A trap to avoid

This week there was another expose on television about a cult that does not report or punish law-breakers within their membership in relation to child abuse. I’m familiar with this cult and their attitude toward rules, which does not jibe with the expose. Everyone is supposed to do what they say, but not themselves?

“For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:13–16)

In New Testament times, a group of religious people determined that a person had to keep the laws of God to be a Christian. They focused on one ‘rule’ that in their minds was a definite must.

Rule-keeping is contrary to the Gospel but didn’t stop them from confusing seekers and believers, including the church in Galatia. Paul wrote to them about this matter, strongly warning them of ‘falling from grace’ and denying the power of God and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

The passage above strikes at their motives. They wanted people to follow their “rules” so they could boast about them. As for the cult mentioned, they also boast about their numbers, about all the people who do their best to be good ‘witnesses’ for their organization. However, no one can keep all their rules. As the expose showed, that is not reported, even some of the most gross misconduct.

At the same time, this cult wants no drop in their numbers. They want to appear successful so use ‘shunning’ to keep people tied to them. While some have gone to court over the losses due to shunning, the supreme court in Canada has just passed a new law that allows them to shun whoever they wish without being sued.

The biblical answer to this complicated issue strikes at the root of the problem. Faith in Jesus Christ means new life, a new way of thinking, a change in motivation. Those who love and follow Jesus are not bound to the laws of God, but we are bound to love one another.

We are also to not base our relationship with God on rule-keeping. We are saved by grace. Not only that, there are grave results for those who get tangled in law-keeping.

“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law and do them.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (Galatians 3:10–11)

Paul is quoting the Old Testament to show that salvation has always been by faith. He goes on to explain the purpose of the law (to reveal sin and to show people they need grace). For these reasons, being circumcised or having any sort of focus on OT “rules” will take them away from grace:

“Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision count for anything, but only faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:2–6)

So why do cults and various other isms become so focused on rules? They obviously do not realize that by refusing God’s gracious gift of salvation by faith, they are also missing out on the gift of the Holy Spirit who changes lives and gives them a deep love for one another.

If I choose to walk in the flesh rather than obey God, I put myself in bondage, not to a cult but to the tyranny of always wanting my own way. This is always against the way of the Lord and produces no peace and joy in this life and no eternal results. How sad.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:16–18)

^^^^^^^^^^

Oh Lord Jesus, I’m not sure why cult members or anyone else rejects the Gospel and says, ‘No thanks, I will do it my way’ other than our sin runs deep. Truly all need You to get us out of our unyielding pride.

God’s answer to my pride

Some people have a rough time with their self-image. I just read a novel about a person wrongly accused of murder. He had a sad past and was continually told that he was an evil child, an evil youth, and an evil adult. After fifteen years in jail, he considered himself an evil man even after he was proven innocent. Eventually, he acted out this image of himself and killed someone.

I grew up under the care of loving parents who supported and encourage me, but I’ve talked to peers who were not so fortunate. One of them told me that no matter what she did as she grew up, it was never good enough. Out of that background, she struggles with the grace of God. How could she be acceptable with all her shortcomings? She knew that Christ gave her His righteousness, but has trouble ‘feeling’ the reality of it.

Yet even with a supportive upbringing, I can grasp a bit of what this self-abasing does and where it comes from. I want to feel as if I deserve the goodness of God and recognize the root of it is pride. Even without a background that produces a lack of self-worth, pride messes with God’s message of grace. Instead of joyfully and freely accepting His gift of salvation, my sinful human heart will try to ‘do something’ or ‘be somebody’ so that I can boast.

Throughout the Bible, God addresses pride as sin yet answers it in a surprising way — with unconditional love. No matter what I am or have done, or what I’m not and haven’t done, He loves me and while I am a sinner, He sent Jesus to die for me.

