Busy, busy, busy...

These recent weeks have brought about new demands on my time, as well as some important opportunities with family I don't see frequently. With that in mind, anyone who happens to read this will have to simply accept the summer rerun I am going to share for this week. These are some thoughts from previous writing I did for a lesson I was teaching in a young women's small group at church. The notes are taken primarily from John MacArthur's book, Divine Design, a wonderful explanation of biblical manhood and womanhood that every Christian should take the time to read.

The most unfortunate result of the modern corrupted view of creation design is that we tend to fall on one extreme or another in evaluating what makes a woman a truly biblically feminine woman. Let’s contrast these two extremes:

- feminine aggression vs. helplessness, laziness: While we do want to portray discretion, modesty and gentleness, this does not mean that we simply sit around and do nothing thinking that a man must guide our every move. A truly biblical man will be looking for a young woman who is actively disciplining herself in grace, one who has her mind set on things above, and takes necessary action to see the tasks completed. She is busy with the work of the Lord, carrying out projects and fulfilling tasks, always keeping in mind her helper design - whether married or single.

- corporate career planning vs. no plans at all, no pursuit of education: We should not be like the world, eager to take power of companies and rule the office with a shrewd authority. But we also should not simply fall upon our desire for marriage and children as a reason to pursue nothing at all. Biblical womanhood is not simply becoming a wife and mother; anyone can do that! It is becoming a virtuous wife, a pure spouse, a devoted and Bible-saturated mother whose primary objective is the salvation and sanctification of her family and those in her sphere of influence. By pursuing nothing with your education or employment, you are not living out the wonderful opportunities God has graciously granted you. There are things to consider even if marriage is in your future: what if your husband dies? What if he becomes injured on the job? What if there is a severe recession and your husband asks you to go back to work for a time? There are women in our own church right now who are in such a situation. What if you want to homeschool your children? The Proverbs 31 woman most definitely was wise and educated in some fashion. We are told that she considered a field and bought it. She must have had some type of intellectual wisdom in order to carry out such a task. Whether that means pursuing a collegiate education or not is something each individual must consider in light of their authorities, their means, and the revealed will of God. But it is quite clear that a biblical woman carefully uses the mind that God has given her.

- masculine traits in speech: The worldly woman speaks with power, arrogance, brutality, bossiness and calls it being assertive and concise vs. saying nothing at all - thinking that quietness means complete silence, failing to even speak up for truth or to combat error, confronting someone in love who is gossiping or slandering.

A biblical woman is known by her feminine demeanor. She is characterized by gentle words, a soothing and nurturing presence, gracious submissiveness, warm hospitality, loving affection, wise and carefully chosen counsel when called upon...these things are not a happenstance, but a significant and beautiful display of God's intricate plan in creating man, man and woman, woman.

The Cross

Recent days have revealed that I have often allowed so many other things to eclipse the centrality of the cross of Christ in my heart and life. Good things. Things that are often found to be virtuous and pure in Scripture. Things that bring me joy. Things that can be an encouragement to others. And yet...my own soul has often drifted further and further from Christ. When I think upon the cross and what was accomplished there, it doesn't always hit me as it should. I have become busy with life and ministry and good deeds. In seeking to better understand how I have done this and how I can pursue a restored fellowship with my Savior, I have been reading C.J. Mahaney's little book, The Cross Centered Life. In it, he says, "The cross was the centerpiece of Paul's theology. It wasn't merely one of Paul's messages; it was the message. He taught about other things as well, but whatever he taught was always derived from, and related to, the foundational reality that Jesus Christ died so that sinners would be reconciled to God and forgiven by God." He goes on in the first chapter to give a little test to determine whether we are cross centered:

"The symptoms that arise from not being cross centered are easy to spot. Do any of these describe you?
- You often lack joy.
- You're not consistently growing in spiritual maturity.
- Your love for God lacks passion.
- You're always looking for some new technique, some 'new truth' or new experience that will pull all the pieces of your faith together.

