If you stumble into sin, believer, don't give up; don't allow hopelessness to consume you, the deceitfulness of sin to blind you, or the weight of shame to defeat you. In the morning and evening prayer we pray, in part, the following: "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not fall" (Ps. 16:8). Christ is at your right hand, and this fall shall not be final for you; He took the final fall. 

Yes, you may feel as though your worst day has cast a shadow over you that will never break to show the light of day, but, happily, you're wrong. God, in Christ, has declared you to be righteous (2 Cor. 5:21). Of the righteous we read: "for though they fall seven times, they will rise again" (Prov. 24:16NRSV). You will rise, friend, because Christ will lift you up. He took the ultimate fall in order that you should rise. 

No one knows how many times I've had to encourage myself, thinking these thoughts, repeating the words of this post to myself. How I didn't play dead but arose from sin is a testimony to God's sheer grace. This post is as much an exhortation to myself as it is for anyone else experiencing difficulties or tragedies, whether self-caused or otherwise.

What do you do on the worst day of your life? Rise: not because you're inherently worthy of being named righteous. Rise because the one who took the ultimate fall declares you righteous. Rise because, though you sinned, though you deserve the fate of the wicked like the rest of us, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1). 

But rise, too, because you neither honor the Lord nor serve the body of Christ by remaining fallen. Don't play dead, possum. In Christ you have been made alive (Col. 2:13). Play dead to your old, sinful nature or past. But in Christ, even when you sin, don't play dead -- don't remain defeated. In Him you are more than one who has conquered all spiritually negative realities (Rom. 8:37). "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1 NRSV). 

You can avoid re-offending others by rising, and thinking healthy, spiritual thoughts: "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8). All offenses begin with thoughts. We are instructed to destroy arguments raised up against the knowledge of God. 

But the apostle Paul also added, "We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God" (2 Cor. 10:5 NRSV, emphasis added). How many thoughts rise up against the reality of God's holy existence and righteous standards? We are taught to destroy such thoughts, to take them captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). 

I picture such thoughts as personified. I imagine capturing them, putting them into a prison cell, while Christ stands watch over them as Guard. If I fail to do so, then I may entertain such thoughts, have them affect me emotionally, and then obey them. When I obey them, I sin. "But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved" (James 1:15-16 NRSV). 

But when you sin, no matter the degree, take it immediately to Christ. "If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NRSV). Don't let sin drag you into a hopeless, despondent, dejected place, out of which you feel impossible to escape. By His grace and forgiveness you rise up, and you keep rising up. You don't rise up only once. You will need to rise up every time you fall. 

More than that, you will need to rise up every time you think about a past fall. Such thoughts about your past have a tendency to paralyze you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Paralyzed, you will play dead. No: in Christ you must rise up from the guilt of your past. Though you fall seven times a day, you will rise -- you must rise (Prov. 24:16). 

The Lord foreknew every sin you would ever commit when He by grace through faith in Christ saved your soul. You don't ever take Him by surprise by any thought, desire, or action. In Christ He has already declared you holy, sanctified (set apart from the world and for His service and care), and righteous. You don't let Him down because you don't hold Him up.

You are becoming more and more like Christ (Rom. 8:29), slow as such may seem, and your heavenly Father understands completely all of your eccentricities, particularities, and unique qualities. This is how, you see, you keep on rising. Give your defeats to the One who defeated sin, death, and hell (1 Cor. 15:56-57; 1 John 3:8). Give your hopelessness to the God of hope (Rom. 15:13). Whatever you do, don't play dead, possum, but rise.    

This post was written by William Watson Birch.  You can find the original post with comments here:       http://www.classicalarminian.com/2013/01/saturday-devotion-dont-play-dead.html

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

In 1992-1993 we were missionaries in Ecuador.  I have worshiped with people from many different cultures and have enjoyed the different ways that Christians engage in worship.  I remember one service in Esmeraldas that had a very African flavor to it and another in Guayaquil that was a tropical, Latin mix.  I thoroughly enjoyed both and could tell that these were ernest Christians who REALLY enjoyed worship.

