Convinced by Christ

"I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

Romans 14:14

God had taught Paul many things by the time he wrote the letter to the Romans as led by the Holy Spirit.  As a Pharisee, Paul would have likely fought tooth and nail against the suggestion some things or people were not unclean in themselves.  The Law of Moses was full of clear statements that described kinds of birds or beasts as unclean for eating, and how a person could be made ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body or due to illness.  There were detailed washings and sacrifices required to cleanse the unclean, and a complete paradigm shift coupled with humble faith in Jesus was needed for Paul to write what he did.  The LORD Jesus Christ needed to convince Paul of the truth nothing was unclean of itself, and so he held forth this truth boldly to the brethren--even those who had not yet been convinced.

Paul confronted Christians in Colossians 2:20-23 whose actions suggested things were unclean in themselves and their spiritual purity was maintained or lost by objects they touched or food they ate:  "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--²¹ "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," ²² which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³ These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."  The problem wasn't that believers in Colossae established wise boundaries for themselves, but the issue was they subjected themselves to self-imposed religion, not realising what Christ accomplished on Calvary.  The Law of Moses that condemned them was nailed to the cross, they had died to sin, and now were risen with Christ who lived through them.  The teaching of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount shows freedom from the Law does not bring lawlessness, for the Holy Spirit guides God's people to a standard far higher than law.

I have observed in Christian circles an appetite for legalism when it aligns with their convictions, for it is easily justified as wise boundaries.  There is an attraction for us towards black and white, to strike a stark contrast and clear line between what is deemed acceptable and sinful.  We can feel a degree of confidence or safety by avoiding what is seen as bad in itself, and we can view ourselves as morally or spiritually superior when we do what is considered good.  Both of these are a snare, for it puts self at the centre and relegates righteousness by our own arbitrary standard.  It is good for us to acknowledge God created all things to be good, and if something is unclean for us we ought to observe it as unclean without fanfare.  We do not condemn a person for avoiding food when they have a severe allergy, and we also should not condemn a person who does not drink alcohol because it could lead them or others to sin.

I remember years ago a person who believed music, when set in a minor key or played with certain drum rhythms, was in itself an "evil beat."  This clearly stands at odds with Paul's statement that nothing is unclean in itself.  God is the God of the hills as well as the valleys; He is the God of the major and minor chords, the God of the acoustic and electric guitar.  He is sovereign over the light and darkness, the day as well as the night.  He is LORD over every atom, the entire spectrum of visible and invisible light, of all things seen and not seen.  Every vibration, frequency, element, chemical, creature and spirit has been created by God for His use.  Even the world, governments and wicked forces of darkness are all under God's rule, and God's people are sanctified by Him for Him in the midst of everything that is.  Rather than fearing things God has made or what man has made can defile us--we ought to fear the LORD and be led by the Holy Spirit in what we do and choose not to do because He is our righteousness.

By faith in Jesus Christ, we can have a clear conscience before God whether we eat meat or only vegetables--or a mix of both!  A Christian can listen to classic music and heavy metal without feeling condemned by God because both can glorify Him.  Paul concluded in Romans 14:21-23, "It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. ²² Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. ²³ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."  For Paul, being convinced by Jesus meant he had the freedom to eat whatever foods he wanted, but he took pains to avoid stumbling those who expressed concerns.  It is the love of God and others as led by the Holy Spirit who guides us rather than legalism, fleshly desire or the fear of man.  May we all be convinced by Christ nothing is unclean in itself and to live to please and obey Him!

God's Compassions Fail Not

In my Bible reading this morning, I considered Psalm 107:17-19:  "Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. ¹⁸ Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. ¹⁹ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses."  The Bible describes the fool as people who say in their hearts, "There is no God," those who live as if God does not exist, has not spoken, and proudly exalt themselves in God's rightful place.  It is a very predictable and guaranteed outcome, that sin embraced brings affliction and trouble we cannot escape.

When we see people experiencing trouble as a direct consequence for their actions, we are less apt to show compassion on them because they "deserved" what they suffered.  A parent who warns their child not to bring a balloon into the kitchen or swat it towards a burning stove would likely remain unmoved when their child disobeys and cries when their balloon pops.  "That's what you get," a matter-of-fact parent might say.  Now if the child burns themselves on a hot stove or pot, a loving parent will administer first aid and seek to comfort their little one.  If the injured party happens to be a teenager or adult who knew better than playing around with fire, again, we would be less considerate of their self-inflicted wounds that stand to teach a valuable lesson.

