Treasured Teapots and Filthy Rags

Looking back on some of the attitudes and teaching from my fundamental past, one in particular keeps popping up in my thoughts lately. I sat through many sermons about the sinful nature of the human race and a Christian's own futile attempt to be anything but a filthy rag. I and the others in the congregation were call "vile," "wretched," "putrid," and "useless."  This often threw me into a fit of guilt and hopelessness, especially when I battled depression. Isaiah 64:6 was the usual text for this teaching: 

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy rags;and we do all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Please don't mistake what I am saying as heresy. Every human carries the burden of sin. All of us. Every. Single. One. From Adam to the newest child born seconds ago, not one of us can meet the requirements of perfection demanded by a Holy and Righteous Creator. We must look to Christ and His sacrifice to cover our sins and pay that debt. If you are reading this and don't understand what I'm saying, contact me and I'll be more than happy to explain.

But the consideration of that sacrifice started me thinking. Why would an omnipotent God make such a tremendous sacrifice for a bunch of throw away filthy, putrid, wretched, vile, useless beings? Then, I thought about the loveliness of my own children and how (on most days) it was hard to see them as "wretched.
I would do anything for these fellow sinners, and I am a mortal, imperfect human with a limited ability to love. How much more can God feel and do?
As I have often done in this journey, I turned to Scripture, and studied for myself, no longer dependent on man's interpretation, and I realized that the filthy rags mentioned in Isaiah do not refer to me, but to my feeble attempts to live up to His standards. If we attempt to do so, we fail miserably, and those attempts dry up and blow away like the leaves mentioned in Isaiah.

And another question popped up. If God sees our works as filthy rags, why do we even bother doing them? Back to Scripture:

Psalm 149:4

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

Also, as Genesis gives the account of Creation, we find that we were made in His image, and that He called His creation "good." The advent of sin did not diminish His pleasure in his creation. We are His jewels, His treasure, His delight, and He actively pursues ALL of us to join in fellowship with Him. It occurred me to at this point, that ALL of us must actively choose to either accept or to not accept His plan for eternal fellowship. And when we do accept this gift, and give Him praise, He receives pleasure and honor and love. He delights in our worship and works in His name.

Treasured, and protected by God. Loved in spite of failings. Sought after by the Most High. I will praise Him and He will be delighted!

Teapotjan

Serve God, Love others.

What's your Point?

I've wanted to write for the past month, but life has provided road block after road block preventing me from enough quiet, private time to do so. Today, I'm at home from work, not feeling well, and the passion that I need to write a good post just doesn't seem to exist. However, I have my laptop in its proper place, and perhaps as I tap away at the keyboard, the passion will hear me and come to visit.

Lately, many people have commented to me on the state of the church, the state of the country, and the state of the world. There are few, if any, good comments. It seems that civilization, in general, is hurling toward Hades in a hand basket. In my personal life, and in my household, frustrations abound. Someone that I really need to understand how I feel seems incapable of listening without jumping to conclusions (most of which are incorrect), and trying to fix a problem that they don't need to worry about, all the while neglecting the problems that I thought I had clearly explained. Life becomes one big, gigantic, heavy sigh, and a hopeless shrug of the shoulders.

Somewhere between flippant dismissal of the issue, and the dark abyss of giving up exists the place I am today. Befuddled as to why I can't seem to handle this current state except without becoming yet more frustrated, my best relief seems to be bursting into tears. But tears upset the jumping conclusion person, who in turn tries to fix the perceived problem, and when the outcome is once again incorrect, that person becomes defensive. 

Said person recently posted an article on their Facebook page. That piece almost directly opposes several tenets of my current ministry. I had those who messaged me telling me how it hurt them very badly. After discussing it with the poster, and maybe even fighting

a bit about it being taken down, we agreed to disagree, and decided in true American fashion that we were both free to post when we like. Not a satisfying step, and it certainly was not my first choice, but a necessary one to prevent harming the relationship, and in turn, the cause of Christ.

So why was I willing to stop fighting for it to be taken down? Again, it was not my first choice. Still isn't. But as a follower of Christ, I saw that the argument was no longer edifying to anyone. It was hurting the poster, it was hurting me, and it wasn't helping those who were already hurt by the post. It also hit me that I could share the experience as an example of what I feel is happening in evangelical churches around the world.

Our churches are ripping apart over fights just as insignificant as this. Many are so adamant that their way is the ONLY way to dress, worship, pray, preach, sing, interpret Scripture, witness, act, think, speak, that they are driving people from the very Christ they say they want others to accept. Even an issue as seemingly important as the current hot topic of homosexuality and Christians, pales in comparison to the importance of sharing the Gospel of Christ.

Infighting among Christ's followers is no way to show others that we are a people called apart to point others to Him. In most arguments I've observed, the participants aren't pointing toward Christ but at each other in blame.And if we aren't using our strength to serve Him,and point others to Him, what's the use?

I have no one to answer to God for but myself. No one's judgment counts for eternity but God's. I may one day see my earthly attempts at worship burn up like hay, but my place in Heaven was secured by God's gift of salvation and sacrifice. And those works that I did to lead others to Christ will last, not to procure my salvation, but to honor the Savior who procured eternal life for me.

And because of that precious gift, and the desire to follow His commandments: Serve and love God above all others, love others as yourself, I put my argument to the side, and work toward pointing others to Christ.

I'm still hurt. I probably will be for a while. I'm human, and a sometimes fragile one at that. Christ provides a healing balm for the ravages of sin, and the hurt suffered during our walk on earth. He's a GREAT GOD, almighty, and powerful. Look at Him! See His way. And when asked why you can put personal hurts to the side, point to Him!

Serve God, Love others,

Pointing Up,

Teapotjan