On another occasion we went to Riobamba to a church high in the Andes mountains.  What I experienced there was quite different.  We had traveled there to visit some people from America that were on a work trip to the area and wanted to make some friends.  We had eaten supper together with them and the Quechua folk of that church.  When we went to worship, we were fortunate to have a teen choir lead us in worship.  The worship was more formal and the singing was in a very nasally, high voice.  It was in the Quechua language so I had difficulty understanding what they were singing.  

I was young, proud and had my wife and kids with me.  After the service one of the Americans came over to me and we were talking about the service.  I said something about the service that I shouldn't have said.  I said, "that music was gross!"  It popped out and I didn't take it back.  I was instantly convicted but was too stiff-necked to listen to God's Holy Spirit's chastening.  After all, I was the missionary, they were just people visiting.  

I have thought about my bad comment over the years, trying to analyze why I would say something like that.  Now, I know that one of the tricks that Satan uses is to keep reminding Christians of their faults and sins to keep them feeling condemned and ineffective.  I have been forgiven for my statement and my attitude and when I think about what I said, I still get a twinge of guilt but then I am reminded that was in the past and forgiven.

I recognized that I had in my mind certain ways that I approved of how worship was to be done.  This third church, in Riobamba, stretched me and didn't fit my preconceived notions.  I was clearly wrong.  I have prayed that the young American that I talked to (I have no recollection who he was) would not remember my insensitivity but the good things of his time in Ecuador.  

Now it is 2013 and I am miles aways and 20 years away from that event.  I have worshiped in several other cultures and other churches and have come to believe that I have put away such preconceptions.  I no longer have the feeling that a certain style of worship is gross.  I have matured.  I have become more Christlike.

But have I?  Have I really progressed?

I was recently at a worship service where we were lead by a worship team that had a decidedly "country" flavor to it.  Part way thru this experience, I excused myself.  As I walked past the sound booth, a friend asked me, "how do you like the worship team?"  I said, "I am not a fan of country music..."  I felt instant conviction, very similar to how I felt in Riobamba when I ignored the Holy Spirit.  I immediately followed it with, "but I see that others are worshiping and the team is really doing a good job, so I can't complain.  I'm trying to worship too."  

OK.  That was a bit better.

Then I was reminded of a statement, I don't know where I heard it, that says, "If your life is divided up between what you like and don't like and you just do what you like & avoid what you don't like, you're gonna have a miserable existence."  That statement is sooooo true.  I close myself up to God's ability to work in my life if I just simply become opinionated about everything and complain/avoid things I don't care for.  

So, I'm trying, I'm improving, I'm getting better, my intent is improving, my heart's getting into it.... 

but I still have a long way to go...

Tomorrow, we will talk a little bit about how to discern when God's Holy Spirit is speaking to you.

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

"We haven't shared our bed for over 20 years," the man told me.  This man came to see me for counseling as he was at the end of himself.  He was running out of faith.  Faith in his marriage, faith in his wife, and ultimately faith that God could fix his situation.  He was on the verge of suicide.

He told me an interesting story.  The problem started rather simply as many young marriages do.  "We were having a fight one evening.  I don't even remember what it was about.  But we were really steamed at each other and I decided I was going to "punish" my wife.  I told her that if she was going to act that way, I would just sleep on the couch."  Over time, this couple learned to handle their conflicts in this distorted, disrespectful and damaging way. God says that this type of behavior is sinful.   Sometimes, his wife would take the initiative and "punish" him by sleeping on the couch.  Over time, there was less forgiveness, less tolerance and less sleeping together.  After a while, they stopped sleeping with each other altogether.  His wife decided that she didn't want to share their bed with a man who was so unforgiving.  So, she decided to move into the spare bedroom.  God has stated that this type of behavior is unacceptable.

By all outward appearances, this couple was envied by their friends.  This couple had a terrific facade.  They both led very active lives.  He would spend time with the boys watching sports and hanging out.  Her friends became more important to her than her husband.  People were so observant of their ability "to let each other enjoy themselves without tying the other down."  

There were problems that were creeping in unaware to this couple.  Their children noticed that at home, dad & mom would hardly speak to each other.  They noticed that there parents would each go to their respective bedrooms in the evening and watch TV.  They noticed that, at home, there was a lack of love and joy.  However, the children also noticed that when they would go to church as a family, that all seemed good.  At first the children enjoyed going to church because it felt like then they were a family that really loved and cared for each other.  However, as the children became teenagers, they noticed the hypocrisy that their parents displayed.  Their parents were one way at home, one way with their friends, and another way at church.  When the children would talk to their friends, they came to realize that their parents really didn't love each other.  It was all an act.  

