In Luke 18, we learn about two people; one was a tax collector (tax collectors were considered 'sinners' because they took advantage of people who used their services), but the other was a Pharisee, a deeply religious person, yet very proud about his supposed standing before God and his efforts at achieving goodness. The Pharisee reminded God of how good he was and compared himself with the tax collector, in his sinful condition. Because the tax collector was able to look at his own heart and deal with his sins before God, the tax collector ended up being justified by God, for his sins. The Pharisee stayed in his sins and remained blind to his need for salvation and a new heart.
In John 8, there were a group of men who wanted to trick Jesus and put Him into a situation where He would squirm (Obviously, they did not believe in the deity of Christ and His knowledge of everything). They found a lady who was involved in an affair and brought her to Jesus. They wanted to know what Jesus would do with this woman. Basically, they wanted to trap Him. They wanted to put him in a situation where there would be no right answers, and would mess Jesus up. Then they would win their case against Him, so they thought. Of course, Jesus was filled with all wisdom, and answered them wisely. He told them that whoever was without sin, was to cast the first stone. One by one, the men who were there left. There was no one left but Jesus and the woman who had committed adultery. Jesus had a couple of things to say to her. One was, that He doesn't condemn her. Note that this is not an 'ok' for us to stay in our sins! The next thing He said was to 'go and sin no more'. People like to leave this part off, for it means that they themselves, would have to repent.
So, what are the issues here and why are they so important? The issues really have to do with the pride in our hearts and the false idea that we are better than other people. But it also tells us that there is repentance that is necessary for the sinner. Both the tax collector and the woman who committed adultery had to repent. We know the tax collector did repent because that is what the story is about.
Why is this important though? I think it is important because today, whenever a person who knows the Lord shares Scripture, especially the passages that have to do with sin and God's standard, posts things on Facebook or on blogs, immediately, there is a response from a group of people. They tell the poster to stop 'casting stones'. They let the poster know that God is the only one who can judge and to stop judging people.
OK, we have a problem here. First of all, the poster is probably not playing judge or casting stones. The poster may be showing people what the Scriptures say about sin or about ethics or even showing a Biblical worldview. The problem comes with the wrong idea of authority. Either the accusing reader thinks that there is no authority in Scripture, or, that the Christian poster is elevating himself or herself to be God (Judge).
If people believe what weak churches are teaching, that culture has more authority than God's word, then it will appear that the poster is acting as God, or some kind of authority. I have talked with many people and the lie of the Enemy is still whispering in their ears, "Did God really say...?"
So, God becomes watered down to be like one of us. Or, people perceive us as being the final authority of what God says, as if we are placing the judgment on them. We are just telling people what God says about their eternity, and what He will do about their sin if they don't repent.
"We are just beggars, telling other beggars where to find bread." We are sinners, although saved from our sins, who are telling other sinners where they can find salvation. We are not going to beat people over the head with the Bible. We are not going to put ourselves on the same level, as if we are God. We don't have the authority God has, because of who He is. But we have the responsibility to be faithful to the ministry of reconciliation which He has entrusted to us.
No comments:
Post a Comment