Holy, Not Happy
As believers, I bet just the title of this post alone is enough to get some of you totally fired up. I bet there's a group of readers who, because of the name only, are leaned in and ready to read all about the groups of people that they're certain this post will be about. Surely in the wake of Pride month this post will be written to address "those" types of sins and we'll all finish by giving ourselves a big 'ol high-five because, WHEW, at least we're not struggling with that! I hate to be the bearer of bad news, believers, but this post isn't about anyone else on the planet but us. You and me. But... why??? Well, because it's never a bad time to do a little self-reflection and figure out exactly what it is that WE need to place on the alter instead of the forefront of our minds.
Admittedly, God is doing a major work in my own heart right now centering around this very topic and since I am the author of the blog, you unfortunately (or fortunately?) get to take the journey of self discovery with me. Holy, NOT happy. What does that even mean? We are believers after all and have already made the decision to ask for forgiveness of our sins and place our faith in Jesus. As true as that is, how many trips to the alter have you taken recently to lay down some mess that is undoubtedly standing in the way of your sanctification? What is impeding your walk with Jesus right this very moment that, quite frankly, you just haven't given any attention to because of the work it would take to make it right again? How many times this week/month have you had a hateful thought toward a group of people engaged in some sort of activity that is just down right lewd and then turned around and dove head first into your own secret sin of choice? Y'all, I am not a kill joy. I really am not. I enjoy entertainment as much as the next person, but I am also aware of just how much we as Christians partake in that we justify away because "at least it's not as bad as those people over there." There is nothing, NOTHING, that makes us less credible as ambassadors of Heaven than that line of thinking! And we are all guilty. There is not a one of us righteous, no not one!
So let's just get into it. What sort of stuff am I talking about exactly that is causing our flame as the light of the world to be snuffed out? It's our complacent attitude towards those "small and insignificant" choices that we make on the daily that in reality are killing our ability to remain uncommon. That show we're watching on television (that the rest of the entire world is also watching) with all the language, gore and nudity. Those songs we choose to download and listen to with all the explicit lyrics and X-rated content. The celebrity and gossip media we choose to allow our eyes to digest on any given day. The pride in our hearts that wants to take credit for God's work. The lust in our eyes that spend too much time "innocently" checking out other men/women besides our spouses. The gossip fest we just engaged in, potentially even at church, all the while convincing ourselves we were just asking for prayer. The vulgar conversations we engage in with friends just to get a laugh. The hate filled rant we just went on with friends or on social media about the President, the former President, the Speaker of the House, the Supreme Court justices, etc. The un-forgiveness that we harbor in our hearts because "no one understands what they really did to me." The excess alcohol consumed on a daily basis that just helps us to unwind. The fact that we haven't been to church in months because we're over-worked right now and need to sleep in. Anyone? Bueller??
Before you say to me, "Look, maybe I'm not perfect, but God loves me anyway just the way I am!" let me answer you by saying, "Yes, He absolutely does!" You know what else He loves? Holiness and those that are willing to make the regular trips to the alter I mentioned above to rid themselves of the things that hinder their spiritual growth. If my eyes are consumed with naked people on my t.v. set every night, they are certainly not being consumed with a greater desire for God. If my ears are filled with filthy and vulgar lyrics from Billboard's Top 100 Chart, they are certainly not being filled with the voice of Jesus. If my mind is altered by the nightly glass(es) of wine I drink "to de-stress," it is certainly not being altered by the filling of the Holy Spirit. The devil is just eating this stuff up! These seemingly "innocent sins" that in reality we all know are wrong, but we do anyway because surely they are less pressing than the sin of that man dressed up as a naughty nurse at last week's Pride parade. I mean, God has His hands full with the "serious" sins of the world so I can just slide by with my small ones and no one will be the wiser. We are absolutely annihilating our witness with this very sentiment. Why? Because how in the world could you ever truthfully advise a non-believer about the potential self-sacrifice of monumental behaviors in their lives when you won't even sacrifice a meager t.v. show that you know is completely inappropriate? How in the world can a believer look a non-believer in the eye and share with them about the merits of purity when they themselves engage in regular banter with friends that is X-rated all for the sake of a few laughs? And here is the real kicker. How many of us are super quick to pass judgement on the immorality of homosexual relationships, but would never in a million years speak a word to call out the immorality of the heterosexual relationships that are happening all around us? I mean, at least in the latter scenario it's between a man and woman, right?? Wrong. There is no double standard for sin. There is no gray area. You are either engaged in it, or you are not. It's high time we as believers get serious about tackling our own sin that's kicking our own butts and keeping us from having any influence in the lives of those around us who are intently watching.
