Subject: purpose driven? |
Bible Note: Steve Amen! I really agree with this statement, "we cannot be saved if we do not first appreciate the sinfulness and falleness of our natural condition. One cannot be saved if he does not know he's lost." Church today convinces people that they are dying and going to hell, but never attempts to convince them of their sins. People hear they are going to hell and don't like that idea so they do as they’re told and believe in Jesus to keep them out of hell. Problem solved! WRONG! They aren't saved they just didn't want to go to hell. Because they don't even know what they’re saved from, they are just "saved from hell" Unless we see the need for salvation (other than keeping us out of hell) there can be no meaningful change in our lives. We can become "churched" learning what to say and not to say. We can put on our church face and act as we see others in the church act. We can even be fruit producers as we see other produce fruit. But there is still a void, something is missing, that is our own personal confrontation with our sins. That is a dirty, shameful, degrading, and even cruel process and it is place people never want to visit yet that is exactly where we must go to find Christ. Our society has taught us well how to avoid ever making a wrong turn to go to the place, in fact society has done it best to make us believe that place doesn't exist. We have many names for the cover up, self esteem, self confidence, self worth. We proudly proclaim that we like ourselves, and why shouldn't we? We never compare ourselves to any standard higher than ourselves. Even though we know there is something missing we attempt to cover it with in many ways; good works, emotional highs, satisfying perceived needs, materialism, occasionally entering the ministry. We call that process finding “our purpose.” The Word of God and the leading of Holy Spirit is needed to take us to the place of self examination, but unless the church teaches us by showing us a higher standard to compare ourselves and of our need to confront our sins we never start the journey. Unless you know you sin how can you ever seek forgiveness for it? EdB |