I have an ongoing passion for Servant's Heart Fellowship to be pursuing purity and holiness. We live in a culture that is very actively seducing the American church into worldliness and because of the sinful inclinations of our own hearts, we are often wide open to this seduction. The results can be catastrophic and heartbreaking. I recently read an insightful article by Nancy Leigh DeMoss that addresses this concern, and I'd like to share just a portion with you:
"If plumbing or septic problems caused raw sewage to overflow into the hallways and aisles of your Church, one thing is for sure: the problem would not be ignored. Everyone would be horrified. The health hazard would prompt immediate action. Business would not continue as usual. Services would be relocated and crews would work overtime, if necessary, until the problem was resolved.
The fact is that something far more serious than raw sewage is running through the lives of countless professing Christians and most of our evangelical churches. And by and large, we are oblivious to the threat.
The floodgates of unholiness - including wilful, presumptuous, blatant sin - have opened up with in the church. Adultery, drunkenness, abuse, profanity, outbursts of temper, divorce, pornography, immodest dress - such sins among professing believers, often members in good standing of respected local churches, are no longer rare exceptions.
And then there are the more "respectable" forms of sewage that are often overlooked and tolerated among believers - things like overspending, unpaid debts, gluttony, gossip, greed, covetousness, bitterness, pride, critical spirits, backbiting, temporal values, self-centeredness, and broken relationships. Sadly, the church - the place that is intended to showcase the glory and holiness of God - has become a safe place to sin." (Spirit of Revival, vol. 39, #2)
One word: Wow! I think Nancy has summed this up very vividly for us. By the way, this is exactly why we study the doctrine of sin at our church and read books like Jerry Bridges' Respectable Sins. We want to be openly honest about indwelling sin, active about growing in humility and holiness, and always gazing at the cross of Christ with increased appreciation for that incredible and costly sacrifice!
4 comments:
Romans 5
(20)Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, (21)so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6
(1)What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (2)By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Man, after reading the title of your post I was throwing on my work clothes and looking for your number on speed dial. You should really be more considerate when throwing around catchy titles just trying to get people to read.
Other than that, good post.
Jason - Sorry about the scare... I wish I could take credit for the catchy title, but I took it straight from the article by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I'm not that creative!
Bonnie - In addition to Romans, I also thought of the many struggles recorded in 1st Corinthians - and how the Word is so relevant to us today!
Aww, Dan...don't sell yourself short. You could have easily come up with a creative useage of "sewage" on your own.
Heh.
(If ya can't give your pastor a hard time who can ya, KWIM?)
This flesh doesn't like to dwell too long in 1 Corinthians. My toes get stepped on a lot. But it's good. The Word is always good. ALL of the Word.
1 Cor. 10:11-13
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
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