Grace Talk But Not The Walk

I have read a few blogs lately that have been discussing legalism.  They were actually good posts  for a change!  Legalism is one of those topics that I hate to even mention because it tends to bring out the nastiness in people.

I have found that it is often a word used to try and discredit another and their views or actions if one does not agree with them.

One may see the actions of another and deem them as being legalistic without taking the time to understand why one is doing what they are doing or truly knowing the individual’s heart in the matter.  That is the difference between us earthly, sinful creatures and the Holy Lord.

1 Samuel 16:7b “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

It is so easy for us to look at others and think that if so and so does this or that they are sinning based on our own sinful past and struggles. Here is an excerpt from Your Sacred Calling on the subject.

Entire blogs are set up “warning” other Christians how they may spot legalistic churches or groups, or even how to judge whether or not a friend is a legalist. Most of their warnings aren’t based on Scripture or reason; most of their complaints are based upon their personal testimonies or experiences from when they, themselves, were legalists.

To me, that’s the most disturbing part. Since when are we called to superimpose our own past sins or judgmental attitudes on others? If you were a legalist at some point in your life, and thought that anyone who (insert extra-biblical teaching here) was sinning, then own your own sin; but, don’t get it in your head that all your brothers and sisters in Christ who seem to “look like you did” on the outside have the same sinful mindset on the inside!

Here are just a few examples I have personally experienced.

• One should never use a prayer book because it is rote and not personal communication.
• One should not read, quote, or adhere to confessions because they are works of men.

It can seem as if those who are continually calling for the life of grace in opposition to the life of what they perceive to be legalism is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.  For one to automatically reject anything that they think might even hint at looking legalistic as being without any merit or good without consideration, is a legalism of its own.

Zealously holding to and sharing one’s convictions also can lead to opposition.  Here are comments I have heard when asked to share a conviction in which someone else may disagree.

• One can only be zealous about their convictions if they do not offend me or they will at least acknowledge that my point of view is just as true.
• If one is too zealous about something I do not agree with then they are just pushing their views upon me.

My response is:

I am called to be zealous for the Lord and the things he has taught me through his Word and Spirit.  I am not called to validate what another believes on the matter.  Just because I do not validate and deem as just as true as my beliefs does not mean that I am pushing my beliefs upon another.  I can validate that one does believe differently and I can come to understand their beliefs and still see them as inconsistent with scripture.

I am willing to listen to differing opinions on things, to hear one out, and to seek the Lord on a matter. But if I do not come to the same conviction as you does not mean that I am hard-headed, legalistic, self-righteous, or prideful.  It simply means that your words have not come in agreement with what the Spirit and the Word have taught me thus far in my journey with the Lord.

Here is an excerpt from Like a Warm Cup of Coffee:

You are *not* a legalist if by faith and love for the Lord you obey His law – people will tell you you are, but you are not.
You are a legalist if you keep God’s law in order to gain or keep your salvation.

You are *not* a legalist if you believe professing Christians should obey the Lord, with love & humilty.
You are a legalist if you believe that your obedience makes you more acceptable to God than others who are not on your level.

You are *not* a legalist if you have high standards, or if you are more precise in your understanding of obedience.
You are a legalist if you think your higher standards make you more righteous.

You are *not* a legalist ifyou exhort others to obey God’s word.
You are a legalist if you bind men’s consciences to man’s tradition.

Another problem in this area is where people draw the line on what is called “personal conviction”.  Today in the church is the thinking that what is right for one may not be right for another and we should just let each live as God calls accordingly.  I agree to a point.  However, there are some things that scripture does clearly teach.  Many disagree on to what degree or how explicit things need to be taught before they are deemed important enough to really take a stand on.  What one person sees as a non-essential another may see as being something that is very clearly taught in scripture.

We must always keep in mind that spiritual maturity or lack there of plays a large role in these matters.   Not to hold ourselves up or to diminish another but we need to be cognizant of that fact.  If we are aware and considerate of this truth then we can be evaluating our own hearts and move forward in an understanding and gracious manner(not necessitating an all encompassing acceptance).  As Christians we are all traveling that narrow road which leads to Christlikeness.  There is freedom along this path but the path is still the narrow way.  We are all in different places and at different maturity levels along this journey.  This is something to keep in mind.

Most often in discussions of legalism there are two sides.  Those sides are the one who is perceived to be bound by legalism and the grace talker.  The sad thing is that the grace talker is usually so busy trying to point out the other’s legalistic bondage that they do not realize they are bound as well and they forget to exercise the grace that they are proclaiming.  They want grace extended to them in the manner of validating their beliefs (which are possibly less restrictive) and coming to agreement with them without extending that same grace to that one who does not, cannot and/or will not validate.

