If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. –James 1:26
I heard a man say a little while ago that he did not believe there was a true Christian living, because he had found out so many hypocrites. I reminded him that there could be no hypocrites if there were no genuine ones. No one would think of passing a bad sovereign if there were no sterling coin. So the fact of there being some hypocrites proves that there are some genuine characters. -C.H. Spurgeon
Religion itself is not a vain thing, we make it into that. It then becomes useless and the useless version the reason of our deceit. This new religion is vain and false, so it requires us to hold it up. As cardboard cut outs need help to stand up, our many good acts frailly keep things together in this religion. The true signs often appear in our speech; it is there that we are able to elevate ourselves by putting others down to prove we are the better man. In this vain religion we deceive our own hearts, while not realizing how interconnected our tongues and hearts really are. Giving birth to an absolute truth -- a humble heart will not result in a vile tongue. True that with modern technology our tongue speaks using our finger tips; because of this our finger tips often echo our hearts.
A person who steals an apple does not take away from the sweetness of the apple itself. The act will not change what the apple is, but he who eats it will change from a sinful man to a sinful thief. That is what we do with religion when we turn God’s gift of forgiveness and salvation into us trying to win our salvation by our good acts, hoping that the good will outweigh the bad. We spend so much time trying to hide our sins to the point that God for some odd reason will not know them and have no need to forgive them. Our religion should reveal our sin, not hide it. We stole something that was a gift to us, at least we think we did, true religion and that a relationship with Christ cannot be stolen, earned, rewarded, or bought. It is a gift.
If my concern is only to appear religious, that I have the gift, this leaves me no time to have a relationship with Christ. Morality is not able to take us to Christianity, but one who has no morality most likely does not have God as his father. This is the struggle -- if we try to appear as something that we are not, the end result is vain religion, hypocrisy. This is one point believers and non-believers can always agree on: both despise hypocrisy, but only one is required to forgive it. As Spurgeon reminded us, there are some genuine characters who, in their walk with God, will stumble and fall. But they know that, as they sink into Grace, God is loving and this is true religion: imperfect sons and daughters who rest in the forgiven arms of Dad.
It is sad and somewhat funny that in our effort to never become a hypocrite we end up one. We start doing the things we promised never to do. When we make our first mistake we have to cover it up, and from there it has an evolution and we end up as Pretenders. But now that we find ourselves on this side, we the pretenders also hold all the reasons and excuses for doing so that our younger selves who now stand facing us would never understand.
My struggle is being able to forgive those who have hurt me. This is very selfish I know, putting myself first, but who else would? I know that I cannot even begin to understand the hurt I have caused others. But I am an expert on my own hurt. I’ve lived with it for years, and my heart has learned to walk with a limp.
As a believer I am trying to push me to the back of the line. Now up and front in my heart I hear all the hurtful things I’ve told others, and it turns out the silent words I never spoke are just as loud. My hurtful thoughts also need to be addressed. There is so much that needs to be forgiven that I reach a point where it seems impossible. My wrongful thoughts and tongue combined amount to so much wrong. It is a this moment God gently reminds me that “If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart” 1 John 3:20
The media has been in an uproar about the cyclist Lance Armstrong confessing to cheating in order to win races. Many who for years defended him are deeply hurt. I heard about one man who defended him for fourteen years said “maybe in 14 years I can forgive him”.
The Christian should be able to fully understand why mister Armstrong did what he did, for we are guilty of the same. My Christianity has been like that. I have been a pretender. I cheated in order to appear Christian, cheated to win the approval of men and God. At this moment I am Lance Armstrong. Where, where would we find ourselves without grace? In a vain religion. We will not find it in ourselves the power or reason to forgive those who have hurt us. It will be because of God by His power, His grace that we can forgive as well as ask for forgiveness to those we wronged. I heard a pastor say “in this story of forgiveness, I am Lance Armstrong”
“Surely if men’s hearts were right, short sermons would be enough”
-C.H. Spurgeon
When have you been deceptive, lied or tried to cover something up? What happens when people find out your wrongs? What would have been different if you lived an open and honest life, even if it meant admitting to your mistakes when you make them?
