Being an Example and the Blaming of Others

I'm standing outside and I'm waiting for a fireworks show to begin.  There is a huge crowd of people, so much so that its hard to move around much.  I have two children with me.  And as children they are antsy and impatient.  One starts grabbing my arms and flailing them around.  He's having fun.  He is taking up time till the wonderful fireworks extravaganza begins.  However, not even 10 seconds in to his fun with my arms (like I'm Jungle Paul) he whacks this little boy in the head with my arms.  The little boy starts to cry.  I freak out, I say "Hey lil buddy, are you okay?!"  But the child runs to his father who is only a few feet away and holds on to his leg.  Instantly I go to apologize to the father for my actions.  The cold war situation of whats going to happen between the two adults- as everyone watches and sees this child crying- has been quickly put to a stop.  The father of the child consoles his son, and I talk to the young child I was playing with about watching what he is doing when he is playing.  But what if I told the child's father "That kid was holding my hand he did it"  or said "Wasn't my fault dude.  Blame the kid, he was swinging my arms around."  That could have been the missile that launched and started instant chaos between to adequate warriors.  The kids father didn't look like no punk.  He could have handed down retribution without hesitation, and rightly so.  Thanks be to God for the humility of the man, actions I was guided to take, and the diffusion of the situation.

I tell this story because in reality this is a story in which we all are engaged in everyday.  This is the decision to stand up for the actions that we take or to blame others.  When I say blame i do include that the situation may truly warrant the fault of another.  Maybe you were ignorant (didn't know) of the situation, maybe you had the best intentions of helping in a matter, or maybe like me you were legitimately controlled by another human being.  However, we are still responsible for our actions.  In the example of the boy controlling my arms and hitting the kid, who gave him control?  You say "You don't know my situation."  Well what about an extreme.  When the Nazi soldiers went about the business of killing Jews,  do you believe that is what they "wanted" to do?  I do not (though some did actually hate them).  They were just soldiers following orders.  Does that cut it for you if your brother, sister, mother, father, grandparent, or daughter was killed.  I think not.  Each man has a choice in the decisions carried out in life.  These decisions affect not only ourselves but the people around us.  Do we take this to heart? 

 Let us now think on the other half of the spectrum.  Do we tell others what to do, how to live, or even how to believe?  Do you not think the condemnation of our wrong teaching will fall on the student or disciple? Each man stands condemned upon his own deeds, not the deeds of others.  If so by my teaching a man follows the wrong path is that his deeds? He or she is the one living that life.  He is the one continuing in sin or living a more open sin because I said it was "okay".  Of course I will receive heavier judgment because of what I told this follower to do, but that is because of the teaching, not the action.  That is why there is a superlative used.  Heavier not heavy, because of the sin having a condemnation its own- heavy, and the teaching of that sin another, and greater condemnation-heavier.  Are we sending the right message?  Are we teaching the right thing?  Even further, are we living the "Christian" life.  Because living a life is teaching in its self.  How does an apprentice learn his trade?  From watching the master.  In this same manner our lives should be worthy of teaching others how to live.  Because we ARE TEACHING.

I read a story in 2 Samuel 1 about a man, an Amalekite. This man ran back to the camp of David (the heir to the throne).  David asked what had happened at a battle that had taken place in Israel.  The Amalekite told of the death of Saul and his sons.  He preceded  to say it says by chance he came by Saul, the king of the Israelites.  Saul was leaning on his spear (this is to say close to death because he attempted to commit suicide and failed).  Saul told the Amalekite man to kill him.  The Amalekite man not wanting to see Saul in pain killed him.  However when David heard this he had a soldier kill the Amalekite. David said "Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed'" (1 Samuel 1:16).  You would think that it is okay to "take someone out of their misery"  especially when the person being a king requested this.  But it is never right to take human life (unless in war or justice, which are two things I have not the time to cover).  But more than that I read this as David (though he is not) being the perfect Judge GOD, and the Amalekite as being me.  If I come to God telling Him "I didn't believe in your son because people told me it was untrue" or anything in the like manner he will reply "Paul depart from me you sinner!" and I will be doomed to an everlasting hell (which is real).  Don't let this happen to you.

I want to sum this up on three main ideas.  The latter which I talked about being the most important.  If you do not know Christ find Him.  He loves and cares about who you are and the life you are in. It does not matter what you have done, because he loves you for being YOU.  Second, let us not blame things on others,  but let us take responsibility for our actions.  We all have free will even if one has to die keeping it (which is happening everyday to persecuted Christians).  And third, how are you living?  Is your life one that it would lead others to Christ?  If it is not I would examine your life.  God is King, and His return is swift.

"It is impossible for a man to be freed from the habit of sin before he hates it"

The title is a quote by Ignatius

Can I hate sin? This deserves more thought. Though the truth is there, is the action. Can one who continues to do sin hate sin.

For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do...For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner into the law of sin in the parts of my body. Romans 7:19;22-23

Now I can claim to be struggling as Paul writes here to the Romans, but is this true. Do I joyfully agree with the God's law? See Paul writes this to explain the impact of the God's grace through the spirit rather than by the rigidness of the law. Paul using this example means to show that we (as humans) know that there are certain laws that govern us but we cannot follow them. This then condemns us. But see Paul tells a way out of this inability to control. First by saying this:

Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

That appeals to our sense of guiltiness, because the sin we are struggling with we want forgiveness for. And God forgives. Amen! That's what Paul is saying. That is what we all want. Everyone not only wants forgiveness but needs forgiveness. That is how God mends the broken hearts and binds his people together. The brokenness of each of us through our experiences help us to understand forgiveness (or the need to give forgiveness to others because I don't know if we'll understand true forgiveness of the purest sort) and the power to help others in similar circumstances. But the second part is the more troublesome part. Sanctification. As Paul continues to explain salvation He tells us more of what this law of life we are following is about and what (if we are Christians) He is supposed to be doing.

So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. All those led by God's Spirit are God's sons. Romans 8:12-14

Sanctification is to purify or free from sin. That is the process the Spirit is beginning when we are born in Him. In verse 13 Paul says living by the Spirit we die to our flesh or sinful desires. Dead means no longer in effect, significance, or practice as by Dictionary.com. This means that our fleshly or sinful desires are no longer of any significance or practice. I am not to care about or do what sins I want to. But prior to this Paul says anyone who does do these things will die.

Here is where my thinking comes in. How am I hating sin if I still doing it. But further more how am I living by the Spirit if I am living in the flesh. I cannot run on the same "nobodies perfect" theme forever. God will judge His people. And if I'm not hating sin am I loving God? In another part of the bible it says loving this world (and the things of it) makes me an enemy of God. How long will God sit back and allow me to slander His name. I have a job. It is to wait on Him. However this waiting is not idly sitting around twirling my thumbs (which coincidentally causes much sin to begin with).

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us...we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:18;23

So today I resolve to do my job. To bring the Kingdom to Earth. To deny self no matter the cost so that I may see Him, my God in the fullness of His glory. Robed in light. Shining like the Sun. And I will praise Him.

Yes I hate sin, because I love God.