As hard as it is to fully grasp in these finite human minds of ours that are convinced that God wants nothing for us but the absolute enjoyment of everything within reach, God really isn't concerned with making sure we're happy all the time. The book of 1 Peter reminds us that we are but aliens and strangers here on this earth. We are NOT home yet. As aliens and strangers, this earth should feel foreign to us. We should absolutely stick out like a sore thumb. I'm not sure about you, but that thought doesn't exactly fill me with immense happiness all the time. Intentionally behaving in a manner that makes us stand out and seem odd to those around us isn't always a picnic is it? However, that is how we shine an effective light for the world to take notice of because we aren't allowing the common comforts of the world to drown it out. Acting as true aliens and strangers, we will then be able to build that city on a hill that the world will actually stop and pay attention to because of the enticing glow that is counter to everything else around that has ultimately failed to bring fulfillment. We can then welcome those that come seeking the hope and joy that we have because we know what sacrifice means and can easily offer our own stories of God's fatihfulness in filling our every need in Him alone. We can't do that when we ourselves aren't willing to sacrifice even the smallest of our creature comforts. We lose our brightness in a world that is desperately crying out for it all because we got too comfortable and forgot we were only visitors. How can anyone find us if we fit right in? How can we convince a hollow world that Jesus and only Jesus can fill it up to overflowing if we ourselves won't allow Him to do the same in us? How can we convince anyone to lay down the burden of their sin at the foot of the cross when we are desperately lugging around our own burdens every day? Make a move toward holiness right now. What is it you need to lay down? What sacrifice do you need to make on the alter today? What hinders your light from shining out clear and strong for the waiting world to see? You are never too far gone to lay that down and receive His fresh, wonderful, new mercies tomorrow morning.
As a reminder, believers will never be without temptation and eventual sin in our lives. That is Christianity 101 for most of us. We get that. We understand it ALL too well. What I am referring to in this post is the pattern of sin that we have convinced ourselves is somehow okay. It's the ever enticing hierarchy of sinful behaviors that we just love to construct in our minds that justifies our own "smaller" sins away. And with every justification, our light gets snuffed just a wee bit more until we are completely dull and vacant of anything that the world would find different and attractive. Jesus IS enough to fulfill whatever your need is! Do you believe that or do you just have to have that one last glass of wine to unwind? Is He enough or do you just have to have that gossip fest with your girls to feel seen? Is He enough or do you just have to have that social media content and the mental high that it brings? He really, really, really is enough, but if we as believers aren't personally convinced, you can bet the world will not be fooled. We have an enemy who is prowling around and who would love nothing more than to hijack your testimony! The way he does that is to convince you that your sin is no biggie and no one's watching you anyway. False. Someone is always watching whether it's from the outside or from one of your own children on the inside. If you think you can innocently engage in sin inside your own home and it go unnoticed, you are kidding yourself. We better be practicing the same behaviors within our own lives that we expect from our kids because if not, you are fighting an uphill battle and it's going to blow up right in your face. I can think of nothing worse than having my children grow up to realize I was a complete hypocrite in my walk with the Lord. And for what? Because I was too afraid to stand out and be different for the sake of the Man who died to save me from an eternity in hell? No. I just refuse to be afraid any longer. I refuse to go with the flow and do everything that the whole world does just to save face and fit in. I am heading right now to the alter and I am laying down that mess that keeps me from being the alien I am meant to be!
