If GOD were to do the same to us, we would all have died a long time ago. I've thought of this way, way back, asking GOD about this self-righteous advice from people, and GOD impressed on my heart how it is indeed self-righteous religiosity. Even church people who claim to be born again (or especially them) have many times disappointed GOD and continue to wander from HIS will. Even a lot of pastors. And yet GOD never stopped HIS grace and provisions to them.
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash.
Our churchy Sundays, ministry involvement, activeness in church programs, impeccable Sunday worship attendance and even involvment in missions and church planting do not prove that we have set our lives straight as GOD wants us to. Many times our hearts have wrong motives doing these things. We may be assuming that our hearts are right with GOD when we serve HIM in church, but the heart is deceitful above all things. We can only be sure that what we do for GOD is approved of HIM by HIS grace and mercy alone. Nothing else.
The Father has set HIS seal of approval on JESUS alone, not on anyone else. What we do becomes acceptable to the Father through Jesus alone. You know why your worship and ministry become approved to GOD? It's not (NOT) because you have set your life straight or have become a good person. It's all because of Jesus---the grace and mercy of GOD that are in HIM. Nothing else.
Jesus once corrected someone when he said, "No one is good but GOD alone." Self-righteous people easily forget this and decide that those who do not live up to their expectation deserve no help from them. You know how many times GOD gives us second chances when we screw up? Seventy times seven (in other words, HE will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness as long as we ask forgiveness and as long as it's not yet Judgment Day). How many times have we asked forgiveness and then committed another sin (doesn't matter if it's a "small" or "big" sin)? How many times have we struggled about a sin we can't seem to wriggle out of, and yet GOD pardons us each time we come to him?
Even the most "spiritual" among us is guilty of this. No one is exempt, even if you claim to be very spiritual, anointed or carry a holiness doctrine. We all still sin. The smallest trace of self pride (or local church or denominatinal pride) or unbelief is sin. The slightest wrong or unfounded thought about an individual is sin. And yet GOD provides well for us. He never withdraws his blessing or support. We still get oxygen into our lungs for free, for instance. But they tell us to stop helping our son when he comes begging us for help because he hasn't set his life straight. GOD knows he is now trying to (and we're trying to help him see GOD's love and mercy) but is still confused about a lot of things. They refuse to help him even with the financial capability GOD has given them by HIS grace, just because they see my son still living a wrong life.
Who doesn't have a wrong life? Even those saved by grace and active in ministry (who look and sound spiritual) still live a wrong life when they unknowingly disobey GOD in certain things. Even David asked GOD to save him from his hidden sins.
"No one can see his own errors; deliver me, LORD, from hidden faults! Keep me safe, also, from wilful sins; don't let them rule over me. Then I shall be perfect and free from the evil of sin." [Psalm 19]
The Israelites in Egypt never asked GOD to forgive them (they didn't even pray for God's help). They simply cried out to no one in particular, not to HIM (nothing is said about their cry being directed to GOD), but just cried out in their anguish. We all do that. And yet when they groaned and cried, their cry was heard by GOD. Their cry and complaints simply "went up to God." In HIS mercy, GOD hears our desperate words we release aimlessly in the air.
The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. [Exodus 2]
Churches sin against Jesus' Word big time. Jesus has clearly spelled out what proper prayer is and what doing righteous deeds should be. He said everything should be done in secret, being careful that we don't do any of our church ministries publicly "to be seen by men" but only by the Father. Everything in secret, and the Father who sees what is done in secret will reward us.
But churches, big and small, have failed in this big time. They do everything to be seen by men. They love to be seen praying in front of people. And yet GOD never ignores our needs despite our follish religiosity. Just because we haven't set our lives straight, doesn't mean GOD will stop all provisions. He may lessen or limit HIS blessings as a result of our churchy silliness, but HE will continue to bless.
Again, Jesus revealed in his prayer (John 17) about GOD's will, that all believers should be "completely united" as the Father and Son are one. And yet churches continue to be denominational or independent. Yet, GOD continues to give us grace and mercy, blessings and everything else. What if GOD were to use the same judgment on us, that unless we set everything straight the way HE wants it, He'd withdraw all support and blessings from us? We'd all instantly die.
When we help our son with prayers, advices and finances we're not "supporting or financing his sin" or abetting his sin. When we're in sin and GOD continues to bless us, is HE abetting or financing our sin? When we continue to breathe air and get sunlight from GOD, is HE approving our sin? Despite our sins, GOD is faithful with HIS promises as our Father in heaven. And GOD's parenting principles should also be our parenting principles. As GOD enables us, we must help our erring sons and daughters. It's not our job to execute punishment to those who sin. That's GOD's job.
I know, the bible says we shouldn't even eat with anyone who claims to be a brother but who sins. The context is about willful sexual immorality between two supposed believers in the Corinthian church, which the church was proud of.
"It is reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud!"
My son has realized his sin and is not proud of it, and neither are we his parents. No one is proud of it. But, trying hard to be responsible for what he did, my son is now trying to make up for all the loss (and badly needs help), especially taking responsibility for his new GF that he got pregnant and for their baby who is recently born. He plans to be responsible for his other child, too, but is presently unable financially. He plans to marry his new GF and settle down and start having serious bible studies with me, along with his GF. He wants to be given a chance, not condemning lectures.
Understandably, he insists (and prays hard for it) that he needs financial help first to settle a lot of debts and to start a new life. In his immaturity and confusion (what to be expected of any immature Christian) he thinks seeking money first is right and GOD will just be added to his life later---although he wants to set his spiritual life right soon and prays that GOD would help him fix his family life first, especially financially. That's how he sees it, and he's confused. He needs to be helped. The last thing he needs is to be trashed.
No doubt, my son wants to go back to the LORD and asks our (my wife and I) help. He's showed me how he wanted to put his life right with GOD again. Even Paul later shifted gears a bit and sounded merciful with a sinner who needed help with repentance (Paul probably came to his senses after his first harsh letter).
The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. [2 Corinthians 2]
Not helping a believer who needs our help spiritually but is presently confused about his life, finances and the attitude of church people who trash him, means Satan has outwitted us.
Continued here soon...