Snow, Snow, Snow

Big beautiful snow! I love it when we get a big dumping of snow! I am one of those crazy people who loves the snow! Along with it being beautiful and FUN, I find it to be such a great reminder of what the Lord has done for me!

Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

With this in mind as we come to celebrate the first coming of our Savior looking forward to his return, here are some photos of our white, white snow! Enjoy!

The deck railing–two feet of snow…..

Tree covered in snow, look at the tree trunk to see how deep it is.

Children on a pile, notice the newspaper mailbox.

Inside the beginnings of our fort.

The Cyber “church” and Biblical Peacemaking

This is not normally something I do, however, I decided to write a brief post for my wife’s blog ; something I have been considering as a result of the recent and ongoing blogger conflict that seems pervasive on the web. The fundamental question I believe many are trying to find the answer to in this quagmire is how to resolve on-line conflict biblically. How does one apply church discipline in this setting? I submit that you can’t. Why? Because the cyber (or on-line) “church”, while a loose affiliation and fellowship of believers in Christ Jesus, which makes up the Body of Christ, is not a local church with members who willingly place themselves under the leadership and authority of common Elders. Elders who meet the qualifications found in 1Timothy and Titus and who are responsible under the authority and leadership of Christ, the Head of the Church, to shepherd God’s people. Because of this lack of true accountability, abuses under the Banner of Christ and claim of Christian love can and do abound. Having said that, I would warn others in this forum not to set yourself up as a pseudo “elder” or mediator trying to exercise authority and accountability over those who have not invited or agreed upon you being in that position.

Now while formal church discipline (taking the matter to the Elders of the local church for mediation) cannot be exercised within the cyber “church”, those who participate in this forum should make every effort – for the glory of God and the name of Christ – to pursue biblical peacemaking. Let me share the following with you from the Word of God and the teaching ministry of Jim Newheiser (The Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship). Some of this is also out of the book, The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, by Ken Sande.

1. You cannot completely avoid conflict (Rom. 12:9-21). Conflict is a result of sin: our selfish pride which desires to set ourselves above all else.
2. Peace is sometimes out of your reach. You cannot make peace at the expense of truth and righteousness (Mt. 10:34-38; 18:15f; Jer. 8:11; Acts 20:28; Pr. 23:23; I Co. 5:6-7 15:33; Titus 3:9-11). There are some people with whom it is impossible to make peace (I Co. 7:15). God does not hold you responsible for the sinful failures of others.
3. Conflict is very dangerous. Don’t make things worse through unbiblical methods of handling conflict. Some fight seeking revenge, verbal attacks, gossip, slander, assault, murder, lawsuits (Rom. 12:17-21; Mt. 5:21-22; Pr. 11:9; 12:18; 14:17; 18:8; 29:22; I Co. 6:1-8). Others flee trying through denial seeking to escape.
4. Conflict brings opportunity: to glorify God, to be more like Christ, to serve others, and to bear witness to a watching world (Rom. 8:28-29 12:14, 20; I Co. 10:31).

If at this point you are thinking about everything the “other person” has done, is responsible for and should confess and repent of….you are thinking of the wrong person. As one offending or offended, it is not your responsibility to set the account straight and make the other party “pay”. Remember vengeance belongs to God and our anger does not produce the righteousness of God. Instead, you should be focused on your responsibility to do all that is within your power to pursue peace (Mt. 5:9 Heb. 12:14).

1. Don’t stir up strife (Rom. 16:1; Pr. 6:19; 26:21; 18:21; 10:19; Ti. 3:10; Eph. 4:29; Js. 1:19; 3:1f).
2. Overlook minor offences (Rom. 14:19; I Pet. 4:8; Pr. 10:12; 17:14; 19:11; 29:11,20,22; 25:28; Mt. 5:39-40; I Co. 6:7; Phil. 2:5f).
3. Confess your sins: get the log out of your eye (Mt. 7:1-5; 5:23-24; Pr. 28:13). You must deal with your own sin before you can help others to overcome theirs. Face up to the root of sin in your own heart (Js 4:1-2; Pr. 2:24; Mt. 15:18). Seek forgiveness for whatever fault you may have (even if it is only 10%). Seek forgiveness biblically (Mt. 5:23-24; II Co. 7:10-11) which includes: (a)addressing everyone involved, (b) avoid if, but, maybe, (c) admit specifically, (d) acknowledge the hurt you caused , (e) accept the consequences, (f) alter your behavior, (g) ask for forgiveness.
4. Be ready to forgive others as God has forgiven you (Ps. 86:5; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:12-14). This means that forgiveness is not optional for forgiven people (Mt. 6:12; 18:21-35; Jer. 31:34). You must make the promises of forgiveness (from The Peacemaker, Mt. 6:12; I Co. 13:5). I will not think about this incident. I will not bring this incident up and use it against you. I will not talk to others about this incident. I will not allow this incident to stand between us.

