Two things have I required of thee; deny me not before I die: Remove from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee,and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Proverbs 30:7-9
My goodness, my actions can cause me to take the Lord's name in vain? It has actually been a common practice from the beginning of history for a person to act as an ambassador for a king, kingdom, institution, or anyone representing a higher position to send out ambassadors in his place. Naturally, there were or are always consequences for blatant misrepresentation. We don't think on that too much because God has forgiven all our sins past and present. Kinda like a blanket entitlement if you think too long about it. Sorry, I still have a mild propensity towards sarcasm. I'll still pick up my cross tomorrow like many of us do, and set it aside at my convenience like many of us do, shameless as the day is long.
Brethren, be followers of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.[ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself.
Philippians 3:17-21
Shameful acts bring Shame to even the Shameless.
I used to play in a band called Shameless. There's my confession for the day. I probably should've left that one in the closet. Even Lewis said one should only revisit past sins only long enough to repent and move on, as dwelling on them may well do more harm than good. Well, we've managed to remove shame from our culture to the point, that, as with all sin, the act itself though always shameful, is shamelessly rendered an undeserved, archaic stigma from which we must free ourselves. This is where we are, after a generation of liberating psychology spawned from godless dogma. The problem with this is sin still remains shameful and because we've eliminated shame we've created a god [in our own minds] of the same kind, removing reverence and diminishing holiness in our sight. We've become blinded by our own shamelessness and have built a barrier between ourselves and the Lord, imprisoned, snared, and impotent in our walk. I can hear a protest coming, after all He loves me as I am. That's exactly right, so why would you choose to hinder fellowship. If you're comfortable with crude, coarse friendships and feel no embarrassment, I'm not sure what to say to you.
Things that are different are not the same.
If you believe you are a new creation, and still wallow in the mire, it's time to re-examine yourself.
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates. 2 Corinthians 13:4-5
If you're seeing yourselves as I sometimes do, go ahead and feel the shame. I do, and then regroup. It's necessary, that's why God gave it to us. It's a check and a gift, and God is the only one that can remove it. Until you do, you won't see God as holy and you'll still be that old creation by your own choice. After all, things that are different are not the same. Take the name of Christ always, just not in vain.
Brethren, be followers of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.[ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself.
Philippians 3:17-21
Shameful acts bring Shame to even the Shameless.
I used to play in a band called Shameless. There's my confession for the day. I probably should've left that one in the closet. Even Lewis said one should only revisit past sins only long enough to repent and move on, as dwelling on them may well do more harm than good. Well, we've managed to remove shame from our culture to the point, that, as with all sin, the act itself though always shameful, is shamelessly rendered an undeserved, archaic stigma from which we must free ourselves. This is where we are, after a generation of liberating psychology spawned from godless dogma. The problem with this is sin still remains shameful and because we've eliminated shame we've created a god [in our own minds] of the same kind, removing reverence and diminishing holiness in our sight. We've become blinded by our own shamelessness and have built a barrier between ourselves and the Lord, imprisoned, snared, and impotent in our walk. I can hear a protest coming, after all He loves me as I am. That's exactly right, so why would you choose to hinder fellowship. If you're comfortable with crude, coarse friendships and feel no embarrassment, I'm not sure what to say to you.
Things that are different are not the same.
If you believe you are a new creation, and still wallow in the mire, it's time to re-examine yourself.
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates. 2 Corinthians 13:4-5
If you're seeing yourselves as I sometimes do, go ahead and feel the shame. I do, and then regroup. It's necessary, that's why God gave it to us. It's a check and a gift, and God is the only one that can remove it. Until you do, you won't see God as holy and you'll still be that old creation by your own choice. After all, things that are different are not the same. Take the name of Christ always, just not in vain.
1 comment:
Welcome back -- great thoughts!
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