If you can relate to any of these symptoms, let me encourage you to keep reading. As you learn to live a cross centered life, you'll learn:
- How to break free from joy-robbing, legalistic thinking and living.
- How to leave behind the crippling effects of guilt and condemnation.
- How to stop basing your faith on your emotions and circumstances.
- How to grow in gratefulness, joy and holiness."

Does this not accurately describe each of us, believers, as we get caught up in the hum-drum superficial demands of this society? We become enslaved to our schedule, busy with "ministry", anxious about earthly matters - all of which deny the power of the cross. I am looking forward to the rest of this little book. I am thankful for even these very hard providences that drive me to self-examination and prayerfully will result in restored joy in the precious Redeemer who has brought my life out of the pit and set my feet upon solid ground! May it be for His glory!

Changing

Changing is something that is seemingly impossible at times. Scripture tells us that with God all things are possible, and yet, when we see characteristics of our personality or temperament that have sinful manifestations, we are often discouraged by the "inability" to change. I say inability carefully because on the one hand, we know that is false. With God, in Christ Jesus' righteousness and the power of the Spirit, we know that we can change. But in the flesh, we truly are unable. And very often, it seems that our flesh wins. We spend hours contemplating the changes we want to make, we even seek counsel and pray thoughtfully toward that end, and yet change remains elusive. We read Bible passages that relate directly to our specific sin struggles, memorize them, hang them on bathroom mirrors or put them on a card and tape it to our dashboard. But nothing seems to change. Then we begin to wonder if there's any point to trying because it never seems to come together. Then there is the even greater condemnation that creeps into our thinking as we start to consider the ramifications of not changing. If we are not changing, then what have we been missing? My pastor has said, "If we have not changed, then we have not learned". There couldn't be a much more glaringly obvious conviction than that. When we continue to struggle with the same sins over and over, then it is evidence that we have not truly learned. Something is unresolved. This is a dangerous place to be, and yet the safest place to be in the sense that we have become aware of it. Ignorance is a quick way to hell. But when we become aware that there is habitual sin in our lives, then we are more inclined to address it. In fact, the genuine believer will be most tormented by the sin he sees in his life. We can take heart in knowing that the conscience God has formed within us is doing its work of conviction, which will hopefully lead to sincere repentance and a desire to flee from that sin and fly to the cross. Oftentimes when we struggle with the same sins over and over, it is because we have tried to conquer it in our flesh, instead of seeking the blood-bought power of Christ within us as our means of true sanctification. May we learn, and therefore, be changed.

I come to You with the burdens I cannot bear...

These are the words to one of my favorite songs. And tonight they are a most needful reminder to me of where I do need to go with all the burdens I cannot bear. Because they really do feel unbearable at times. Like last night. My mind was a frenzied whirlwind, utterly unfixed upon the promises of God. Though I prayed a little here and there amidst such thoughts and "tried" to set my mind and heart on things above, instead of the things here on earth...I certainly did not try very hard. I was quick to give up and give in. Oh, how I long to learn to discipline my thoughts and emotions. It feels like a constant roller coaster of reigning them in, bringing them captive to Christ, and then just as quickly experiencing the abrupt effects of the "drop" - it really is like a roller coaster (which by the way, I think of as one of the most dreadful things to experience in life, which is why the analogy will probably seem totally ridiculous to many who love the thrill of such contraptions!).

The point is, like a roller coaster, I am on this "high" where my mind is stayed upon Christ, and then without any warning, it all falls out from underneath me and my mind is consumed by worries about temporal matters. I heard a tremendous sermon by a wise young man the other night, and he described this outrageously beautiful picture of Christ, in which he said that nothing else matters but Christ - yet, within hours after hearing it, I sinfully chose to forgo my thoughts of Christ and began to become overwhelmed thinking about all my responsibilities, how I will find time for all that I must do in the next couple of months, how I miss spending precious times of fellowship with friends because we are all too busy or live so far from one another, how I feel like I do so many things but do nothing well because I am barely holding it all together, wondering what the future holds, contemplating if it's time to move on from some things and pursue something different, wishing I could be a mother, being frustrated that I struggle with the same sins over and over...clearly, allowing my thoughts to go wildly uncontrolled. This led to a sleepless night, one in which I awoke several times, laying awake for hours, only to get up this morning feeling exhausted and disappointed in myself.