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Comments (4)
I don't like comparing sin to sin, but I am humbled by a Lord who has forgiven me time and again. In our human state, we cannot be perfect. We can try, but that almost makes it worse. I remember a time, when I'd just had what would come to be known as "Diane's mental breakdown", after years of physical and mental abuse by my husband. It was actually the beginning of my bipolar disorder coming to life. I merely thought I'd been depressed all my life. I found myself in a wild affair with a man 14 years my junior. He thought I was wonderful and beautiful. In the process, I ignored my mothering responsibilities, for which I've been in pain for decades. Psychological help got me through this, and my guilt lessened, but I still needed to go to the Lord daily for help with my situation, and, for repentance. I've since learned I'm not the only christian woman to go through such an embarrassing ordeal, that I'd set my sights so high, no one could reach them. I never expect another person to have no problems, no sin, no agony, no mistakes so difficult that frequently we read about suicides. Because that's how close I was, while so many others were talking about me, criticizing me, and wanting me out of the fold, where I eventually wound up. I think had I been open to getting psychological help much sooner, things would have been different, but I was too ashamed to admit to anyone that my problems were that deep. We need to be careful when we talk about, and judge others. It could contribute to costing their lives. And yes, I'm happy in the Lord now, and my children never held it against me. Praise God for that.
First of all, forgiveness is not automatic. Secondly, lying can be a death penalty sin. God hates liars. No liar will enter heaven. I don't need to forgive Armstrong, because he hasn't tried to deceive me. He deceived his sponsors and the committees that oversee his sport. He deceived them for financial gain and prestige. He cheated while racing against other people. I heard that he also set about to destroy others financially who were trying to expose him. There is no simple forgiveness for all of this. It is irrelevant. He needs to surrender all his awards, endorsements, and privileges that have been won unfairly. He needs to be fined and penalized. Whoever he sued has a right to everything he effectively stole from them times seven, if I recall the biblical mandate. The Bible doesn't promote blank check forgiveness without consequences especially not in sins that have damaged the lives of other people.
We forgive certain ones automatically, this is true. But, those who know better and know that they have offended us, we are not to forgive, unless they come asking forgiveness and are repentant. I don't think I've heard anything from Mr. Armstrong that indicates contrition, repentance or asking for forgiveness. He did an interview, and I heard it was deceptive as well. If he asks his wife to forgive him, assuming that he's married, I hope she does. But, it doesn't work that way in civic life. You have to pay the price for your sins often times; the more contrition that he demonstrates, the easier it may go for him.
“Surely if men’s hearts were right, short sermons would be enough”
-C.H. Spurgeon
I say surely if man's heart was able to be right there would be no sermons.
Morality is not able to take us to Christianity, but one who has no morality most likely does not have God as his father.
Then who is? It is only by finding that piece within each and everyone of us that we can draw from it and be better people. You found yours with Christianity. I am not qualified to judge another or walk in their shoes, so who is to say that others cannot find the same peace as you and I have in another faith?
As to the forgiveness, I have made it easy. I live (and let me tell you first hand, it sometimes is hard) by the standard that those who commit acts that in the past would have hurt me, were/are forgiven before I ever knew it happened.
I judge no man and never attempt to "tell" him what the only way to have a relationship with anyone is. I simply live by example. If they ask, I tell them. I can only judge my actions, and love everyone unconditionally.
Love, for me at least, despite the condition subsequent Christianity puts on it, requires no action by the one (s) being loved other than they are. If one of my sons shows up in my home with another man and says he is gay, (a severe let down only in that having another beautiful woman besides my wife in the house has always been my dream)does have NOT have the door shut in his face for one second, let alone forever.
My sons have always seen and be showed to admit to mistakes straight up and not to be afraid of being who they are. That is "My perfectly, imperfect sons" to whom my love will never diminish. They have, by the fact that they are with me more than any others, heard me spit out an "I'm sorry" all the time. When ever the time calls for it and not one second later.
I did not always understand the morals, values and perfect love my parents showed me growing up, as I screwed up OVER AND OVER again, but for the lucky, with age comes the ability/wisdom to apply that which we learned.
Good thoughts,
justmarty
Who is we?
We is to be used when "we" the reader are included in a description.
I dare not join with this "we" that is conflicted.