It was his son that awakened this man to what was really happening.  His son casually said, sarcastically, "when I get married I want to have a wife that I don't love too, Dad."  This man was so floored by his son's hurtful statement, that he didn't even know what to say or do.  He just broke down and started crying.  He asked himself, "what have I taught my children about love and marriage?"  He realized that the last 20 years of his life have been a sham.  That's when the feelings of despair and hopelessness set in.  That's when he first started contemplating ending his life.  Fortunately, this man sought help for his situation, deciding to get counseling for himself.

Now, the recovery from 20 years of denial and lovelessness is a long and arduous journey and I won't get into the issues that this man needed to face in counseling.  However, I share his story to stop you and make you think...

How are you treating your wife?  Have you two gone so far as to not share the marriage bed anymore?  Maybe you haven't done that physically but emotionally.  Do you sleep together, side-by-side, each nite and wonder why you're married, not feeling as if this person to whom you are married is even worth staying with?  Have you given up on your love internally and just live a sham marriage?  

Let me encourage you today.  A pastor of mine used to say this frequently in his sermons, "it's never to late to do the right thing."  So, if you've gone a long time (or even a short time) and haven't been cultivating the love and romance in your marriage, be a man and take the first step.  Swallow your pride. Apologize to your wife for discarding her.  Work on valuing her.  Let your kids see you two in love.  Get help and talk to your pastor or a Christian counselor.

Tomorrow, we are going to continue our discussion of marriage...

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us.

Few people will be so overt as to say 'I am without sin'. Self-deceit is rarely that obvious. It often comes masked in socially acceptable and socially rewarded forms of behavior.

Perfectionism, for example, is a common expression of self deceit. We try very hard to look good. Sometimes we work so hard to look perfect, ('without sin'), that we nearly convince ourselves that it's true. Then, in the moments when we suddenly remember our human condition, we feel shame and self-contempt. And this often makes us want to work even harder to cover over reality with more layers of self deceit.

But self-deceit will never lead to change and growth. Only honesty can bring change. Recovery begins as we face our failures, our wrong-doing, and our self-destructive choices.

For people like us, who have tried very, very hard to be very, very good, facing reality can be painful work. The courage to pursue taking an honest inventory of our lives is not possible without some source of compassion and forgiveness that can replace our shame and self contempt. The good news is that God is compassionate and forgiving. God freely, joyfully, completely pardons. Because of this hope, we can look honestly at ourselves. Because we can turn to God and find mercy and pardon, we can make a fearless inventory of our lives.

Dear God, I have tried hard.
I have tried harder.
I have tried my hardest.
But it has only led to self-deceit.
Help me, God, I need you.
I need your compassion to overpower my self contempt.
I need your forgiveness to overpower my self condemnation.
Rid me of self-deceit, God.
And build in me a capacity for honesty.
Not so that I can be perfect, but so that I can genuinely change.
And, so that I can rejoice in your love for me.

Amen

Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
National Association for Christian Recovery

It seems to me that some people have more faith in their relationship with God than I do.  I hear people talking about how God does special things for them.  For example, I hear people say, "God made this sunny day just for me.  I prayed that God would let the weather be nice and sunny and dry so that I would have a good day on my birthday."  I think, "Really?  God put in a high pressure system over where you are today just so you could have a good day?"  I then imagine a farmer in the same region praying, "Lord, today, could you make it rain really good?  My crops aren't doing well and they could use the moisture."  So, now we have competing prayers.  How does God know who to listen to?  

I think I figured it out.  God grades us on the number of good things we do.  For example, yesterday I was kind to Karyn, freed a butterfly from a spider's web, petted a kitten and gave a dollar to a man who was homeless. Oh, and don't forget, I was nice to that rude waitperson at the expensive steak house (but he only got an 8% tip because he needed to know that behavior wasn't acceptable).

I feel really good about myself.  Surely, God agrees.  I am one righteous dude.   I am special.  It's me and God and the rest of you can just go to hell.  God listens to me before He listens to anybody else.  After all the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  So, I've been really good, and do lots of good things.  God will listen to my prayer first.  

