Here's my problem...
I don't think we need to beat ourselves up over our sin. I think that Christ took the punishment for it.
I like this phrase: God loves you just the way you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay that way.
I believe that God brings the change in our lives and will evict sin. - but, it's a life long process, one which He uses to teach us many lessons. I see too many Christians cowaring in fear of sin, checking behind their shoulder every other minute to see if it has crept up on them. They leave no time for joy. Andy Roberts preached an advent sermon entitled "Sin is Fun." I love him dearly for it. His premise was sin is fun but not fun enough. Sinning takes the fun out of sin.
Jesus set up ridiculous standards in the sermon on the mount - his point being that we are never going to live up to the measure of perfection ... so grab grace and give it to others. If I knew one person who wasn't struggling with lust I'd be a hell of a lot closer to siding with the conservatives ... but Jesus said that even if you lust you are guilty of adultery. Do I want an adulterous pastor - yeah. You bet, because it's that or none at all. I just hope he has found God's grace.
We only feel that the sin of that man in Corinth is bad because it isn't one we are committing. We would feel very differently if his sin had been lust or anger or hatred. Jesus included these sins as being as bad as murder. Would I want a murderer teaching my kids' Sunday School class - yeah. If he's found God's grace.
We can't live in perfection - we live in a beautifully sinful grace filled world. I still think Paul messed up. I think that we can rebel against sin taking hold of our lives ... but it isn't our job to fight it tooth and nail until we die. Christ did that.
I like this phrase: God loves you just the way you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay that way.
I believe that God brings the change in our lives and will evict sin. - but, it's a life long process, one which He uses to teach us many lessons. I see too many Christians cowaring in fear of sin, checking behind their shoulder every other minute to see if it has crept up on them. They leave no time for joy. Andy Roberts preached an advent sermon entitled "Sin is Fun." I love him dearly for it. His premise was sin is fun but not fun enough. Sinning takes the fun out of sin.
Jesus set up ridiculous standards in the sermon on the mount - his point being that we are never going to live up to the measure of perfection ... so grab grace and give it to others. If I knew one person who wasn't struggling with lust I'd be a hell of a lot closer to siding with the conservatives ... but Jesus said that even if you lust you are guilty of adultery. Do I want an adulterous pastor - yeah. You bet, because it's that or none at all. I just hope he has found God's grace.
We only feel that the sin of that man in Corinth is bad because it isn't one we are committing. We would feel very differently if his sin had been lust or anger or hatred. Jesus included these sins as being as bad as murder. Would I want a murderer teaching my kids' Sunday School class - yeah. If he's found God's grace.
We can't live in perfection - we live in a beautifully sinful grace filled world. I still think Paul messed up. I think that we can rebel against sin taking hold of our lives ... but it isn't our job to fight it tooth and nail until we die. Christ did that.
posted by Michael Airgood at 6:41 PM
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