Monday, July 4, 2011

I heard by R. C. Sproul this week speak on guilt in the world today. Something came clear for me.

God has built into all mankind a base line knowledge of right and wrong. It’s called our conscience. We all come into the world on an equal basis. Even when children have been actively taught otherwise, or evilly abused, their initial response to wrong is, “That's not fair.” or “That's not right.”

We see Satan at work, seeking to kill our conscience. He entices us with pleasures that are ultimately detrimental to us. He plays on our weaknesses and shows us things that promise pleasure and immediate gratification.

When we yield to these enticements, we experience real guilt. We think of this as a feeling. In fact it is not a feeling but God truth in us, given to protect us and give us fullness of life in this life.

 We set about trying to make the ‘feeling’ of guilt go away. We call the guilt an outmoded restraint put onto us by fellow humans who don’t think we are behaving right. We say it’s just them projecting their standards on us.

One of our ways to try and get rid of the feeling is to seek out like minded people as friends and companions.

When that doesn’t work we work the legal system, suing to make what we do legal. If it’s declared legal it cannot be questioned.

Yet we find the guilt remains. We might have muffled it, or dulled the ’feeling’ but we find it takes more and more effort to silence that inward cry of our heart after God.

 We next seek to discredit the voice of opposition as old fashioned, out-of-date, childish, simple or what ever we want to name it.  We need to denigrate the power of the guilt

When we find that doesn’t work, the final step in our desperate attempt to silence the guilt is to seek to kill those we blame for making us feel this way. If there is no one to say it’s wrong then the guilt will surely go away.

In recent history we have seen that progression very clearly several times It happened under the rule of Hitler, under Stalin, and under Mao Tse-tung. It is evident in the stated Muslim intent to destroy all Jews and all Christians.

However, the place where we need to be most alert, is when we find ourselves, in our own lives seeking to justify our own acts of rebellion against our God, Father and Creator. This can be found in the heart of all people. Those who love the Lord as well as one who has no interest in Him.

 As believers we need to be alert to what wisdom we are acting upon. Are we being led by the Spirit of the Lord, or by the spirit of the world.

Moreover, there is no place for believers to judge any other person.  God clearly states all judgment is His. As children of the Light, we are not commissioned to go out and condemn anyone. Our responsibility is for our own lives alone.
The issues is, that when a believer comes into the room, the presence of God is there, as we walk in His light.  This alone brings that feeling of guilt to the surface of anyone seeking to quiet guilt.  It's not our words but Christ in us working.
 Christ said in Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV) 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Dear Lord, keep us salty.

14 “You are the light of the world.. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

This is the Lord’s commission to the believers.

 The believer’s options are prayer and our personal walk. In churches where the Word of God is preached, righteousness will follow. We don‘t have to name the right or wrong. It is written in our hearts.

 God has also not commissioned any church to set ‘rules’ of behavior. Keeping rules do not make us righteous. God desires our love. In love we let Him have access in our lives. Light will be the result.
 
I believe the verses below clearly speak of Satan’s intent, and God‘s work. Both of these forces are at war in us. As His children, he enables us to walk in his ways. As a part of his creation, God desires our love and worship.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
 
2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Isaiah 2:11-12 (ESV)
11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
12 For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;


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