What I think I'm gonna do is rent myself out to the Indianapolis Colts so that I can pray for them to win.  Why not put God's favor to my financial advantage?  I'll just ask for a tithe of the amount of money that they earn for winning the Super Bowl.  But don't worry, I'll tithe the money I earn for praying for them.  After all, I don't want to get out of favor with God.  

Then I got to thinking....  If that's the way God decides who is righteous, what is the cutoff score?  What if God's rule is that I have to do 5 good things a day for 20 years in a row and I only did 4?  I would have to catch up by doing one good thing a day for the subsequent 10 years. So, that means if I do 36,500 good things, I'm in.  It's just God and me.  But, what if my math is off and I figured out that 36,500 good deeds that was needed was wrong?  What if I forgot about that one day where I was really, really sick and I only did 4 good things that day? I missed God's favor by one good deed!  What am I gonna do?

Well, if the Colts don't win the Super Bowl, I'm gonna be sued for breech of contract. 

You think I'm being sarcastic, don't you?  Well, I hear Christians talk like this all the time.  "I was stranded by the road and God sent a passerby who helped me.  God is sooooo good!"  What about the person who was stranded beside the road and was raped by a passerby?  Is God sooooo good then?    Maybe the rape survivor didn't do as many good things as the other person.  So, we look askance at people when bad things happen to them and say to ourselves, "I wonder what they did to fall out of favor with God."  

I just wonder if all this God is good.  God loves me.  God made the sun shine for me. Talk. Is appropriate for Christians.  

By talking in such a manner, I wonder if we are turning people off to God.  

The God's honest truth is that God doesn't grade, even on the curve.  None is righteous, no not one.  

So, what is the answer?  

You can have two attitudes:  

God, I thank You that I am not like other people 
or
God, be merciful to me, the sinner!

Which prayer do you think God listens to?  

Jesus said, "everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." 

So, getting back to the original question, "How do you know when you are righteous?"  

I don't think you know when you are righteous.  

But, I think this is true, "If you think you are righteous, you probably ain't."

When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

In the book of Genesis, the serpent tempts Eve to sin by asking a very important question. “Did God really say…? This phrase was said by the serpent in the Garden of Eden to make Eve question God’s word.

At the time, he was asking if God really said not to eat from any tree in the garden (knowing it was only one particular tree). Then, the serpent questions the severity of God’s consequences (surely you won’t die).

So, the first couple sinned not because they indulged in fruit but because they disobeyed God concerning this action. They missed the mark in this regard for many reasons, and these reasons had nothing to do with being hungry.

What causes sin to win battles in our hearts, minds, and actions? Understanding this may help us to avoid future pain, and even set us up for healing.

Sin gestates in our lives when we become prideful about our spiritual situation. “I can avoid temptation on my own”, we say to ourselves…or, “if I can just discipline myself, then I can resist.”

We also see this occur when we deceive ourselves into becoming entitled to the desired results of our sin. Finally, as implied earlier in this post, we subconsciously doubt God’s sufficiency and thus ignore His promises (His word).

There is hope in all of this. If we humbly approach God, give Him control, and rest in His promises, then we will find victory from sin and healing from pain.

Wait…did I just say victory from sin? Uh ohh……now we are getting into some controversial stuff……Well, at least with the next post we will.

This post was written by Rev DeCrastos.  For the original post, go to:  http://other-words.net/2012/11/27/battling/


BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

We in the United States are in a heated presidential election. When the political temperature rises so does name-calling, character assassination, and confrontation. Even committed Christ-followers, unfortunately, get caught up in the partisan political whirlwind of the moment and join in the fight. We as Christians should seriously engage in the ongoing debate in the political public square, but in doing so we must demonstrate a citizenship seasoned by God’s wisdom and love.

Jesus says, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”   Over the years, I have watched many Christians zealously become active in partisan politics and actually “lose their souls”; that is, they lose their public, uniquely Christian witness, act contrary to the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and become divisive agents within the church.

Biblical Guidelines. Below are ten biblical guidelines to assist Christians to engage in the upcoming presidential election without “losing their souls.”

1. Don’t equate the biblical kingdom of God with any human political party or nation. We must maintain the distinctiveness between God’s kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. We must never fuse the two (John18:36; Matt.6:33).

