Funny…kinda.

The thing about being a hypocrite, like being a redneck, is that we’re often the last ones to realize it.  Certainly, everyone that really knows us–our spouse, our kids, our close friends–already knows we have a bad habit of saying one thing and doing another.  They know we talk about how other people do or say bad things, then we turn around and do and say bad things ourselves.

As I continue to study through Psalm 51…I’ve reached verse 13 that says, “Then I will teach your ways to transgressors [those that rebel against God] and they will return to You.”  As I read this, I tried to think what’s the best way to “teach” God’s ways to others, and I realized that the best way to teach God’s ways are to live out God’s ways in our daily lives.  To be a Godly example first.

“Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words”…is a great quote by St. Francis of Assisi.  It’s hard to teach someone the ways of God if I’m not living them myself.  No matter what I say, if I’m not backing up my “Sunday” words with actions Monday through Friday, others will know the difference. 

Like being a redneck, if I’m a hypocrite, I ain’t fooling nobody…except myself.   In the ‘real world’ out there today, humility, honesty and integrity are in short supply.  God and His people should be a refuge from that world.

I can understand when folks that don’t attend a church get upset when some of those “church people” do something wrong…but why do we Christians hide behind a building or an organization when we screw up?  Instead of hiding, why is it so hard for us to leave the 99 lambs in the pen and go out and find the one sheep that has wandered off?   Is it comfort, ego, pride, fear?  I don’t know, but He is challenging me to do better for these “lost sheep” in the future. 

Jesus didn’t die for the church, Jesus died for His friends—each and every one of them.  He said, “Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.”  As He was hanging there suffering and dying on the cross, I can’t imagine that the victory that He had won was so that churches could be so casual about His sacrifice and hurt each other the way we do. 

I do, however, think His words “forgive them, for they know not what they do” could easily apply to what we’ve done to His Church.

Have you ever reached that point in a relationship where you had to just start over?  You know, the point where you’ve lost focus on an important relationship because of distractions, distance, or neglect, and you have to go back to the “basics” to get back what you once had.   

Recently, I think reached that place in my relationship with God.  As I sat in my chair where I try to do a little early-morning Bible reading and prayer each day, as I reviewed my spiritual life over the past year, in my frustration and confusion, it just came out: “Oh God…Can we just start over?” 

When I said this, even I was surprised.  It was hard for me to acknowledge that things just weren’t “right” between me and God.  Over a period of time, I had let other things and other people begin to slowly replace my most important relationship.  I had let religion, religious people and religious activity replace my relationship with God.  I know it sounds crazy, but looking back at all the “doing” and the “going” little by little, it just happened…and it was easier than I would have expected.  Then, some things happened to turn my “religious” world upside-down.  Suddenly, everything else was gone, and here I was…alone with God.  What must He think of me now?  

Well, guess what?  He still loved me, and as I searched His scriptures, He was caring enough to lead me to Psalm 51… 

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal and steadfast spirit within me.  Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to those who rebel against you and they will return to you.  Forgive me for when I have hurt others, O God who saves, then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.  Open my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.  You do not want an offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit, because You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.  (Psalm 51.10-17)

What a great scripture!  Because of pride and neglecting his relationship with God, David had hit rock bottom.  David realized that that kingdoms, his human accomplishments and going through the “religious” motions were not enough.  Not only had David messed up his life and his relationship with God, but because of his self-righteous attitude, he had hurt many people along the way.  He knew the only thing he could do was turn from his wrong actions and go back to the source—back to his first love—in order to see things in the right perspective, regain the joy he once had, and restore his relationship with God and his relationships with others.  He knew that he needed a fresh start and he couldn’t do it on his own.  If it was going to be done right, God was going to have to do it.

In a way, I guess I can relate to David.   I guess sometimes God has to let circumstances, our actions, or the actions of people break our hearts and our spirits before we can truly be where He wants us to be….so we can truly focus on our relationship with Him.   We think we can impress Him when we act “religious.”   We think we can please Him by filling our lives with religious activities, yet we’re moving so fast that we don’t really stop to hear what He really wants.  However, this scripture points out that God isn’t looking for that—He wants us first.  He wants to show us that at the end of the day, it really is all about Him and our relationship with Him first.  He wants to open our eyes to learn what it really means to love Him and love others.  Then and only then, will we be able to see everything else from the proper perspective and fulfill His true purposes for our lives. 

Now…time to start over.  Ought to be interesting.