In all these things, God is most gracious, is He not? I made it through the day, I didn't have any emotional distress, and I was able to accomplish more than I thought I would when I first awoke to such defeated thoughts. His mercies truly are new every morning, and are just enough to be measured for each day - even moment by moment. He is so good to me! How I love Him! I love that even though I still don't feel like many issues were resolved, there are many remaining frustrations and disappointments - both in myself and in others - I am grateful to be reminded that those feelings hold no significance in the light of God's plans and purposes for my life. My feelings are ever-deceiving and always seeking to promote myself. When I become jealous that there seems to be little opportunity for me to rest or enjoy some frivolities of this life, I can be certain there is no truth in those feelings. When I get discouraged by the way I think others treat me, or by the sin I see in their own lives, I can rest assured there is no validity to it. My flesh has trained me to interpret things as being deserved or undeserved. I have exalted myself and my feelings. I love that God, in Christ Jesus, has already covered all these ridiculously sinful notions in His forgiving grace. I love that even though I don't remember these things oftentimes, He remembers for me. And He is merciful to keep me from sinning worse than I do, because left to myself, I am sure these feelings and contemplations could lead to horrific actions and attitudes that would ruin my testimony and certainly be a discouragement to others. He truly covers my sin and my shame.

Back to the song. "Since you brought dead ones to life...I know You can do that with mine...so I come to You with my broken heart in my hands. I come to You with an anxious and troubled mind...Just like You did to the sea...I know that You will bring peace. I ask, I seek, and knock...that the door will be opened. I come to You with the burdens I cannot bear...Your yoke is easy so I, can trade them for one that is light. So I come to You with the burdens I cannot bear. I come to You with a life that I do not own. The door to Your kingdom is great, and You gave Your own life away...that the door will be opened."

Lord, teach me to come to You with the burdens I cannot bear, to cast them at the foot of the cross, where all things have been made new, and You have reconciled me to Yourself in all ways, so that no burden is heavy.

Leaving behind our discretion

We are reaching an age in time when discretion has crept out the back door...or in some cases, just ran blatantly right out the front! With the wide open spaces of email, Facebook, blogging, and mySpace, we are free to expose whatever we want for the whole world to hear and see. In a time when Christ has been brought down to our level as a means of excusing sin, we have lost our discretion. We no longer blush at mentioning private matters in a very public manner. It's no wonder that women are no longer retaining their feminine virtues - we have been exposed to all kinds of perverse and unladylike manner of living. In fact, we are often eager to engage in such attitudes, speech and behavior. We parade photos of ourselves in swimsuits all across our Facebook profiles. We splash flirtatious words across the message boards of the Internet. We speak in vague ambiguities merely to stir up curiosity among our peers. What's worse, is that we have forgotten not only our discretion, but our call to discipleship amongst the covenant community. Scripture is clear that older men are to be "sober minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness," and women are to be "reverent in behavior...to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands". Why? "So that the Word of God may not be reviled" (Titus 2). When we disregard these instructions and begin to interact and behave just as the world, our ability to influence others for Christ is not only discredited, it is mocked and reviled. I am not seeking to be legalistic in the sense of telling you what you can and cannot wear or what you can do with your "free time". What I am saying is that when you document it and publicize it in an arena where people have no understanding of the background or reasoning behind it, you cannot expect there to be no consequences. Posting photos that call attention to our physical beauty make it quite obvious what we are looking for. Writing about personal matters in a way that leaves much information left to the interpreter, or simply discourages them because we have made our complaints quite clear, has nothing to do with mutual accountability or fellowship within the body. By doing such things, we are provoking others to sin in one way or another. Each one of us is an older and younger woman in every relationship we encounter. Even as a young woman, we are an older woman to those girls we interact with. With each year that passes, we should become more and more of a wise and careful influence on those around us.