Who's going with me?
Admittedly, God is doing a major work in my own heart right now centering around this very topic and since I am the author of the blog, you unfortunately (or fortunately?) get to take the journey of self discovery with me. Holy, NOT happy. What does that even mean? We are believers after all and have already made the decision to ask for forgiveness of our sins and place our faith in Jesus. As true as that is, how many trips to the alter have you taken recently to lay down some mess that is undoubtedly standing in the way of your sanctification? What is impeding your walk with Jesus right this very moment that, quite frankly, you just haven't given any attention to because of the work it would take to make it right again? How many times this week/month have you had a hateful thought toward a group of people engaged in some sort of activity that is just down right lewd and then turned around and dove head first into your own secret sin of choice? Y'all, I am not a kill joy. I really am not. I enjoy entertainment as much as the next person, but I am also aware of just how much we as Christians partake in that we justify away because "at least it's not as bad as those people over there." There is nothing, NOTHING, that makes us less credible as ambassadors of Heaven than that line of thinking! And we are all guilty. There is not a one of us righteous, no not one!
So let's just get into it. What sort of stuff am I talking about exactly that is causing our flame as the light of the world to be snuffed out? It's our complacent attitude towards those "small and insignificant" choices that we make on the daily that in reality are killing our ability to remain uncommon. That show we're watching on television (that the rest of the entire world is also watching) with all the language, gore and nudity. Those songs we choose to download and listen to with all the explicit lyrics and X-rated content. The celebrity and gossip media we choose to allow our eyes to digest on any given day. The pride in our hearts that wants to take credit for God's work. The lust in our eyes that spend too much time "innocently" checking out other men/women besides our spouses. The gossip fest we just engaged in, potentially even at church, all the while convincing ourselves we were just asking for prayer. The vulgar conversations we engage in with friends just to get a laugh. The hate filled rant we just went on with friends or on social media about the President, the former President, the Speaker of the House, the Supreme Court justices, etc. The un-forgiveness that we harbor in our hearts because "no one understands what they really did to me." The excess alcohol consumed on a daily basis that just helps us to unwind. The fact that we haven't been to church in months because we're over-worked right now and need to sleep in. Anyone? Bueller??
Before you say to me, "Look, maybe I'm not perfect, but God loves me anyway just the way I am!" let me answer you by saying, "Yes, He absolutely does!" You know what else He loves? Holiness and those that are willing to make the regular trips to the alter I mentioned above to rid themselves of the things that hinder their spiritual growth. If my eyes are consumed with naked people on my t.v. set every night, they are certainly not being consumed with a greater desire for God. If my ears are filled with filthy and vulgar lyrics from Billboard's Top 100 Chart, they are certainly not being filled with the voice of Jesus. If my mind is altered by the nightly glass(es) of wine I drink "to de-stress," it is certainly not being altered by the filling of the Holy Spirit. The devil is just eating this stuff up! These seemingly "innocent sins" that in reality we all know are wrong, but we do anyway because surely they are less pressing than the sin of that man dressed up as a naughty nurse at last week's Pride parade. I mean, God has His hands full with the "serious" sins of the world so I can just slide by with my small ones and no one will be the wiser. We are absolutely annihilating our witness with this very sentiment. Why? Because how in the world could you ever truthfully advise a non-believer about the potential self-sacrifice of monumental behaviors in their lives when you won't even sacrifice a meager t.v. show that you know is completely inappropriate? How in the world can a believer look a non-believer in the eye and share with them about the merits of purity when they themselves engage in regular banter with friends that is X-rated all for the sake of a few laughs? And here is the real kicker. How many of us are super quick to pass judgement on the immorality of homosexual relationships, but would never in a million years speak a word to call out the immorality of the heterosexual relationships that are happening all around us? I mean, at least in the latter scenario it's between a man and woman, right?? Wrong. There is no double standard for sin. There is no gray area. You are either engaged in it, or you are not. It's high time we as believers get serious about tackling our own sin that's kicking our own butts and keeping us from having any influence in the lives of those around us who are intently watching.
