Sometimes the word of God can make us uncomfortable. This is one of those times.
Reading the first few chapters of Romans.
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:18-21 (NIV)
After this Paul goes on in detail to describe things that could be taken right out of today's headlines. Take a moment and read the rest if you like.
But then the focus of his letter takes for us a rather painful turn.
It's important, before reading this next part, to remember that Paul wrote this book to Christians. "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people" Romans 1:7 (NIV)
Because right after the vivid description of the world we live in, Paul does not exhort us to go out and tell the rest of the world how bad they are - he turns the focus right on us.
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" Romans 2:1-4 (NIV)
Notice the words "you" or "yourself" is used nine times. He is not saying this to the world he just described, Paul is saying this to believers. He is speaking to you and I.
Like I said, the word of God can make us very uncomfortable.
Paul continues a few verses down.
"if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Romans 2:21-24 (NIV)
And in case we feel off the hook, because we never did the things listed, keep in mind the words of Jesus.
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment." Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV)
And
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. " Matthew 5:27 (NIV)
To a holy God, lust is as adultery, anger is as murder.
Hmmm, how do we measure up now?
The word of God is clear, is not our job to convict the world of sin. That task belongs to the Holy Spirit.
I cannot stop thinking about what Bobby shared on the holiness of God this past week at Refuel. We are the people of that holy God. As long as we keep our focus on what goes on outside of the church, we will never deal with what is going on inside of ourselves.
A dying world cannot grasp a pointing finger to be lifted out of the pit, it needs an open hand.
"Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?"
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?"
"No, Lord," she said.
And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more." John 8:1-11 (NLT)