However, God also challenges my pride with the way He wants me to live. When I read passages like the following one, I realize that God’s thoughts are nothing like the way I think, or how my friend thinks, or how that fictional character in prison thinks. God’s love for us is not about what we do or do not do, or about what we deserve. It is not like the doting love, or the never-satisfied demands we experience in our upbringing. Parents may or may not reflect the love of God, but if they do, it is partial at best. For us, Jesus Christ is the example . . .

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:18–25)

God’s ways are not like human ways. We want a good boss, just and fair treatment, but Jesus trusted His Father so much that He willingly accepted all that happened to Him. He didn’t try to prove Himself and was not driven to ‘do something’ or ‘be somebody’ so He could win, come out on top, or even boast. Instead, He accepted God’s will for Him and was willing to be utterly humiliated rather than defend Himself. He didn’t fight back.

As today’s devotional reading says, they lifted him up on the Cross and hanging between heaven and earth, they watched him die. Christ ‘He Himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree.’ “The sword of God’s justice was drawn against him and the cup of wrath was poured out upon him. He took the place of the guilty, became the guilty, and bore the penalty of guilt that we deserve. The Son of God was crushed to death beneath the wheel of divine justice.”

This is the truth that needs to go from mental assent to deeply into the way I think and live. God punished his Son for my sin and will never punish me for sin. The justice of God will not allow the same crime to be punished twice; His righteousness will not allow the same debt to be paid twice. The law, God’s justice and righteousness punished all my sin in Christ and He will never punish me.

“Blessed is the man (and the woman) against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” (Romans 4:8)

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, pride has no place in Your scheme of things! By faith I know that You died for me. This truth has changed and is changing my life. Being declared “Not Guilty” and believing it is true has a powerful effect, one that is unexpected. Because I know that God will never impute sin on me because of Christ, I want to rely on You even more, and I don’t want to sin ever again or take credit for something only You can do.

Tripped up by pride

I was about seventeen, dressed up for a special occasion, and trotting around the house in a pair of fancy high-heeled shoes thinking I was the best thing that ever happened. Suddenly I tripped and nearly fell. I turned to see what had nearly threw me to the floor — it was a small piece of straw.

I was not a Christian at that time, but I heard someone say into my mind, “Remember who you are. You are a farm girl.” There is nothing demeaning about being a farmer’s daughter, but at the time this was a sharp rebuke for my superior attitude. God reminds me again this morning of that piece of straw and how He used it to put me in my place.

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.” (Isaiah 51:1)

The other reading is from Ezekiel 16, colorful words in an analogy using an abandoned baby to show how God took Israel and cared for her, even as she became an adulterous woman who forgot the covenant He had made for her righteousness. The devotional writer uses words from these two prophets to remind Christians that we too have nothing to boast about. We were and are sinners saved by grace — and not to forget it.

God freely forgives my sins and does not throw them in my face, yet at the same time I can rejoice in His grace. I have no foundation in myself that I can boast about or take a superior attitude. It is by the grace of God that I am who I am.

This is practical every day, but specifically speaks to me this morning. I’m helping my sister who will be moving in a few months from a house where she raised her family and has lived most of her life. She keeps things. It is a big job. She is thankful I’m here. Her family is praising me. I need to remember who I am and why I am willing to do this and why I am able to help . . .

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:1–7)

Jesus did it. Jesus gave me a different heart so that I have other options besides arrogance and attitudes that kept me from wanting to be helpful to others. Now I can choose to serve, all because of Jesus.

At the same time, it is good to always remember who I was, where I was, and what I was when God saved me by his grace. I was a fallen sinner and a rebel against God, lost and without hope in this world, dead in trespasses and sins, even though alive to the world, the flesh, Satan and sin.

Living the Christian life means remembering I also have a Redeemer who delivered me from that old life and gave me Himself so that I now can say YES to Him and NO to sin and selfishness.

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Jesus, what a blessing You are! You did not leave me in my sinful state. Even though it remains to lure me, You also gave me Yourself, taking me into Your family and changing my life. Even on those days that I prefer to not think about what I used to be, help me always remember that by grace I am saved — and did not do that myself. You alone are my Savior and Lord! To You belongs all honor, majesty, praise and dominion.