Three Empty Boxes #1 (Photo credit: z287marc)

I’m going to take a stab at defining and explaining three important aspects of Christianity.  If I hit the mark, then well and good.  If I miss the mark then I ask for clarification by my brothers and sisters.  I even invite comment from those who are not yet believers in what is called “The Way” (If you don’t understand what “The Way” is, then it’s you I’m talking about).  These three topics are very hot in the world today.  They are misunderstood and abused far too often to leave alone.

This post is created to see if I contain what is true.  I make them public so that I might expose what I believe personally.  These are the things of Christ as I have come to understand them.  And this understanding has become central to my every thought, attitude, and deed.  So what you will read is the sum of who I am in Christ Jesus.  (A bit verbose huh?)

I do not mention that to boast.  I mention that to ask for help to clarify what I believe and do.  Who among us would be willing to divulge our heart in these matters?  I ask for mercy from you as you examine what has become my very soul’s desire.  These are central doctrines (teachings) in the Christian faith.  And it is good, for all God’s people, to hold His ways so tightly that they can be delivered through our own words.  Far too often I see Christians simply quote scripture to deliver their understanding of God’s ways.  Though I too could do that, I have determined to render them in a far more vulnerable manner.  We will see what the response from my Christian family will be.  I know what the response from the world will be.  And I laugh within myself to remember that we will also see what I am made of as I encounter the responses…..

In this, this post becomes a game of sorts, a game of pride against humility.  A potentially deadly game, but a game none the less.  Approach it light heartedly, as if in a class room filled with willing students (of which, I am also a student).  It is my desire that all my family in Christ try their hand at these things.  With love this exercise can be exceedingly fruitful.  “Ya otta try it yersef.”

I know this post is a lot of words.  So what?  So is “War and Peace”.  And there are a couple people in history that have read the entire book.

Judge:

Do not judge by appearance but render a right judgment.  Do not guess about what you see in others.  Assess by what you witness.  In the first statement we are commanded to judge.  All that is necessary is the knowledge of the Lord which He is willing to extend to all His people freely.  Have you cleaned your own house by His gracious knowledge?  Then you are able to rightly understand what is proper before the Most High God.  And if your house is clean then you are allowed to figure out the needs of others (that is to say, “judge rightly”).  We all lack in various ways.  But as we enter into The Lord’s commands (That is, as we learn to live His commands consistently.) we are compelled, by what we have learned to obey, to assess that same obedience as we witness it in others.  We learn to live by His standard.  And as we live by those standards of Holiness, we are compelled to voice what is true.

Do not listen to those who say you have no right to judge.  You are compelled to make right judgments as you learn to live according to the Lord’s ways.  Let one idiot say to another idiot, “I did that and I can tell you clearly, ‘That’s gonna leave a mark!’  So don’t do that!  I used to do that till I couldn’t stand the pain anymore.  Now I don’t do that.  Look.  See the scars?”  Only a proud fool is going to hate you for giving the warning.  Only folly will respond, “You don’t know anything!  And you have no right to judge me like that.  I’m going to do what I want. And you have no right to speak to me like that!”  Ok.  Go ahead and do it.  You’ll be joining me to tell others about it in your very own words, just like I told you.  This is appropriate judging.  And that is the expected response today.  The indignant one will soon enough chime in with you to say something about the “marks”.

Consider others equally important to yourself.  You have cleaned your own house so that you will be presentable to the Lord of Life through Jesus’ sacrifice.  Help others clean their own house by gently pointing out what they are not able to see alone.  You too once had blind spots which required a brother or sister to come along side and point them out.  They did approach you to give you counsel.  And in humility to the truth spoken to you, you accepted their counsel and made the appropriate changes to your behavior.  Perhaps that counsel was delivered to you harshly.  But, in retrospect, wasn’t the harsher counsel delivered after various attempts to reach you through kindness, love, gentleness, and peace?