Finally, if necessary in this forum, find a neutral party all involved can agree upon who can provide godly counsel and wisdom to mediate for reconciliation so that the name of Christ may be glorified. Bottom line: be humble and do all you can to pursue peace – even if that means you must give up your “right” to restitution so that God is not dishonored in your behavior.

PapaArcher

Repent, For the Kingdom of God

I am not so sure it is considered in good form or not to repost an entire blog post from somewhere else but I thought that this was definitely worth sharing. It was posted on the Ligonier Ministry Blog today.  That is a great place for solid, toe-stepping yet encouraging Biblical guidance.  This is one I read today that I think everyone should read often.  (I am not thinking of anyone in particular, I was too busy rubbing my own sore toes).  We often take our sin more lightly than we should.  It is easy to point fingers and say we are not as bad as so and so.  That is an easy way to justify our own actions but it is not what we are called to do.  We are called to a higher standard than each other.  We are called to repent.

Lord, forgive me for where I have failed you, for thinking more highly of myself than I ought, for focusing on the apologies I should receive (and may never get) and remember to give the ones I owe.  May I bring honor and glory to your name.  Amen

Now for the article.  Watch your toes!

Repent, For the Kingdom of God

December 4, 2009 @ 6:40 AM | Posted By: Tim Challies
by R.C. Sproul, Jr.

How quick are you to repent? If you're anything like me, you've just this moment added several more things to repent of. First, pride. I suspect that you, if you are like me, think yourself a pretty decent repenter. You likely wish that others would learn from your wonderful example, and do likewise. Indeed, now that I mention it, you can think of several people that owe you an apology, and aren't you the one for being so gracious about it up until now?

Second, lying. I suspect that you, if you are like me, have in thinking all of the above, lied to yourself in an egregious way. You are deluded, your delusions springing forth from your deceitful heart like so many dandelions on a spring day. Third, pride again. Here your pride is less about you and more about Jesus. That is, our failure to understand what failures we are is in turn a reflection on the work of Christ. We diminish His work on our behalf when we diminish the scope of our own sin. Fourth, unrepentance. That is, because you are a bigger sinner, like me, than you are willing to face, you have not repented for your sins like you ought. You have repented lightly for dark sins.

What should you do? You could get mad at me for pointing this all out. Or, you could repent.

You could ask that God would forgive you for thinking too highly of yourself. Ask that He would empower you to be swift to see your own sins, and swift in turn to confess them both to Him and to those that we wrong. You could ask that you might have earned the right to have etched on your gravestone, “He was quick to repent.” And you could thank God for His provision of His Son, so that we can be forgiven. You could ask Him to gently remind you, each time you find yourself unhappy about the sins of your family, your neighbors, your fellow parishioners from your church, your parents, your elders, that such would be a prompt to you to honestly assess your own weaknesses. That we are sinners is a problem solved by the coming of Jesus the Savior. That we don't know we are sinners, that is a problem for the Holy Spirit, who convicts, and sanctifies.

The answer to every problem is simple–repent and believe the gospel.

As frustrating as our own blindness might be, the light has come into the world. As maddening as our weaknesses might be, the Sovereign One has come and dwelt among us. As embarrassing as our pride might be, the one who is poor in Spirit has sent the Spirit to lead us into all truth, including the ugly truth about ourselves.

The coming year is likely to bring political unrest. Were I a betting man, I would guess in turn that it will be a year filled to the brim with economic hardship. We can expect to see more cultural decline. All of which will be for nothing if we do not learn the first lesson, to repent and believe.

Before we take over the levers of power, before we dominion our way back to prosperity, before we press the crown rights of King Jesus over the culture, may we remember the crown of thorns, and repent. And when we have repented, let us repent again for the anemia of our repentance. Then, let us believe that He is at work in us, both to do and to will His good pleasure. And all these things will be added unto us.

via Repent, For the Kingdom of God | Ligonier Ministries.

