First off, I want to admit right off the bat that left to myself, I am one, an enabler that is. I want people to like me, and want to agree with all sorts of error and sin if it gets their saying: "Susan is such a nice person"... and would be lying if I didn't confess that straight away.
However, the Holy Spirit just won't let me off the hook that easily, and when I do this candy coated evil, I feel very uncomfortable. He won't allow me this hypocrisy for long before I have to confess my error, my sin, my thin veneer of "nice" over a dark icky glob of ENABLER TO WICKEDNESS, ugh!
Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Notice the regression:
1. they knew God
2. they did not honor Him as God
3. they became futile in their thinking
4. their foolish hearts were darkened
5. they claimed to be wise
6. they became fools
7. they exchanged the glory of immortal God for something that is more similar to mortal man; judging God by mortal and fleshy standards.
which then leads to a whole bunch of other errors, which in our crafty sinful flesh can be covered up with all kinds of "nice"...but the Lord is not fooled...and then not only do they harbor all kinds of covered up ugliness, but the Lord says:
Rom 1:32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Wow, there it is. Enablers. Not very pretty at all, is it? If we encourage sin, we are complicit in sin. If we say there is no sin in homosexual behavior, we are complicit in homosexual behavior. If we say there is no sin in abortion, we are complicit in murder. And there is no sin that is not forgiveable...except one, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, in which the truth of sinfulness is revealed, and known, but they would rather cling to the flesh and love fallen sinfulness and decaying wretchedness more than the truth of what God says about it, and encourage those who likewise love sin more than truth. Forgiving: yes....Enabling (encouraging, saying wrongly that it isn't sin, therefore needs no forgiveness): no
Are you an enabler? Do you want to confess the horribleness of it and come clean about it before Christ? He is all-forgiving of the worst sins if we truly humble ourselves before Him with all of our wretched behaviors and mindsets, and confess that He alone is Holy, Gracious, and True, and able to make us partakers of His good qualities through His Holy Spirit,
only by the cross,
the crucifying of our flesh with Him,
by Him and through Him,
His power,
His glory,
His forgiveness,
His goodness,
forever, and forever,
Amen.
However, the Holy Spirit just won't let me off the hook that easily, and when I do this candy coated evil, I feel very uncomfortable. He won't allow me this hypocrisy for long before I have to confess my error, my sin, my thin veneer of "nice" over a dark icky glob of ENABLER TO WICKEDNESS, ugh!
Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Notice the regression:
1. they knew God
2. they did not honor Him as God
3. they became futile in their thinking
4. their foolish hearts were darkened
5. they claimed to be wise
6. they became fools
7. they exchanged the glory of immortal God for something that is more similar to mortal man; judging God by mortal and fleshy standards.
which then leads to a whole bunch of other errors, which in our crafty sinful flesh can be covered up with all kinds of "nice"...but the Lord is not fooled...and then not only do they harbor all kinds of covered up ugliness, but the Lord says:
Rom 1:32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Wow, there it is. Enablers. Not very pretty at all, is it? If we encourage sin, we are complicit in sin. If we say there is no sin in homosexual behavior, we are complicit in homosexual behavior. If we say there is no sin in abortion, we are complicit in murder. And there is no sin that is not forgiveable...except one, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, in which the truth of sinfulness is revealed, and known, but they would rather cling to the flesh and love fallen sinfulness and decaying wretchedness more than the truth of what God says about it, and encourage those who likewise love sin more than truth. Forgiving: yes....Enabling (encouraging, saying wrongly that it isn't sin, therefore needs no forgiveness): no
Are you an enabler? Do you want to confess the horribleness of it and come clean about it before Christ? He is all-forgiving of the worst sins if we truly humble ourselves before Him with all of our wretched behaviors and mindsets, and confess that He alone is Holy, Gracious, and True, and able to make us partakers of His good qualities through His Holy Spirit,
only by the cross,
the crucifying of our flesh with Him,
by Him and through Him,
His power,
His glory,
His forgiveness,
His goodness,
forever, and forever,
Amen.
Hi Susan. I agree, we should ask God to give us the courage to be bold in the best way and at the right moments. I remember Todd Friel saying that we should endeavor to be as winsome and polite as possible since the message is so offensive. If we cause offense, let it be the content of the message and not our manners.
ReplyDeleteI only mention that because I have a Facebook friend who is a relatively new convert. He seems to be itching for an argument with any atheist, progressive, or "old earther" he can provoke into a comment thread. (~sigh~)
There is a fine line between discussing and arguing, isn't there? And there is a point where the Lord advises to "shake the dust" from our feet and move on. I know that I fail, I argue beyond the point of no return at times, and pray the Lord will use even those failings. Perhaps my failing in this regard will push some away, and perhaps the Lord will use it to reach someone, somewhere...God only knows :) Thanks for visiting and your thoughtful post.
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