Step Down From Your Pedestal
"I desire above all things that my name should be
concealed, and that none be called by the name of
Lutheran; but of Christian. What is Luther? My
doctrine is not mine, but Christ's. I was not crucified
for any. How comes it to pass, that I, who am but
a filthy, stinking bag of worms; that any of the
sons of God should be denominated from my name?
Away with these schismatical names! Let us be
denominated from Christ, from whom alone we
have our doctrine." — Martin Luther
As Luther wrote on the topic of naming a church after him, he suggested that the church would have to be named "filthy, stinking bag of worms," because that is what he was.
Inevitably Luther's followers did name a church after him, against his wishes. I guess they thought that "Lutheran Church" had a better ring to it than "Filthy, Stinking, Bag of Worms Church."
Luther understood that he was a poor example of righteousness, and therefore was not worthy of being the namesake of a church or movement.
He considered himself an example of nothing more than a sinner saved by God's grace. Jesus alone is our model of righteouness. Jesus alone is our example of what is truly good. Jesus alone is the one who saves.
Anyone else placed upon a pedestal will be knocked off. So we might as well follow Luther's example and step on down ourselves. Confessing our sins and our brokeness to others makes us examples of God's Grace. In doing so, we take ourselves off the pedastol, and place Jesus in His rightful place upon it.
"He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30, ESV).
"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14, ESV).
"For when one says, “I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere human beings?" (1 Corinthians 3:4, NIV).
Getting Through The Security Gate
This past weekend, my youngest son and I had the opportunity to take a short trip together. We flew to Knoxville, TN, then drove over the Smokies to Gastonia, NC. There I gave a Bear Valley Bible Institute presentation and Q&A, preached Sunday morning, and spoke in their Sunday Night Summer Series. We then drove back to Knoxville before flying back to Denver on Monday.
While waiting in line on the incline toward the security gate in Knoxville, Gannon and I were shocked by two things. First, there were a lot of signs with pictures of guns which had been confiscated in recent months at that very security checkpoint. Those guns ended up in the TSA agents' hands for, potentially, a variety of reasons. Perhaps some innocently forgot. They may have been licensed to carry a weapon and forgot to leave it behind. Others might have intentionally tried to sneak the weapons on because they thought the rule did not apply to them. Perhaps they never would have thought of hurting anyone; but they believed they could get away with not keeping the rules. It also may have been that some tried to sneak those weapons on because they intended to hurt others. While I cannot be sure of their intentions, I am confident that those individuals did not make it through the security gate (thankfully!).
The second shock came right before we reached the x-ray machines. Gannon realized he had a half-full water bottle in his backpack. So, when we placed our bags on the conveyer belt, I told the officer of our error and showed her the bottle. She smiled and said, "That is okay. Just throw it away in that can under the belt." We complied and passed safely through the gate.
I am not sure what the security checks will be to pass into life eternal, but I wonder if sometimes we think we can get away with carrying sin like some have weapons at the airport. Some may not realize their sins. Some may think they can fool the Lord. Some may think this or that particular command of the Lord does not apply to them. However, the Bible is clear that no sin will enter into that eternal place of rest (Rev. 21:27).
On the other hand, the Bible tells us that we have one who is on our side: Jesus (I John 2:1-2). Those who are in Him (I John 1:7) must only confess those sins (I John 1:9). When we do, His blood washes them away.
The only way we could get through the security gate was to admit our error, and do what was required of us. The only way we can make it through "Heaven's Security Gate" is to admit our wrongs and do what He requires of us. It is the only way we can be sure that some glad morning, as we sing, we'll "fly away!"
The Peril Of "Covering Up"
Misty Ann Weaver made a tragic decision. The Houston-area licensed vocational nurse is charged in the burning death of three people after she started a fire in her six-story office building. She started the fire because she was behind on an audit for her plastic surgeon boss, and she feared being fired. She hoped the fire would buy more time. Obviously, her actions had unintended consequences.
Ms. Weaver is an extreme example of the tendency to try and avoid consequences by resorting to sin to “cover up” a shortcoming or failure. While few of us will wind up facing three felony murder counts, we are all tempted to “cover up” in this way. When we fail to study for a test, we may resort to cheating to “cover up” that fact. When we have a low self-image, we may resort to gossip or backbiting to “cover up” perceived flaws about ourselves. When we are afraid of negative consequences for not meeting some responsibility or expectation, we may turn to lying to “cover up” that inadequacy. The irony is seen in that the “cover up” inevitably puts us in greater spiritual trouble than before we engaged in it.
We may “cover up” for fear of the disapproval of others, out of embarrassment or shame, or out of concern for certain repercussions. Yet, to turn to sin to shield ourselves from the ramifications of our actions is to compound the problem. Let us have the courage to face God and man, to provide things honest in the sight of all men (cf. Romans 12:17).
Israel was warned about the danger of adding sin to sin (Isaiah 30:1). It is strength of character to do our best in our every endeavor, but it is also strength of character, when we have failed to so do, to courageously, honestly “face the music.”
"Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, "Who sees us, and who will know?" (Isaiah 29:15).