seems undesirable to you,
then choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve,
whether the gods
your forefathers served
beyond the River,
or the gods
of the Amorites,
in whose land you are living.
But as for me and my household,
we will serve the LORD.' "
(Joshua 24:15)
Today is October 31, 2008. On this day in 1517, 491 years ago, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, triggering the world history movement known as the Reformation.
But, today, I don't think that the majority are thinking about Martin Luther, the anniversary of the Reformation, the Church, or Jesus Christ. Most people today, I somberly assume, are planning their Halloween festivities.
A few years ago, I am sad to say, I was one of them. Oh, I have been a Christian for most of my 42 years, but, in retrospect, much of my witness was a well-intentioned compromise of God's Truth ... rebellion born not of deliberation but of ignorance. For example, I didn't focus on--nor was I really aware of--the pagan origins of Halloween or the evil celebrations of it, but I helped my daughter find a costume, dressed her up, took her trick-or-treating, participated in neighborhood gatherings, and attended community carnivals. The fact that I participated in any part of it, as "benignly" and "innocently" as our participation may have been, was a direct, though unintentional, rebellion of His Word, and this year, more than ever, I am clearly convicted of how costly any compromise can be.
An old worldly proverb states that "ignorance is bliss", meaning that not knowing something is much more comfortable than actually knowing it. Once the Lord has revealed something to His children, however, once we are convicted, once we are aware, once we know ... then we are accountable to act according to that knowledge. The Bible teaches:
"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."
(Romans 3:19-20)
No one can perfectly uphold God's law because we are currently sinners living in a fallen world. If we were saved according the law, we would not need the grace of Jesus Christ's atoning death. God's law, though, is our plumb line, our standard, His heart, and it is through God's law that we recognize what He deems right and wrong, just and injust, good and evil. His Word teaches us, and His Holy Spirit convicts us. And, once we know, we are accountable. Otherwise, we are purposefully and disobediently rebelling against Him.
Throughout the Old Testament, the Lord continually instructed His people to completely destroy "the high places". Some did, some did not. Some evil kings rebuilt the previously demolished high places. Some demolished every evil except the high places. The Truth is, no matter how pure our intentions, no pagan observance can remain among us without defiling the glory of the Lord. Reference this study note on 1 Samuel 9:12 in my NIV Bible translation:
"After entrance into the promised land, the Israelites often followed the custom of the Canaanites in building local altars on hills. ... In later times, worship at these high places provided a means for the entrance of pagan practices into Israel's religious observances and, for this reason, it was condemned." (My emphasis.)
Another study note on 1 Kings 3:2 further addresses the danger of using pagan practices/venues even for the well-intentioned worship of the Lord:
"Upon entering Canaan, the Israelites often followed the Canaanite custom of locating their altars on high hills, probably on the old Baal sites. The question of the legitimacy of Israelite worship at these high places has long been a matter of debate. It is clear that the Israelites were forbidden to take over pagan altars and high places and use them for the worship of the Lord (Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 7:5, 12:3). It is also clear that altars were to be built only at divinely sanctioned sites (see Exodus 20:24; Deuteronomy 12:5, 8, 13-14). It is not clear whether multiplicity of altars was totally forbidden provided the above conditions were met (see 1 Kings 19:10, 14: Leviticus 26:30-31; Deuteronomy 12; 1 Samuel 9:12). It seems, however, that these conditions were not followed even in the time of Solomon, and pagan high places were being used for the worship of the Lord. This would eventually lead to religious apostasy and syncretism and was strongly condemned (2 Kings 17:7-18, 21:2-9, 23:4-25)." (My emphasis.)
The word "tolerance" is thrown about rather cavalierly these days. No where in the Bible does the Lord command or even encourage us to tolerate evil. We are to love everyone through the compassion of Christ, but we are not to tolerate any attitude, behavior, or practice that is inconsistent with--or in direct opposition to--God's Word. Tolerance and compromise, I believe, are the enemy's attempt to dilute God's Word and distort God's Truth, and we, as the Body of Christ, can not participate in that perversion in any way, shape, or form.
Much is on my heart this morning about "choice". There is much to say about the choices that we Christians make every single day. As I focus on what the Lord is leading me to write this morning, my mind drifts to other important choices that we face, including our vote in the upcoming United States presidential election ... but that's another post for another day. I also am pondering in my heart lesser profile choices, like the fact that I am typing this post on a computer that was created by a company which now (or maybe always has ... and I just wasn't aware of it!) tolerates and even encourages policies which are inconsistent and contrary to God's Word. I am acutely conscious of indirectly rewarding those unrighteous policies by the fact that I continue to use this company's products, but, again, that's another post for another day.
Today, precious friends, I encourage you to inventory your life with fresh eyes. Pray that the Lord will convict you of any area of compromise in your life. You may not be consciously aware of an indiscretion, but that doesn't mean that it fails to exist. Whether you intend it or not, anything unrighteous in God's eyes colors our testimony a rather ugly shade of gray, regardless of our bright intentions. Ignorance can not be excused any longer. The stakes are too high. Our God is too worthy. The grace of Jesus Christ is too great. "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:30).
Precious Father, oh, Lord, I repent of any and every part of my life that fails to honor, please, and glorify You. Lord, if there is anything that in my life that is a "high holy place", please convict my heart and make me aware of Your Truth. I pray, Lord, for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, that we would focus on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable" and that "—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—" we would "think about such things" (reference Philippians 4:8). I pray, Lord, for the courage to "purge the evil" from among us (reference Deuteronomy 13:5; 17:7,12; 19:19; 21:21: 22:21-22, 24; 24:7), resisting compromise and refusing tolerance. And, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ--the Light of the world. Amen.
Light has come into the world,
but men loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil.
Everyone who does evil hates the light,
and will not come into the light
for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
But whoever lives by the Truth comes into the light,
so that it may be seen plainly
that what he has done
has been done through God.' "
(John 3:19-21)
"Trick" and "Treat" in the Scriptures:
"Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 'You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?"
(Acts 13: 10)
(Acts 13: 10)
"For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests are hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else."
(1 Thessalonians 2:3-6)
(1 Thessalonians 2:3-6)
" 'Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to Me, so they will not profane My Holy Name. I am the LORD.' "
(Leviticus 22:2)
(Leviticus 22:2)
"The LORD said to Moses, 'How long will these people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?' "
(Numbers 14:11)
(Numbers 14:11)
"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting, the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children-with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word. Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. Praise the LORD, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul."
(Psalm 103:8-22)
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(Psalm 103:8-22)
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How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!
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