God's grace and love towards us sinners is amazing, for even when we have played the fool--knowing better and without any excuse--He continues to extend compassion and help to those who are afflicted as a consequence of their own sin.  When we cry out to God in our trouble, He will save us out of our distress; He will give the word to heal us.  At times in Israel's history when God's people departed from Him and served idols, He told them to cry out to the idols they had chosen so they would learn how worthless and incapable they were to deliver or heal.  The season of their suffering pained God, for His heart yearned to save and help them.  But like a father corrects and disciplines a son in whom he delights, so God is willing to allow self-inflicted wounds to draw sinners to Himself through repentance.

Lamentations 3:30-32 says, "Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, and be full of reproach. ³¹ For the Lord will not cast off forever. ³² Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies."  God is grieved by sin, and He is also grieved when we suffer as a result of our sin.  Because of God's immutable, righteous character, when we are afflicted as God's people there will be an end to it because God is merciful.  Even in the midst of suffering we deserve (and we deserve far worse than we receive as Psalm 103:10 says), God shows compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.  It is because His mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Having freely received such compassion from God, let us extend compassion to others--even when they are responsible for their own affliction.

The High Beam Illustration

Yesterday something that amused me happened during a drive through the country.  As the sun began to sink over the horizon and the shadows grew long, I decided to turn on my headlights to ensure best visibility.  Somehow the lights were on high beams that shone into the rear vision mirror of the car I was following.  Noticing this, I quickly toggled the beams to the normal setting.

This also did not go unnoticed by the driver of the car I followed along the road.  I imagine the driver viewed this an an intentional act to urge them to pass the car in the front.  The driver showed his displeasure by giving his windscreen a thorough spray--which caused water to sprinkle all over my vehicle--to my great amusement.  The simple act of turning on my lights to see more clearly sent a message I was annoyed or displeased with the driver ahead of me who instantly retaliated.

It was probably too dim for the driver to see my smile or see me laugh as the droplets rained down, but my hope was the driver chalked up their high-beaming as a simple accident without malice.  In reflecting upon the situation, it illustrated well how a well-meaning person (who is trying to see more clearly) can accidentally annoy someone else who feels compelled to retaliate.  Either party has the power to escalate the situation or to diffuse it by extending grace to the other person--even if the beaming or sprinkling was on purpose.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 15:1-2, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness."  Rather than assuming the worst about others or taking their words or actions as intended to insult, we can turn away wrath with a soft answer.  It is easy to be defensive and harsh, but it takes strength from God to extend grace and respond with gentleness.  What seems to be an unfair attack could be an unintended message.  But even when people take aim with intent to harm us, by the power of the Holy Spirit we can love others as God loves us, keeping no record of wrongs.

Jesus is Worthy

I'm not a "favourite colour" kind of person, but I do have a favourite sermon that stands tall above all the rest:  Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead.  He masterfully employed a passage from Judges to illustrate how humanism can creep into Christianity, suggesting God exists for the happiness of man when the reality is we exist for God's glory.

Paris Reidhead made a powerful point concerning Christ's worthiness:  "Lord Jesus, I'm going to obey you, and love you, and serve you, and do what you want me to do, as long as I live even if I go to Hell at the end of the road, simply because you are worthy to be loved, and obeyed, and served and I 'm not trying to make a deal with you!"  This well encapsulates the heart of a humble believer who understands the privilege of being saved, forgiven, chosen and blessed to have a relationship with the living God.

I remember years ago at a camp I asked a cabin leader and his group:  "Would you follow and obey Jesus even if you went to hell because He is worthy?"  These guys looked at me with something akin to shock.  If the youths were anything like me, I first came to Jesus as a child primarily due to what I stood to receive:  His love, forgiveness and salvation from hell.  It was a wonderful offer!  But what I came to realise is what Paris Reidhead preached from the heart, that our motivation for serving and following Jesus is based on all God has done--and He is worthy!

This is the joyful cry of those in the presence of God in John's vision in Revelation 5:11-12:  "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"  Jesus is worthy to be praised and honoured--first for who He is, and also for all He has done, does and will do.  When we catch a glimpse of the glory of our wondrous Saviour, yes, He is worthy to be loved and served even if us going to hell was guaranteed.  For those who have tasted and seen He is good, life would be hell without Him.