We have been warned about this godlessness in the last days. As Paul wrote to Timothy, "For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning but never able to arrive at the knowledge of truth." Does this apply to men and women? Of course, as does all of Scripture. But since I am a woman, I am speaking to women here. How is it that weak women are captured, especially if they are in their own homes, as they should be? Because they are not on guard, and they are not busy tending to the things of the Lord. It is quite possible to be a homemaker, never working outside the home, yet be dragged away by the evils of this world. How are we spending our time at home? Aimlessly clicking the remote? Wandering around on one another's profiles looking for juicy or exciting information? Are we using every opportunity - and I mean every - to exalt the name of Christ in one another's lives? It is this age when we are the most in danger, because everything has become so accessible. There are no restrictions any longer.

May we be always pursuing the righteous fruit of Christ. As Paul said to Titus, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works".

Comfort

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." Colossians 1:3-5

We encourage because we have been encouraged in Christ. We love because we have been loved in Christ. We serve because we have been eternally served beyond all that we could ask or think. We can extend mercy because of the mercy that has been lavished upon us. We cover one another's sins because Christ has covered ours. We speak with knowledge and wisdom, because to do otherwise is to deny what we have been given in Christ.

Not much to say...

Recent days have brought about distractions as I transition from some major responsibilities of life to some new ventures for a time. This transition is exciting and welcomed, though not without some trepidation. As I contemplate my fitness for the task that lies ahead, I am quickly downcast and despairing - if I listen to the accusations of the enemy. Sometimes there are things we want so badly in life, and we pray and pursue with great fervency. But then when we finally get the thing we so desperately desired, we suddenly aren't sure if we want it anymore. Not because it has lost its value, but because the reality of getting it sets in and we begin to realize how it might change us...or worse yet, how it might require us to be changed through challenging and sanctifying circumstances.

The great Scottish preacher, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, said this: "It has always been my aim, and it is my prayer, to have no plans with regard to myself, well assured as I am, that the place where the Savior sees meet to place me must ever be the best place for me."

One thing I have learned by experience as a woman, is that we tend to dislike change. And we tend to have our own agenda and schedule, with a neat little planner to match, and coordinating post-it notes to keep everything organized. Of course, not all women are planners. But most of us have some variation of planning/organization interests and skill. I would even go so far as to say that this tendency may stem from our creation design, as God has used this quality as one of woman's primary means of blessing man as his helper.

Looking back at Eve's fall into sin, and the resulting impact that has had on all of mankind, I would also say that this one area where woman is most gifted, is certainly also an area in which she is the most likely to have her depravity manifested. Do we not take our planning and administrating abilities to the extremes of dominating, ruling over and even criticizing men? We allow the good of how God has created us to become the very means by which we can bring the most frustration and difficulty in our relationships. We know that one of the critical created elements of a woman's role is to be submissive. This role often meets with failure because we are unwilling to let go of ouyr demands. We demand to know what's going on. We demand to be informed about plans and decisions. We demand to be aware of the plans for the week and the meals we will prepare. We don't like operating on the fly, being flexible and easygoing. And typically, our angry and impatient responses reveal a heart that has plotted and planned according to a selfish will.

What is the solution to such matters? To be as Robert Murray M'Cheyne and remind ourselves that nothing is according to our human will. The Bible says that a man plans his ways, but God is the One who directs His steps. So while it is important to be orderly and thoughtful with the time and resources God has given us, we must remember that anything we do is the direct result of the perfect will of our Heavenly Father. He is the One guiding our every step and removing obstacles or opening windows of opportunity. It is He who determines our plans, and there are no regrets. Where He sees fit to place us is His divine and holy will.