What people hate about this process is the final warnings that come from continual rebellion against God’s teachings, which were first delivered more kindly.  But these people fail to recognize the softer teachings which came before the harshness of warnings about the Holy Judgment of God.  All men know they are impure.  It is pride alone which restrains the Lord’s words from entering.  And if we are to help them we are compelled to find a way around the pride of man.  Isn’t this the reason for a display of physical authority against the rebellion of our children?  (I’m talking about what used to be called “spanking”.  But I thought it an inappropriate word……… It just aint PC anymore.)

This process is much like my little dog.  She is busy sniffing about and wandering around at her own pace and pleasure.  But when the time is near to leave, I call her.  Sometimes she will not hear repeated and escalating calls to return to me.  So she requires that word of rebuke.  Then she hears me clearly and returns.  I do not begin with that word to her.  I give her time to come because she is willing to obey.  But she will return to me regardless, whatever it takes.  There is reward in my hand when she obeys.  Though for now she endures a rebuke.   Maybe I ought to just skip all the “TADA” and move to yelling at her.  Nah.  I love the lil creature.  Isn’t that why we subdue frustration long enough to talk softly to others?

People balk at righteous teaching because of pride.  But come the day of judgment they will appreciate that you had the boldness to warn them, provided they had responded with humility and obedience.  There will be respect for those who have cleaned their own house so that they can render right judgments of their brother’s actions, having delivered the appropriate level of teaching at the proper time.

We are  commanded to love our brother as we love ourselves.  Have you rendered this process within yourself until obedience became second nature?  Then there is no shame to do the same for others out of a pure love and concern for their safety.  Do not listen to those who hate what is good and rebuke you for applying what is true from a true heart.  Love them toward obedience for their own good, even as you have endured the same for the sake of God’s Holy Son’s Name.  Such people will remind you of the mote in your own eye.  You know, the one you have removed so you can see clearly to help your brother.  While they remind you of your sins they are pushing you away without remembering the second part of that message.  In this they blame you for judging them, all the while they are judging you.  Curious isn’t it?

Peace:

This talk about judging others leads me to the next important conversation.  I have heard many today speaking about peace among men.  What they refer to is not the peace of God.  They are intent on making man into his own peace without God’s command toward holiness (in case you didn’t read the title, it’s the next conversation).  They would circumvent the Lord’s command to obey His laws for the sake of peace, tranquility, neighborly kindness, and a social fearlessness (a society in which no one locks their doors anymore).  They would remove the coming Judgment of God so that men are not afraid of them.  And by this they enter into a great folly.

This teaching does not love God’s ways.  This teaching respects man as more important than the Holy God of Life.  And it will find no favor from the Lord.  It has been refered to as “man pleasing”.  Such a vile teaching, if followed to its fullness, will surely end in the Lord saying to them, “Away from Me.  I never knew you.”  These men and women will find themselves loved by man but vulnerable to accusation by the Living God.

The peace that God is intent on distributing among men is not a peace built between men.  God’s peace is a peace between God and man.  “Peace on earth, goodwill among men”, does not mean peace between man alone.  Peace between men is only a treaty built to retain social prosperity.  The peace of God brings war between His people and those who are not.  We obey what is true from His Holy hand.  They only obey what is expedient between men.  They will surely hate those who are obeying the higher commands because the obedience of God’s people is an “in your face” condemnation of their own actions.

God calls His people to obedience beyond what is socially marginal.  His people will obey Him even when society demands otherwise.  For me this is never more apparent than on the freeway.  Drive your car at the posted speed limit and watch what happens.  While you are obeying the law of man you will be hated for it.  You stand in their way as they break their own laws.  But you obey from a deeper conviction which comes from the Lord.  This will become obvious to the one who begins to enter into obedience.  Though we will remain enigma to all who do not humble themselves toward God.  (I’m sorry for the use of the word enigma.  It is not used much anymore.  It means that something that is an unsolvable mystery.  And, from their perspective, obedience to a higher law than that of man is a mystery.  It is not expedient to their greedy ways.  Their grubby little greedy hands are too busy to stop and fold in prayer.  “Gotta have” is the motto of today.)

The summation of this talk regarding peace is that there is no peace among men.  It is only a social contract of sinful men to live together for the sake of greed; making sure that everyone gets their fair share of the pie.  The peace of God is immeasurably more.  His peace removes greed, thus we live as free men.  We become free from the temporary restraints of the world’s social contract.  In God’s peace we rise above their expectations.  Rest assured, they will hate us for it.