2. Don’t elevate a politician to messianic status. People often falsely think a politician can single-handedly produce supernatural social results. We have one Lord, and we must resist any attempt to exalt politicians to unrealistic heights (Matt.7:15; 1Pet.3:15).

3. Don’t just vote, but pray for the leaders of all political parties. Christians can be tempted to bless the politician of their choice, and curse his or her opponent, but remember, we must pray even for our enemies (1Tim.2:1–2; Matt.5:44).

4. Don’t forget that your ultimate security is in the unshakeable kingdom of God. Many Christians often elevate the outcome of presidential elections to an apocalyptic status. If a particular presidential candidate does not win, we begin to think or act as if the world will end. In so doing, however, we express an unbelief in the active sovereignty of God over human affairs (Heb.12:26–29).

5. Don’t bring the polarization of partisan politics into the family of God. Every Christian has freedom of conscience before God, and we must guard against allowing political perspectives to divide the church (Rom.16:17; 1Cor.1:11–12).

6. Don’t demonize anyone. Every person has been created in the image of God, and Christians must not demonize or dehumanize other people, whether we agree with them politically or not (Col.3:8; James4:12).

7. Don’t engage in angry, hostile confrontation. Present your political convictions through civil debate and rational dialogue instead. Confrontational arguments demonstrate an ugly pride that demeans Jesus Christ (James1:19–20; 2Tim.2:14).

8. Don’t become so intertwined with one political party that you forfeit your independence. When you do, you lose your right to be heard and to speak and clarify biblical truth to all politicians and political parties (1Tim.3:15; Rom.3:4).

9. Don’t allow yourself to support attempts to divide races, male and female, rich and poor, or young and old. Partisan politics often divides society into voting blocks, and separates society instead of uniting it. Christians should function as peacemakers and reconcilers in the public square and should resist every temptation to join the game of dividing people for political gain (Matt.5:9; 2Cor.5:18–19).

10. Don’t simply curse the darkness, but constructively engage it. The cultural and missional mandate of kingdom Christians is not to curse the darkness in our world, but to act as illuminating light and preserving salt. We must share the light of God’s truth and work to maintain the common welfare of our nation by overcoming evil through doing good (Matt.5:13–16).

I am aware that the outcome of the 2008 presidential election could have significant, and even negative, consequences for people’s lives, but we don’t need to worry. In the larger scheme of history, no matter who becomes our next president, God is still King, and He is still in control!

This article first appeared in the Viewpoint column of the Christian Research Journal, volume31, number4 (2008). For further information or to subscribe to the Christian Research Journal go to: http://www.equip.org

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

 One of the many things I like about God is His ability to speak to a person, especially when it is least expected.  

I was rummaging around the basement of an old house, looking for interesting things, antiques, valuables, etc.  I happened upon a trophy that was sitting in the corner.  It was a good size, had the person's name on it and the inscription, "1985 State Bowling Champion, Adult Division"  As I looked at it, I noticed that the stand was broken, parts of the trophy had chipped off and it was covered in a good 1/4" of dust.  

I thought to myself, "that trophy represents a lot of hard work and accomplishment, too bad that it is discarded and just thrown away in a basement."  

My next thought, which I think came from God, was "that could be your trophy.  What kind of things are you working hard for?"  

What was interesting was the timing of this find.  I had just received my PhD* and was getting prepared to speak to a group of men about what God desires for men.

What went thru my mind next was the hard work that I endured to receive this degree and then, in my mind, I saw my diploma laying in a trash can.   

I felt such unworthiness.  

What God was telling me was that I need to spend my life in doing things that have eternal value. 

 Some day, I'm gonna be dead and what are people gonna say about me?  "He was smart.  He knew his stuff.  But look at all the people he ignored while he was being so full of himself."  

I imagine my diploma being placed in the casket with me and being placed into the ground as if it was my greatest accomplishment.  I don't want my education to be the greatest thing that I have done.  

What does God say about what is important?  What does He desire of men?
Here are just a few verses that instantly pop into my mind:

- It is God's will that you be sanctified:  That you should avoid sexual immorality.
- To follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts
- To keep oneself from being polluted by the world
- To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God

What do think?  What does God desire of you?  
What kind of things are you working hard for?

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.


*Anyone who knows me, knows my joke, PhD means "post hole digger" or "push here dummy."  

