Inconvenient Truths
29/01/12 19:19
I
recently learned that our former vice president, Al
Gore, has purchased a 9 million dollar
beachfront home
in Montecito, California. I purposely
italicized
beachfront only
because of Mr. Gore’s campaign on global
warming is so well known that one has to at least
stop and “scratch the head” on this one.
Those who believe in Mr. Gore’s (with many others in agreement) theories on global warming believe that the sea levels will rise significantly due to the melting polar caps. Which begs the question: Why buy beachfront property, if you believe that within a few years it will be under water? This is an inconvenient truth for Mr. Gore and there are a number of people who are asking for an explanation.
When I learned of his purchase, I have to admit I was more than a little astonished. How could a man who so totally believes in something, who promotes the message so emphatically and no doubt lives what he believes, make such a critical error in judgment?
I would never do that! No sirree, I would never do that! I remember the thoughts and feelings that went through my mind after I learned of this blatant act of hypocrisy! (I am being sarcastic here) I started to feel a little uppity and smug. I don’t like those feelings when they try to take root in me. So, I had to toss them around with a little prayer; and this is what I came up with:
First, God reminded me of all the hypocrisy that He witnesses from sun up to sun down, everyday –all the time. And this hypocrisy is not limited to unbelievers. Some Christians are notoriously hypocritical.
For instance, does not the Word of truth tell us that no homosexual offender will enter the kingdom of God? Then, why are there countless men and women who live in this sin daily and who believe that they love Jesus and will someday rule and reign with Him for all eternity? Maybe it is because there are men and women who claim to be ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and teach others that homosexuality is not a sin! Now, that is the ultimate hypocrisy, don’t you think?!
Just a thought here; do you think that God has more patience for those who do not know the truth, or for those who say they hold to the Truth? I tend to have more patience with those who do not claim to be Christian, then with those who do.
I am not saying that God does (just because I do) I am just asking. I remember Jesus nailing the Pharisees to their own hypocrisies, while telling the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”
This brings me to my second point: My own personal sin! I don’t see it, but I am sure that others do. And without question God does! Thank God for the blood of Jesus, which cleanses me from all unrighteousness! But let’s get real here.
Let’s not talk about those sins in which we are. Instead, let’s talk about that sin which followed temptation. That sin that you and I commit. That sin in which the Holy Spirit begged you to flee from – but you wouldn’t listen.
Maybe it was a lie, maybe you cheated on your taxes, maybe it was sexual in nature, or maybe you just down right stole something. It sounds crazy that a Christian could do such a thing, doesn’t it? But as hypocritical as we may think others show themselves to be, how much more the Christian who at the moment of temptation chooses to sin rather than to submit to the Lover of his soul. At that moment, he or she has turned their world upside down and has thrown out everything they truly believe in.
To sin (for the Christian) is the ultimate show of stupidity; for at that moment, we dethrone God from our hearts and believe that we will not have to answer to Him in the end. “For we all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” I don’t like feeling uppity and smug, it only leads to self-righteousness. I think I’ll throw down my stone and let Jesus deal with Mr. Gore.
Those who believe in Mr. Gore’s (with many others in agreement) theories on global warming believe that the sea levels will rise significantly due to the melting polar caps. Which begs the question: Why buy beachfront property, if you believe that within a few years it will be under water? This is an inconvenient truth for Mr. Gore and there are a number of people who are asking for an explanation.
When I learned of his purchase, I have to admit I was more than a little astonished. How could a man who so totally believes in something, who promotes the message so emphatically and no doubt lives what he believes, make such a critical error in judgment?
I would never do that! No sirree, I would never do that! I remember the thoughts and feelings that went through my mind after I learned of this blatant act of hypocrisy! (I am being sarcastic here) I started to feel a little uppity and smug. I don’t like those feelings when they try to take root in me. So, I had to toss them around with a little prayer; and this is what I came up with:
First, God reminded me of all the hypocrisy that He witnesses from sun up to sun down, everyday –all the time. And this hypocrisy is not limited to unbelievers. Some Christians are notoriously hypocritical.
For instance, does not the Word of truth tell us that no homosexual offender will enter the kingdom of God? Then, why are there countless men and women who live in this sin daily and who believe that they love Jesus and will someday rule and reign with Him for all eternity? Maybe it is because there are men and women who claim to be ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and teach others that homosexuality is not a sin! Now, that is the ultimate hypocrisy, don’t you think?!
Just a thought here; do you think that God has more patience for those who do not know the truth, or for those who say they hold to the Truth? I tend to have more patience with those who do not claim to be Christian, then with those who do.
I am not saying that God does (just because I do) I am just asking. I remember Jesus nailing the Pharisees to their own hypocrisies, while telling the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”
This brings me to my second point: My own personal sin! I don’t see it, but I am sure that others do. And without question God does! Thank God for the blood of Jesus, which cleanses me from all unrighteousness! But let’s get real here.
Let’s not talk about those sins in which we are. Instead, let’s talk about that sin which followed temptation. That sin that you and I commit. That sin in which the Holy Spirit begged you to flee from – but you wouldn’t listen.
Maybe it was a lie, maybe you cheated on your taxes, maybe it was sexual in nature, or maybe you just down right stole something. It sounds crazy that a Christian could do such a thing, doesn’t it? But as hypocritical as we may think others show themselves to be, how much more the Christian who at the moment of temptation chooses to sin rather than to submit to the Lover of his soul. At that moment, he or she has turned their world upside down and has thrown out everything they truly believe in.
To sin (for the Christian) is the ultimate show of stupidity; for at that moment, we dethrone God from our hearts and believe that we will not have to answer to Him in the end. “For we all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” I don’t like feeling uppity and smug, it only leads to self-righteousness. I think I’ll throw down my stone and let Jesus deal with Mr. Gore.
Have
a blessed week!
Pastor
Jim
|