Motives for righteousness

Something I have been contemplating a great deal in recent days is to discern my motives for doing things. It is an important thing for the Christian to think about, as we know that it is God who searches and knows our hearts. Only He can fully determine if there are any wicked ways within us. Then the next critical question is to determine whether we continue doing those things once we recognize that our motives may have been wrong. The more complex consideration is when those things we do are good things - like serving and caring for others. We care for each other's children, clean and cook for our families, sing in the choir, volunteer long hours in the nursery, teach a Sunday School class, disciple young people, plan church outreach activities, travel on mission trips around the world, giving money to our church, making meals for those who are ill, and the list goes on and on. Are not these all things that have been commanded in Scripture, as we seek to live out the call to be Christ's disciples by caring for the weak and meeting the needs of the brethren? So if they are good things, what should our response be when we discover that our motives have been tainted by sinful affections? Maybe we are trying to make a good impression on others sometimes. Possibly we are avoiding dealing with a personal area of our own lives by filling up our time with "busy good deeds". And what complicates such matters is when they are coupled with a sincere desire to serve Christ's Bride, the Church. Loving the local body of believers is a good and proper motivation for serving others. But more necessary is a love for Christ Himself, knowing that we are His servants and belong to Him.

So back to the original question - do we continue doing works of righteousness even when we know that our motives are not entirely Christlike and pure? A well-known theologian, John Gerstner, said this: "The thing that really separates us from God is not so much our sin, but our damnable good works". When we do good things - for others, for the Church, or even for God - and are motivated by any thought of gaining favorable standing, then we have certainly missed the mark and allowed sinful assumptions to captivate our minds and hearts. We have moved from being led by the humility of Christ to being provoked by hopes of increasing our self-worth. It is these works that then become a source of judgment upon our own souls rather than an active living out of our transformed hearts. A believer should be motivated by the joy found in Christ as the source of all pleasure and provision. Any holiness or righteousness we exhibit must be recognized as an "alien" quality that has only been cultivated in our hearts by the powerful inner workings of our great and mighty God! It is in these truths that we find our answer. YES, we do continue pressing on in righteous duty even if our hearts are tainted by sinful motivations. Tim Chester says, "There will be times when we do act out of duty, but we do this believing that duty leads to joy, that denying ourselves leads to gaining our life (Mark 8:35-36)". As we obey and continue to seek out opportunities to serve others, meeting needs and helping, then we will experience joy in it. And as we recognize sinful motives that might be hindering us from that true joy then we can and must be quick to repent of them and turn to Christ for renewed purity and passion in sacrificially serving His Church.

Culture of Fatigue

"I'm so tired."
"I don't feel well."
"I need a coffee."
"If I could just have a break and take a couple days off."
"I guess I should call off today. I think I overdid it."
"You're a little under the weather? Well, I guess it's alright if you stay home."
"I just need a day to recuperate."

Sound familiar? It certainly does to me - and not from others, but from my own lips. In fact, let me begin this post making it perfectly clear that my thoughts and convictions on this topic are just as much from seeing my own attitudes as those around me. There are many reasons why I am contemplating this topic. Firstly, because I see my own sinful tendencies to bewail my personal fatigue. And then, too, between being a teacher and being involved in church ministry, I see the constant habits of tardiness and absences, which have become more and more commonplace and easily accepted in our culture. Furthermore, I see these tendencies toward weariness even in the midst of legitimate life hardships amongst friends and family.

