see His mystery revealed. This being through the transformation of us who were once defined by our sin, but are now set on a path of insight to see sin for what it truly is; bondage and slavery. Therefore, we have salvation; the recognition of the brokenness and slavery within sin and Christ providing the means by which to live in its bondage no more.

The wisdom and insight provided by the Spirit and through scripture has given us the opportunity to taste the presence of God in this life; here and now. The more we can turn from sin, the more we can taste the original goodness in all things that once were in the beginning and that will be in eternity with Christ.

So how do we get prepared to live out the 2 verses above? Our preparedness comes through the pursuit of Christ. The more we pursue a relationship with Christ, the more freedom we have from the bondage of sin; the more freedom we have, the more goodness we taste; the more goodness we taste, the more joy we have about that goodness; the more joy we have, the more we feel compelled to share that goodness and joy with others that they too may be released from the bondage of their sin; the more we share with others, the more people come to Christ and share in His goodness; escaping the hell in the present as well as the hell to come (i.e. the eternal absence of the presence of God where no goodness could ever exist). 

So when are we ready?  We are ready when we are in relationship.

(And Yes, God does like long, hand-in-hand strolls in the woods)

Hear Ye, Hear Ye...The End is Drawing Near!!-1/1

Unicorns...Proud Steed of "The Guardians"???

It totally hit me today that there may be some serious theological connections between Unicorns and Guardian Angels.  Through much study and meditation, I have uncovered what I believe to be the proud steed of Guardian Angels...the Unicorn! 

Let's break this down:

Wings...check

Loyalty...check

Supernatural...check

Mysterious...check

Allusive...check

Able to eliminate you with one single thrust...check

Unless you can prove otherwise...Ride Uni's Ride!!!

Chasing Culture?

All Rabbit Trails...

Nothing I write about is an original idea (total understatement).  Sure they're my own thoughts, but they're only rabbit trails of books I've read, messages I've heard, movies I've sat through and songs I've listened to.  None of us have any truly original ideas, especially as it pertains to Christianity.  And if there were any "original ideas" claiming to be Christian, we should probably steer clear of them anyway (i.e. Mormanism, Jehovah's Witness, etc).  However, although we're not creating any new ideas (and shouldn't be), I think the way in which we communicate these ideas should seek to be original and specific to the generation in which we live.  Just like Paul communicated differently to the Greeks and Hebrews, highlighting very different things about the nature of Christ yet conveying the same core message, I think we have an obligation to communicate the message of Christ in a way that can be understood by our generation and culture; all without watering down or losing the effectiveness found in scripture.  But therein lies the problem, because as our church culture becomes more and more "culture-like," the more ridiculous and far-reaching commands like "pursuing righteousness" and "putting our flesh to death" appears.  This is even true regarding "staple" theological beliefs such as the existence of hell.  It could be that in the pursuit to reach culture, we've lost our way regarding the things of Christ. 

So the challenge to myself and you handful of readers is, how do we effectively communicate the nature of Christ to those both in and out of the church walls; all without watering down or straying from the original message? (i.e. "living in the Spirit," "narrow is the road," "taking up our cross daily," etc.)  What does our own life need to look like in order to effectively communicate these things?  How do we get past the "well you're just as sinful as me" mentality when trying to sharpen other believers?  How do we keep from becoming Pharisaical and religious in our approach and appearance?  (Comments are open so share your ideas).