Are You Feeling Guilty?

Ok, so I swiped this from another blog that I read. Thank you Nate over at Presbyterian Thoughts for typing it all up!

What I found so interesting is that my hubby was talking to me about this very issue just last night!  He was sharing about what he is reading, listening to, and learning in his Nouthetic Counseling studies. It is a definitely something to Ponder.

JG Vos, in the 1940s, asked the question, “What mistaken idea about guilt is common today? I believe that his answer is just as relevant 50 years later:

“Today it is very common to confuse the feeling of guilt with the fact of guilt. Popular notions of psychiatry have led many people to suppose that there is nothing to guilt beyond the feeling of guilt, and that if they can manage somehow to get rid of that troublesome feeling of guilt, that they will have nothing to fear.

The legitimate practice of psychiatry deals with neurotic or mentally abnormal individuals only. Such persons may have an abnormal feeling or complex of guilt which destroys their happiness and usefulness, and which is entirely different from their real guilt before God. It may be possible to relieve such an abnormal feeling of guilt by psychiatric methods. But real guilt before God cannot be affected one whit by psychiatry. Guilt remains guilt, regardless of whether we are obsessed by it or unconscious of it.

Real guilt is not a mere subjective feeling, but an objective fact concerning a person’s relation to God. A person may be so hardened in sin that he is entirely unconscious of his guilt, and vainly imagines himself to be a righteous person on the road to heaven. By the special work of the Holy Spirit a sinner is brought under conviction of sin and then realizes himself to be guilty before God and deserving of eternal punishment in hell. Imaginary guilt or the mere feeling of guilt may be removed by psychiatry, but real guilt can only be removed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the sinner’s substitute.”

So feeling guilty? If you are then Jesus is the real answer. He taught us to pray, “forgive us our debts”. So many in our culture attempt to medicate away what only the blood of Christ can heal.

Having a Failure Kind of Day

There are days when I just feel “off my game.”  Nothing seems to go as I planned.  There are days when I feel like a total failure and wonder if my family might be better off with someone who was better at (insert anything here) than I am.  Then I remind myself, “I am not perfect and I never will be, at least not before the Lord comes!”  This road of sanctification can seem so very long at times.  I want to be there already, who after all doesn’t want to do everything right all the time!  Oh wait, that sounds a bit like impatience, discontentment, and self-reliance!  Shoot, I failed again!

It isn’t that I do not have constant reminders of the things I do right.  I do.  I often have people who tell me.  I have a husband who tells me.  I even have children who tell me.  I see the fruit of my labor in my children.  Yet, I also have constant reminders of my failings.  I have those who seek to tear me down to make themselves feel better about their own shortcomings.  I have the occasions when my children remind me they too are fallen sinners (by attitudes and actions) yet saved by grace the same as I am.  I have the Holy Spirit indwelling me as an ever constant reminder of how and how far I fall short.

The thing is…… who do I listen to?  What do I do with what I hear?

Failings sometimes seem to make us loose our focus.  Do you ever forget that it is the Lord who works and begin to think it is all about you?  Well, I will be honest here.  Sometimes I do.  I begin to think, if I just try harder I will do it right today!  A friend recently said when speaking of being a perfect parent, “When my children are asleep in their beds and I remember how I failed, I plan to be the perfect parent tomorrow, then we wake up.”

If I am focused on the Lord.  I will hear and take heart His correction.  I may even grieve that I have failed so greatly. BUT, I will remember that it is He who works all things together.  The work that the Lord does through me is still HIS work.  I will be ever mindful of His love, grace, mercy, and power to overcome.

If I allow  my focus to be moved away from Him, Satan begins to take advantage of the situation.  He tells me that it is all up to me.  That I am indeed the total failure I think myself to be.  He reminds me of how I was not compassionate, how I lost my temper, and every other thing I seemed to mess up.  Only unlike the Holy Spirit there is no offer of grace, no reminder that I am not alone, and no power to overcome!

God will let us know that we have failed.  We all fall short.  Yet he reminds us and comforts us that we are not on our own.  He is working.  He is sanctifying.  He will overcome.  In Christ we are more than conquerors.  It is the process of sanctification and we need repent, submit, seek his guidance, and move forward.

Satan, however, will turn us to focus on ourselves and try to keep us there wallowing for as long as possible.  We will conclude that we are indeed the total failures we were afraid we really were!

Failing and being a total failure are not the same.  Where is your focus when you fail?  It makes all the difference in the world.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.