In fact, it would seem at times, that we have created a competition of sorts as to who is the most tired or who "deserves" a break most. We say things like, "Well, you don't know what it's like having two jobs and school," or "You won't understand until you have a husband and kids and are trying to juggle all the scheduling and responsibilities of that." This happens when we are looking at ourselves and not the bigger picture. We see our life circumstances as paramount and as more weighty or serious than those of others. Or we even try to justify our tardiness or inability to keep some commitments because we were too busy keeping a more important one. For instance, I might call off work or skip school, only to show up later to a church function. Now, before you spew venomous anger at my boldness in stating such a thing, remember this is not meant as a sweeping indictment. Of course, there may be sincere exceptions to this from time to time. However, in general, when this happens, is it not often because we find merit in these religious works as gaining us better standing with the Lord; yet, the "smaller" things (like keeping your home, helping a friend, exhibiting a commitment to one's job and education) are not viewed with such urgency? I will be transparent here, for the sake of reaffirming that this post is just as much for my own correction as it is intended for the benefit of others. A couple years ago, I took on graduate school and am now in the process of writing my very large thesis to finish up that degree. At the same time, I am a teacher, do tutoring a couple days a week, involved in several ministries at my church that require a significant time commitment, typically don't sleep really well, and my Mom is preparing to undergo surgery for cancer this week. I say all that to give insight into why these things are weighing on my mind. I am quick to complain at times of how tired I am and how my schedule doesn't leave much room for "down time". But when did "down time" become a right? There is no mention of it in Scripture, and when "rest" or a reprieve are referenced in the Bible, it is clear that those times were used to refresh one's soul - not as an excuse to lay around and do nothing.

Are we learning and are we teaching our children to press on and be diligent in the midst of discomfort or weariness? Or are we cultivating habits of giving in at the first sing of fatigue? Are we using biblical language when evaluating ourselves and our children? Or are we quick to term what is actually laziness as boredom or fatigue? Of course there are times of legitimate illness or exhaustion and a genunine need for rest and refreshment. However, are we making those distinctions biblically and from a perspective that is informed by the Word, or from our own self-serving attitudes?

Furthermore, what example are we setting for the lost world, or even in our own homes/churches to the young people who we desire to see pursuing diligent and fervent commitments to the things of the Lord? Does our unsaved boss or our unregenerate young child see clearly our biblical work ethic, one which reflects habits that are self-sacrificing and willing to forgo the personal comforts of relaxation and entertainment? Could this be why we are seeing an ever-increasing tendency toward extended adolescence? Children who never want to grow into adulthood, don't take responsibility seriously, fail to finish anything or finish with excellence?

Our ministries will never be taken seriously as long as we don't take seriously the basic responsibilities God has given us in caring for and maintaining the home, exhibiting diligence in attending work/school, being prompt and showing faithfulness to keep our commitments, and being willing to work hard even when we are tired. One of my pastors has recently said, "The work of the ministry is carried out primarily by tired people." Could that not have been said by the many faithful ministry laborers from years past? Did not Paul work unceasingly for the welfare of the churches? Did not the Puritans labor with undistracted diligence and exhibit amazing fortitude? Yet, even in closing out this topic, I am quickly reminded to examine all these matters in light of the motives behind them. Being prompt, diligent and showing forth reliable work ethic can easily become a "work of righteousness," one which can be held forth as some sort of evidence that one deserves recognition. Battling the temptations toward laziness in this life - for the believer - must be done out of an overflow of his love for Christ. Paul sacrificially served and ministered and worked hard, not to gain favor with God, but as an outflow of his own calling from and love for his Lord and Savior.

And such were some of you...

In recent years, the evangelical world has seen a number of well-respected figures fall from their thrones of influence. Pastors have been caught in adulterous affairs, TV evangelists has been accused of swindling thousands of dollars from faithful viewers, Christian stars have left their spouses for another lover (or even for many reasons that are not biblical grounds for divorce) and then remarried...and now beloved recording artists have confessed to living an "alternative" lifestyle. I have been pondering this post for several days, and still am uncertain as to whether I have allowed it to settle soundly enough in my mind. I do not want my speech to be hasty or overly judgmental. However, I think it is imperative that the Church (meaning those who are sincere believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and who have repented of their sin and turned to Him in complete faith) do take a position on such matters. Why? Because we are commanded to take a stand on the issue of sin...both in our personal lives and in the lives of others who name themselves as Christians. It is not my obligation to judge those who do not confess Christ as Savior, for they will be judged by God the Father Himself at the great white throne. But the Bible clearly tells us that we must lovingly "judge" one another within the Church by providing accountability and clarity when we see issues of sin manifested in one another's lives. In fact, chapter 5 of 1st Corinthians tells us that we are to judge within the Church concerning sexual immorality and to purge from the Church those who are unrepentant. We must deal swiftly and biblically with sin in our personal lives and with the sins that affect the body of Christ corporately.