We must remember that the true sign of maturity in the Lord is not in our theological understanding.  I have known men who were astute in theology but their lives were full of sin.  I have known men who would prepare sermons on Saturday night and then to reward themselves they would go down to the gas station and purchase pornography.  To simply know theology is not to know God.  To know facts about Christ is not the same as knowing Christ.  To talk about prayer is not the same as praying.  To talk about evangelism is not the same as actually talking to the lost about Jesus.  I could go on and on.

Galatians 5:22-23 is the best measuring tool for someone who claims to be maturing in the Lord.  Pride has a way of deceiving us and making us think that just because we know more than the “average” Christian (which is sadly not much) or because we read our Bibles today then we think we are doing pretty good.  The reality is that we can do the motions of Christianity but miss Christ.  To really grow in Christ is to be expressing the fruit of the Spirit as seen in Galatians 5:22-23.  The passage reads:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Are these showing in your life child of God?  You can quote from the Greek text all day long but if the fruit of the Spirit is not showing in your life, what is the point?  The fruit of the Spirit shows that we are in the vine (John 15:1-11).  Paul the Apostle wrote in Romans 11:16, “If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.”  Our fruit flows from being grounded in the root of Christ.

Never confuse knowing with doing.  Never confuse knowledge with a relationship with God.  Never confuse knowledge with the fruit of the Spirit.  As we abide in Christ by faith, the Spirit of God helps us bear the fruit but we must abide in Christ.  Not in a book but in Christ.  Not in the Greek text but in Christ.

This post was written by my friend, Seeking Disciple. For the original post, go to:  http://arminiantoday.com/2012/09/04/the-true-sign-of-maturity-in-the-lord/

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

We were in inner Jamaica, away from the major cities visiting a church where I was to give a brief talk for the service.  We were fortunate enough to be able to arrive early to attend Sunday School.  As we arrived, there were other people there, mostly Jamaicans.  Unfortunately, the teacher seemed to be a bit intimidated.  She was an older woman, probably in her 60's and was a pillar in this church as well as the surrounding community.  It was obvious she was well-respected for her leadership.  As she moved to the front of the room, she made a little "nest" for herself with pillows and sat very regally speaking to us.  

What she said next made me think she felt intimidated (maybe not), "I have been teaching this class for many years and I know the answers for the questions that you may have.  But, please don't interrupt, you can ask your questions at the end of class, when I am thru telling you God's truth."  I was intrigued by her accent and her use of colloquialisms that were unfamiliar to me.  But, at times, I got lost in what she said as she introduced her lesson and the way that her body position displayed a person of authority.  

Now, there are many ways that this post that I am writing could go.  This post is not about this Sunday School teacher and my probable misunderstanding of her pride as I am sure there are so many things culturally that I missed.  This story is so rich in cultural/spiritual/psychological applications.  I enjoy studying cultural anthropology and coupling it with my counseling and my feeble attempts at representing Christ to others.   I try to  understand people without looking thru my white, middle class, American male biases.   

Nevertheless, this post is about my pride.

That evening, as I lay in bed, swatting mosquitos feeling very uncomfortable in the sweltering humidity, I was reflecting upon my experience that morning in Sunday School.  I got to thinking, "she was a very proud woman.  She had no formal college education and  lives in a small village teaching in a small church in a small island country.  She has no reason to act so proud."  With that thought, I clearly heard in my head a reprimand from God that filled me with remorse over my own pride.  Who was I to judge this woman who has been teaching God's Word for years?  

God has clearly stated, "So when you, a mere man, pass judgment and yet do the same things, do you think that you will escape God's judgment?"

As I continued to listen to God that evening, I felt God's loving reproof for attitudes that I had been displaying.  It wasn't much of a struggle because God's Holy Spirit was on target and I needed correction.    He was right.

At times I become prideful and God doesn't have to say much to remind me of how He has worked and is working in my life.  Just a simple recollection of that woman or my time in Jamaica usually gets me back on track and less self-protective.

Protectionist attitudes, IMHO, represent a spiritual dysfunction. I believe God protects our reputation if we serve Him in humility.  

C.S. Lewis puts it much better and serves as a reminder, "How is it that people who are obviously eaten up with Pride can say they believe in God and appear to themselves very religious?  I am afraid it means they are worshiping an imaginary God."

Ouch.

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.