As hard as it is to fully grasp in these finite human minds of ours that are convinced that God wants nothing for us but the absolute enjoyment of everything within reach, God really isn't concerned with making sure we're happy all the time. The book of 1 Peter reminds us that we are but aliens and strangers here on this earth. We are NOT home yet. As aliens and strangers, this earth should feel foreign to us. We should absolutely stick out like a sore thumb. I'm not sure about you, but that thought doesn't exactly fill me with immense happiness all the time. Intentionally behaving in a manner that makes us stand out and seem odd to those around us isn't always a picnic is it? However, that is how we shine an effective light for the world to take notice of because we aren't allowing the common comforts of the world to drown it out. Acting as true aliens and strangers, we will then be able to build that city on a hill that the world will actually stop and pay attention to because of the enticing glow that is counter to everything else around that has ultimately failed to bring fulfillment. We can then welcome those that come seeking the hope and joy that we have because we know what sacrifice means and can easily offer our own stories of God's fatihfulness in filling our every need in Him alone. We can't do that when we ourselves aren't willing to sacrifice even the smallest of our creature comforts. We lose our brightness in a world that is desperately crying out for it all because we got too comfortable and forgot we were only visitors. How can anyone find us if we fit right in? How can we convince a hollow world that Jesus and only Jesus can fill it up to overflowing if we ourselves won't allow Him to do the same in us? How can we convince anyone to lay down the burden of their sin at the foot of the cross when we are desperately lugging around our own burdens every day? Make a move toward holiness right now. What is it you need to lay down? What sacrifice do you need to make on the alter today? What hinders your light from shining out clear and strong for the waiting world to see? You are never too far gone to lay that down and receive His fresh, wonderful, new mercies tomorrow morning.
As a reminder, believers will never be without temptation and eventual sin in our lives. That is Christianity 101 for most of us. We get that. We understand it ALL too well. What I am referring to in this post is the pattern of sin that we have convinced ourselves is somehow okay. It's the ever enticing hierarchy of sinful behaviors that we just love to construct in our minds that justifies our own "smaller" sins away. And with every justification, our light gets snuffed just a wee bit more until we are completely dull and vacant of anything that the world would find different and attractive. Jesus IS enough to fulfill whatever your need is! Do you believe that or do you just have to have that one last glass of wine to unwind? Is He enough or do you just have to have that gossip fest with your girls to feel seen? Is He enough or do you just have to have that social media content and the mental high that it brings? He really, really, really is enough, but if we as believers aren't personally convinced, you can bet the world will not be fooled. We have an enemy who is prowling around and who would love nothing more than to hijack your testimony! The way he does that is to convince you that your sin is no biggie and no one's watching you anyway. False. Someone is always watching whether it's from the outside or from one of your own children on the inside. If you think you can innocently engage in sin inside your own home and it go unnoticed, you are kidding yourself. We better be practicing the same behaviors within our own lives that we expect from our kids because if not, you are fighting an uphill battle and it's going to blow up right in your face. I can think of nothing worse than having my children grow up to realize I was a complete hypocrite in my walk with the Lord. And for what? Because I was too afraid to stand out and be different for the sake of the Man who died to save me from an eternity in hell? No. I just refuse to be afraid any longer. I refuse to go with the flow and do everything that the whole world does just to save face and fit in. I am heading right now to the alter and I am laying down that mess that keeps me from being the alien I am meant to be!
Who's going with me?
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