Damned If I Do; Damned If I Don't

"We either change our actions to match our beliefs or change our beliefs to match our actions." -Pastor Duane, LifePoints Church

My actions:

I find it difficult to read my Bible each day.  I can listen to the Bible on CD on my way to work, but I sometimes get all the way to work and realize I wasn't listening past the first 30 seconds.  ...But I put my time in.  I "had my devotions."  I should still get credit for the day's devotions.

Other mornings I get in the car; it's early.  I'm tired.  Nope - exhausted.  Already.  What I really need is my coffee and some upbeat music to prepare me for the day.  The monotonous voice on my Bible CD, informing me of who begot who, is not going to help me spiritually or physically or emotionally.  God won't be impressed if I listen to a recording of the Bible and don't get anything out of it.  He would want me to get pumped up mentally so I can at least have a good attitude at work and represent Him well.  That means I should listen to some rock, think positive thoughts and down my mocha.  I'll have my devotions later...(even I know it won't happen.  I almost hope I will forget later so I'll be off the hook.)

In order to act this way, I must believe it's going to be okay - meaning, "Jesus can't justify kicking me out of heaven for something this small."

What I say I believe:

Real Christianity is all about the 'why's.  What pleases God is not just the devotion itself, but the reason I have my devotions.  He is pleased by (1) the fact that I desire to know Him better and (2) the dedication to seeking after Him even when I don't feel like it.  Either one by itself is useless: desiring Him without pursuing Him OR pursuing Him without desiring Him.  I don't get credit for desiring to pursue God if I don't have my devotions.  I also don't get credit for devotions if I am just doing it to get credit for it.  In fact, in real Christianity, there are no credits - there is only relationship.

Each of the morning scenarios represent the me who does not have a real relationship with God.  Skipping my devotions is wrong.  There is no way to say that I desire to know God, then not make the time to hotly pursue Him.  There's simply no excuse!  Is He unavailable?  Is there not enough time in the day?  Are there other things more important?  Perhaps if I were not speaking of the Maker of the Universe...if it were fitness or diet or friendships or personal development, I could understand procrastinating; but no thing could possibly edge out GOD.

However, the first scenario shows my inner Pharisee: he only does the right thing to manipulate God.  The assumption is that an absence of bad actions demands rewards from God.  A perfect life means He can't rightly punish me.  My good actions protect me; they are a type of insurance on my heavenly inheritance.  In this case, my good actions are keeping me from being a good Christian.  My devotions are the very things I need to repent from...along with my tithing and my church attendance and my daily prayer and my respectful treatment of my wife.  When they are done to force God's hand, they only serve to further blind me from the truth: that I'm slipping further and further from God.  (In most cases, I can usually tell my motives by how proud I am of myself for doing them.)

So, if I don't have my devotions, I am disobedient and must repent.  When I do have my devotions, I'm self-righteous and must repent.

The Dilemma:

If my beliefs and my actions are moving toward unity, those mornings show me that my beliefs are doomed unless I fight harder on this issue.

"We either change our actions to match our beliefs or change our beliefs to match our actions." -Pastor Duane, LifePoints Church

If you're attending the Thursday group, consider the following for discussion:

What can I write down in my journal or in the back of my Bible and date it as a lesson learned that will guide my actions in the future?

Are you living in close fellowship with strong Christians in the church?

Whom have you specifically asked to look after you if you appear to stray?

What is the difference between encouraging someone to do right and judging them?

Four words were used to describe part of the encouraging process: appeal, to beg, to urge, to exhort.

What are some of the excuses we give for not doing this with people we know who are headed in the wrong direction?

What are the risks of confronting a person about their behavior?

How does encouragement have both affirmative and confrontational aspects?

How do the risks involved in serving God affect His commands to us?

Whom have I been praying for that I need to also approach and encourage to do the right thing?

Look at Hebrews 3:4-15 How do the verses surrounding verses 12 and 13 of chapter 3 add strength to their urging?

Look up James 5:19-20. How does that relate?

Look up Jude 17-19. How does that relate?