Dear Friends,
Riding in the truck the other day, one of my sons asked me a question about an event that would take place roughly 20 years in the future. I struggled to answer because, I had to confess, “I don’t know if we’ll even be here in 20 years!” Don’t take my words as prophetic; I’m not offering my opinion as fact. I’m simply an amazed observer of what appears to be unfolding before us!
In the midst of my “end times” feelings though, I have in recent months developed a deep and growing concern. What I see with alarming frequency is an unchallenged acceptance of clear and blatant sin in the lifestyles of many who know Christ. I’m not angry, but grieved and disturbed with what is happening in these “last days.”
There appears to exist in many what almost could be described as an “intentional blindness” to dozens of aspects of personal holiness. While I’m not excusing “little foxes that spoil the vineyards,” (Song of Solomon 2:15) I’m not talking about the little critters. It’s the moose-sized ones strolling through the garden that have my attention.
Please don’t misunderstand; I am not referring to any follower of Jesus who is struggling with a particular sin or sins. (The key word in that sentence is “struggling.”) There is much to be said on the value of walking in the healing patterns of confession, repentance, and recovery. I applaud and rejoice with those who “though they fall seven times,” refuse to stay on the ground. (Proverbs 24:16)
What I’m watching is quite a different thing. It’s more like falling…and deciding to stay down – not because the fallen one is too tired to fight – but because he’s made a conscious (or subconscious) decision to redefine what “falling” actually is! Many have exchanged “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!” for “What? It’s not that bad!”
Far too often, I observe Christian liberty taken as the freedom to be entertained without discernment or discretion. I see sexual sins of every type treated with less and less alarm – almost as if the Lord “winks” at such because He understands how hard purity really is.
I see permission to gossip so long as the words are phrased as a “prayer requests.” I notice financial cheating all kinds: on taxes, in paying our debts, in honoring Him. Further, many live as if there are Scriptural allowances for selfishness, immodesty, laziness, disrespect for those in authority, etc.
There is something acutely wrong here. When often the chief difference between a child of darkness and one of light is either’s geographic location for a couple of hours on Sunday morning, we have a problem to confront. May God forbid that church attendance or ownership of a Bible becomes our strongest argument for His ownership of our lives!
[I know this is “preachy,” but I’m convinced a blindness toward purity and the dismissal of holiness is an enormous problem within Christ’s church. In some ways if feels as if a shift has taken place. Portions of the Body of Christ are no longer agreed on the utter destructiveness of sin. The ramifications of this trend are, and will increasing be, tragic.]
The missing elements in the pursuit of holy living are not external measures to help chart our faith or ensure good behavior. Such benchmarks are tools of the Pharisee and will certainly spawn better actors rather than more passionate believers.
What must be recovered, (or discovered for the first time) is a thirst for God’s Word and Presence. These two accomplish more in a moment to shape our thinking and doing than hours of verbal haranguing or keeping track of unending rules.
Please appreciate that I’m not advocating the establishment of new behavior police. Rather, I am asking the Holy Spirit to touch my heart and the hearts of others in such a way as to make them teachable and tender at new depths. The Lord never has any trouble transforming the life of someone who cries: “Examine me, Father! Root out and remove anything that is hurting me and dishonoring You.” Such prayers are responded to with swiftness and compassion. We gain near instant insight and clarity when we lay our lives before God’s gaze and open our ears to His voice.
In the same way a doctor would delight to remove a shard of glass from the foot of a child, the Lord loves to identify and address sinful practices and patterns that have become embedded in our souls. He thrills in causing eyes blinded by compromise to see with new, holy sharpness.
I cannot write as I have without inviting you to join me in asking for fresh insight from the Lord and new courage to act upon what He reveals. Though His love is unaltered by my sin, our aim must be more than to be loved. Paul wanted the Lord to fill people with a love that would produce a “pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5) Those three require the Bride continuing to rise after she falls unwilling to say that sin is anything but sinful.
I want my conscience pricked and heart scoured. I want that for all of us.
Sincerely,
Tim
