Why? I don’t know. I won’t pretend that I do, unlike other ministers.
It has always seemed to me like the basis for it is avoidance of work. Children start doing it to avoid getting spanked, or punished. Teens do it to get around parental rules. Adults do it to impress. But what makes the problem so deep? How does it lead to bigger sins?
Sin is a combination of things. You want something, and maybe the only way to get it is lying. Con jobs and fraud and theft all require a collection of lies. Adultery obviously contains tons of lies. And impressing people...which is something we all do...sometimes requires boasting or misleading people.
I used to think I told the truth 100%. I was completely convinced that I had so much integrity, it would take a phenomenal problem to knock me off of God’s pedestal. As I got older, I noticed that I did a lot of exaggerating, usually just to make my point. Now I recognize that the truth stretching happens a few times every day, sometimes even while I’m not trying to do it. The statement comes out of my mouth...and a second or two later I ask myself why I felt like glamorizing the story.
Look at your conversations. Inspect them. Go through them with a fine tooth comb. Are you on your way to bigger sins? Have you started building a house of lies? I have, but I also think now I’m pulling out the bricks from the foundation, in order to let the water of truth saturate the building.
Listen folks, I’m not here to entertain you. I’m here to educate you. I don’t claim to be better than you. I don’t need a glamorous church and a roomful of followers to fulfill me. I know that what I talk about is important, and I know that if you recognize the usefulness in my talks, we will all benefit from the experience.
I want your life to improve. I want Jesus to provide you with the guidance He has provided me. But I also don’t want you to spend hours of time each day going over the same material. Reading and studying the bible is great, but real fellowship with real people is just as important. Make sure to enjoy your time in this life. There may not be another opportunity in the future.
It has always seemed to me like the basis for it is avoidance of work. Children start doing it to avoid getting spanked, or punished. Teens do it to get around parental rules. Adults do it to impress. But what makes the problem so deep? How does it lead to bigger sins?
Sin is a combination of things. You want something, and maybe the only way to get it is lying. Con jobs and fraud and theft all require a collection of lies. Adultery obviously contains tons of lies. And impressing people...which is something we all do...sometimes requires boasting or misleading people.
I used to think I told the truth 100%. I was completely convinced that I had so much integrity, it would take a phenomenal problem to knock me off of God’s pedestal. As I got older, I noticed that I did a lot of exaggerating, usually just to make my point. Now I recognize that the truth stretching happens a few times every day, sometimes even while I’m not trying to do it. The statement comes out of my mouth...and a second or two later I ask myself why I felt like glamorizing the story.
Look at your conversations. Inspect them. Go through them with a fine tooth comb. Are you on your way to bigger sins? Have you started building a house of lies? I have, but I also think now I’m pulling out the bricks from the foundation, in order to let the water of truth saturate the building.
Listen folks, I’m not here to entertain you. I’m here to educate you. I don’t claim to be better than you. I don’t need a glamorous church and a roomful of followers to fulfill me. I know that what I talk about is important, and I know that if you recognize the usefulness in my talks, we will all benefit from the experience.
I want your life to improve. I want Jesus to provide you with the guidance He has provided me. But I also don’t want you to spend hours of time each day going over the same material. Reading and studying the bible is great, but real fellowship with real people is just as important. Make sure to enjoy your time in this life. There may not be another opportunity in the future.