![BECOME [better]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaj2lb4BuaoOFzlFJFAG5EBey7mesTHwHfTWPntArXO32-1DUPmFIqmb3H3W_ATO_OqjXk0pXwa2vqLnPJkLKbvvQcgycscr-7UHYr_zYHe9nj_pKcT9nThyphenhyphenszMWzyC0s0-bAL-ciHLd_/s870/2013ECC_BECOME_Apprentice.png)
Sometimes people will say to me that they wish I would have really "hammered" this or that sin in a passage, or that I would preach against sin more from the pulpit. My experience (and my own reality in listening to others preach, if I'm honest) is that we do want preachers to preach on sin, just not the sins we happen to struggle with. We like preaching to make us feel good about ourselves or to lift us up. We don't usually enjoy leaving the sanctuary on a Sunday morning feeling in the dumps or that we don't measure up because "our sin" was the main topic for the morning!
My phrase, "2 minutes on sin," reminds me of the Apostle Paul's words in Romans 2, where he tells us that it is God's kindness that is meant to lead us to repentance (v.4). The kindness of God is the reality that he has a whole new way of life for us, if we will just surrender to him. That's why I ended the sermon on Sunday with the opening verses, taking the passage in reverse. With all the hard words Paul has to say to us about sin in Ephesians 5.3-14, we need to be reminded that he begins that chapter telling us, "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Does sin matter? Of course it does! Sin builds a wall between us and God and does untold damage to us and others along the way. But God deals with our sin in the context of his great love for us, and that is a far better motivator for change in our lives than "hammering sin." We are loved and God has paid the ultimate price so that we might experience that love and the fullest of lives in relationship with him. It is his kindness that leads us to repentance. May we all live into and out of God's goodness, kindness, mercy and love, more and more. Amen.
Hi Stacey,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the openess regarding your heart and head about what it takes to bring a sermon together, you have a tough job!
I am one of those people who like hearing about the sin others are committing (but not me) and really don't like to hear about my own! Your post helps me to see that I need to start with the man in the mirror first.
I do believe however, that our culture is so tolerent on so many things, that many people, especially young people have had the lines of holiness blurred. Things that you and I take for granted as sin because of our age and background may not be clear to a lot of folks at all. Definitions of sexual morality and base language are rarely if ever present in media, and sadly books, schools and homes as well. The bible does give specific definitions about these things, and I believe it is important to outline them at the rate that scripture does in order to remind ourselves and those who may be new to christianity of the true nature of God's Holiness.
Thanks for the energy and faithfullness you put into your work!
Doug, thanks for your thoughts. I do feel that sometimes we expect things of the culture and those who do not know Christ that we should not (in terms of where they are coming from). Why SHOULDN'T they sin if they don't know Christ or desire to live for him? That siad, I totally agree, as those who are seeking to follow Christ, we need to be clear about what is sinful and unholy. It's part of discipleship! I regularly run into people engaged in sinful choices and my first thought is often, "don't you know better than this?" I'm trying to learn to walk the line between challenging people who are in sin and expressing the love and grace of God at the same time. Again, thanks for taking the time to take part in the conversation!
ReplyDelete