Romans 3:19-20 :: Logs and Mirrors

Romans 3:19-20 (The Message and TNIV)

This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin. (The Message)

As a pastor, I often fall into the trap of reading the bible simply to find new truths to share with others.  There was even a season where I would write down things from my bible readings that could or would eventually make it into a sermon, a blog post or some other teaching..."Not that there's anything wrong with it."  When I succumb to that temptation, I fail to see that the bible has something to say to me.  When I fail to see that the bible has something to say to me, I allow myself to live with blindspots that prevent me from experiencing the true life God intends for me.  When I read this bible we have, it is really reading me.

Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God.  Just knowing the right answers doesn't fix anything.  God's truth is like a mirror.  When you look in the mirror and see that your hair is a mess and you have chocolate on your cheek, you don't walk away thinking that it's fixed because you saw it in the mirror.  That would be crazy.  The mirror reveals the truth that your hair is a mess and that you have chocolate on your cheek.  The fix is not the mirror or in knowing you have a problem.

What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin.  The bible and God's reveal out part in the corporate nature of sin in our world.  When you sin, it affects me.  When I sin, it affects you.  True community has a deep understanding of this truth.  We are all in this "sinking boat" together and only God can fix it and bring us back into right relationship with Himself.  He does this through Jesus.

I have to admit, this was easy for me to admit when I became a Christ-follower.  I understood that I wasn't the only one who sins, but that everyone falls short of God's perfect plan.  However, I lose sight of this too often today.  I still fall prey to seeing the specks in others' eyes before seeing the log in my own eye.

What stands out for you in today's reading?  Or maybe there's something you've been wanting to share about something else you've read this week?  Do you buy into our sin affecting each other?

Romans 2:5-11 :: Real Life Awaits

Romans 2:5-11

Paul is not letting up.  Can you feel Paul shaking you?  "Wake up, wake up!"  This sense of entitlement is viewed by Paul as a direct enemy to the early church.  He is making it crystal clear that it doesn't matter where you are from or where you've gone to school or who your parents are, but that each one of us has a responsibility for our own pursuit of life.

We aren't entitled to anything either.  Just because we are part of a church plant, or live in the bible belt or because our parents took us to church.  We have a responsibility to seek and find on our own.  I was reminded of a bumper sticker that reads, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven."  While the statement may be true, the arrogance that can accompany that statement is what Paul is fighting.  "Just forgiven" implies that we can be imperfect and it doesn't matter because Christ's forgiveness entitles us to a free all-you-can-sin buffet.  This is not the case.

My favorite line in this passage comes at the very end..."God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you.  He makes up his own mind (v11)."  That rocks in so many ways.

Romans 2:1-4 :: Dark Spiral Downward

Romans 2:1-4

What a great way to start our Monday morning, eh?  This is one of those passages that simply hits me right between the eyes.  In my shadow (you know that dark place that everyone has), I am critical, cynical and judgmental.  I work on it, but too often it creeps up and into my thoughts.  My wife knows this shadow-self all too well.  This sort of judgment is really a judgment of myself.  I very rarely stop and think that my criticism of others may simply be a way of escaping detection of something in my own life.  Who really wants to stop and listen to that?  Don't we know that God sees all and isn't fooled by our slight-of-hand tactics?  Sure we do.  Then why do we continue to fall into this trap of self-deception?

I may be tempted to see my error and assume that God's grace will trump that no matter what, which I do, and believe that he will just let it slide.  Paul indicates this is not at all the case, though.  God's kindness does not just let us do whatever we want to do, no matter how damaging to others or to ourselves.  The kindness of God is what leads us to repentance.  His kindness is what "takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change (v. 4)."  So, I cannot simply look past my criticism and take it lightly.  Father wants me to change.  He wants me to not condemn.  He wants my kindness to lead somewhere because His kindness does.

We would be a better community of Christ-followers if we began to live out the implications of this passage.  We would be a better community if we stopped our criticism and offered kindness instead.  Whether it's the neighbor who plays his music too loud too late, or the co-worker who gossips all the time, God has called us to look first at our own lives before worrying about theirs.  When I am able to do this, I find that I don't have time to worry about theirs.

Here is a little tune that might help you keep this in mind today...there are better recordings, but the lyrics on this one are clear...