I was watching a podcast last night from Skillet's lead singer, John Cooper (they are a Christian hard rock/heavy metal band, yes, they exist!). I've seen them live, and one thing I know of John Cooper is that He preaches the Gospel, whether he's at a secular show, or a Christian venue. I was blown away by what I saw. Yesterday, he broke down some very high profile Christian Thought Leaders, who were softening the consequences of sin for the sake of politics. Yet, this is not something that is happening with one or two people, but it's an outright infiltration by well-intended people (or not, I don't know their motivations, but I'm at least hoping) who are softening traditional, biblical stances for the sake of their politics. We need to make one thing clear if we believe in Jesus, if we believe in the word of God: we cannot soften the consequences of sin, physically, or spiritually. I hope that's the closest to politics I ever get from this venue. Yet I can't help but wonder if too many of us listen to Christian thought leaders, popular personalities, and the like, rather than search the word of God, and stand upon God's word for His leadership, wisdom, and Grace. We soften some sins to meet our lifestyles/politics/beliefs about ourselves, and punish others more severely, when the fact is that if you lied this week, it's as offensive to God as if you murdered 10 people! Stop looking at the sins of others, and realize that in your sin (and me in mine), we are a stench to God! We rebel against the Holy One, the Creator of all things, when we go against His plan, even a little bit! This is why Repentance is still necessary, this is why we all need to step back and look at our sins, and fall upon the throne of Grace, crying out "Father, forgive me, I knew exactly what I was doing! Have Mercy on me, a sinner!" Each and every act of rebellion, each transgression, each sin is offensive, but Jesus Christ died to put it all to death. Submit, then, to Jesus Christ, who is able to free you from the burden! Isaiah 1:10-20 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
“When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;
but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be eaten by the sword;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
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