Holiness:

Now the final aspect of Christianity presents itself.  This is an “all but forgotten” aspect today.  Someone talks about it and we either say, “Oh yea.”  Or we give that frantic nod, hoping the speaker will over look our ignorance.  If we remember it as a group of people, it is often simply applied to God.  There is little talk among God’s people as it applies to each of us.  But what we say to each other has no effect against the truth God continues to deliver to us.  Holiness among His people is a command.  And it will not be taken out-of-the-way, EVER.   The mass (no pun intended) of what is called the Church has turned to living out their “religion” by attending a gathering once a week.  But this is not the holiness God commands us to attain.

The holiness God commands upon us is a separation from sin and a uniting to what is pure, true, and eternally powerful.  I hate to burst your bubble while I attend your party of self-importance, but I will inform you of something:  you are a slave.  You are either a slave to sin, or a slave to righteousness. We are either entering into service to what is Holy, or we remain as slaves to what is wicked.  We all serve as slaves!  You are not a free individual; free to chase after anything you desire.  There are only two powers present, in all heaven and earth which we obey.  (simple math for a very simple understanding.  One, or the other ONE = enslavement.  Cool huh?  Not even a question from a math teacher: “What is one plus one?”  [don’t try to answer that] It is simply a statement that you are either one or the other.)  We either naturally obey the one who accuses even God Himself, or we obey the Holy Lord of Life by the Spirit He gives His people.  Regardless what you do in your life you are a slave who is being ordered around by a higher authority.  Those who think they are free men are a slave to wickedness.  Those who humble themselves before the Most High God will recognize that they have become slaves to God’s Righteousness.  Hey!  Get over your pride!  You’re nothing more than a slave.  Does this offend you?  Then examine yourself to see why.

Frustration consumes me as I listen to my brothers complain that they just can’t get past a certain sin or two.  I listen with compassion but leave in frustration.  I will say this here but would never say this as my brother vents his heart to me:  “If the conquering of sins is not available to God’s people in Christ Jesus, then the Lord is a liar, and asks far too much from us.  But if the Lord never lies (and this is absolutely the case) then it is the man of Christ who is lying to himself and others.”  How else can it be said?  On the other hand, since I said it here I can only hope my brother understands what I meant.  We are a pompous people.  Without God’s Spirit within us we cannot hope to please Him.  But oh how we continue to try.  And how we continue to fail!

Holiness is commanded by God to all His people!  Please forgive me for saying these things but they are essential.  We are not saved so that we can carry around a warm fuzzy all our days.  We are saved to war against the sinful natural tendencies which the slaves of wickedness embrace.  We are saved by Jesus’ work so that we can serve the purity of God’s will forever.

I will sum this up in this manner:  There seems to be a great lie going about.  It has something to do with what people refer to as “up there”.  They consider that God will do some kind of magic when they die.  They think they will be transformed into something beautiful after they are through doing as they please here.  Um, I have to say this, “That’s really stupid.”  It shows a complete lack of understanding about what the Gospel reveals.  The initial transformation happens here!  I know we won’t attain to perfection here.  But why would you let that stop you from gaining everything you know you are able to attain here?  This lie is like saying “I want to go to Portland Oregon tomorrow.  But I’ll wait to leave until I get there.”  How stupid is that?  Isn’t that what the lie says?  (Please don’t joke about what if obvious.  I know there are a lot of people who actually live in Portland Oregon.  Ok.  So for those people, consider that you want to go to New York City, though I can’t imagine why.  I’ve been there.  It isn’t better than Portland Oregon.)

I could go on about the importance of holiness.  But for what purpose?  I think the point was made.  And if the point wasn’t made, wasn’t that the reason why I opened this entire conversation by inviting comment and correction?

I will end this conversation about the three essential points of Christianity with my favorite signature.  Three words present themselves to cover over my folly.  They are, themselves, essential to all teaching about what belongs to God.  May God grant understanding as He sees fit to grant.

“By His Grace.”