Unfortunately, by taking a stand on such issues, I will most likely be labeled as unloving, prejudicial, arrogant and self-righteous. The verse, "let him without sin cast the first stone," inevitably becomes the battle cry against Christians who speak biblical truth in the face of such behaviors. Yet it is my Christian love which compels me to write. My love for Christ demands that I love His Word and love others that He has created - and in that love, I must call them to repentance so that they may be reconciled to the Savior. Is it not precious and faithful love that has been lavished upon me when a fellow brother or sister in Christ has graciously pointed out my sins and calls me to repentance? Sometimes I am so blind to my own deceitful ways that it takes the bold and yet compassionate admonitions of a Christian friend to draw me back into a clear understanding of God and His ways. The Christian life is rooted in perseverance, and we clearly depend on one another in order to persevere. Yes, God is the One who holds my soul in the palm of His hand, but He often uses fellow Christians to point my soul back to Him.

Thankfully, in God's providence, He has brought me to a church in which the love and forgiveness of Christ is seen on a consistent basis, as wayward members are welcomed back into fellowship upon their repentance and restoration. It is a joyful time when a brother or sister has come to recognize their sinful ways and then seeks to be reconciled to God and those in the Church. I have personally experienced this when I have been confronted of sins observed in my own life, but am always reminded of the love that the one confronting has for me and that their desire is for my eternal welfare. When an adulterous man has sought forgiveness and true biblical restoration, it has been granted. When a rebellious young adult who has lashed out against her family, returns in love and sorrow over her sin, she is welcomed just as the prodigal son. When I am unloving, bitter or thoughtless in my attitudes toward others, my church family is often eager to extend mercy and forgiveness.

Regarding the issue of sexual sin, and specifically, homosexuality, I would be a liar to say that Christians typically approach this issue with love and graciousness. Anyone who truly understands the grace that has been granted them in Christ Jesus would be eager to extend such compassion and mercy. We are often quick to lay down accusations filled with arrogance and pride. However, just because some in the Church do not deal with the fornicator, adulterer, or liar with Christ-exalting humility, does not mean that we lay aside God's Word altogether and allow sin to reign freely.

One of the most beautiful and obvious examples of Christian love that calls one out of sin is found in the dialogue between Christ and the woman at the well. Here, Christ confronted the woman with the fact that she had numerous husbands, explained to her the way of eternal life, and then told her to "go and sin no more". He loved her and so He told her the truth about herself. He did not offer her a salvation that was free for her own interpretation, as we so often do. The grace was freely given, but a manifestation of true faith was that the woman responded in obedience. There is no such thing as truth if it is not absolute, so saying that truth is whatever I make it to be or interpret it as, makes my "truth" merely an opinion. Jennifer Knapp, like all of us when we live in the deceitfulness of the sinful flesh, is seeking to measure her faith by experience instead of by God's Word. She has become her own source of authority instead of God being her authority. Therefore, her truth has become relative.

May we be quick, believers, to lovingly and gently call out the sin of a Christian brother or sister. But may we be even quicker to examine our own sinful hearts and "lay aside every weight which so easily entangles". May the Lord use such things to keep His Bride (the Church) pure and undefiled. May He show mercy and wisdom to Jennifer Knapp, and the many like her, who are so driven by emotion and experience, and bring them to a proper understanding of His Word, interpreting it as it is and not for how we would like for it to be. And may He be gracious to us all, for He is coming for us one day, and that may be very soon. May we be anticipating that day, preparing ourselves as the Bride does for the Bridegroom, without spot or blemish, and savoring Christ in all things.

"But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, 'In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.' It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt, save others by snatching them out of the fire, to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh" (Jude 17-23).