Day 3 - Week 71 - Ephesians 2:9 "Not from works, so that no one can boast."

Do we, as evangelical Christians, tend to "boast" in our good works?  Do we sometimes rather arrogantly live like we're the ones who have "gotten it right"?  Sometimes I fear that...and even in my feeling of angst over our attitudes, I am reminded that it is not us that have gotten it right..it is God.  He is the One who developed His plan for our salvation, He is the One who prepared the way of grace.  I don't have it right, but, through the grace of God and responding to His call, I have accepted His right way...the way of the cross, the way that Jesus paved for me, the way home to my Father.

Now --- does that give me the ability to express to others that I am a better person than they?  Not one little bit.  I am no better, I have nothing in me of any more worth than any other creature on this earth.  All I have is the grace of God over my life.  My works, of which are very few, have no merit in my salvation...my works are my gifts back to God for His enormous gift of acceptance that He has extended to me. 

I have been purposefully avoiding blogging this week because I have been so burdened as to the current discussion regarding same-sex message.  Dan Cathy's statements regarding his company's (Chick-Fil-A) support of the traditional family brought the discussion again into the forefront this past week. 

Now, personally, I believe that as an American, Dan Cathy, along with any other business owner, should be able to state their values and beliefs and then let the "chips fall where they may."  I think he realized that there would be people who didn't agree with him, just as there are many pro same-sex marriage business owners who have stated their views and probably lost some business from those who don't see eye-to-eye with them.  But just as those business owners are still allowed to conduct business wherever they have the opportunity, so should Mr. Cathy.  Even the liberally-minded ACLU has stated that,

"The government can regulate discrimination in employment or against customers, but what the government cannot do is to punish someone for their words,” said Adam Schwartz, senior attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. “When an alderman refuses to allow a business to open because its owner has expressed a viewpoint the government disagrees with, the government is practicing viewpoint discrimination.”

Just as Mr. Schwartz states that the government should not practice viewpoint discrimination, neither can I mandate my viewpoint on another.  I do believe that there is a distinct difference, though, in the discussion I can have with fellow Christians on our differing viewpoints than the discussion that I can have with a person who does not share my Christian beliefs.  For me trying to argue why someone should or should not participate in a particular behavior with someone who does not accept Christian values or Biblical guidance, would have absolutely no point.  Their moral compass does not come from the same source as mine, so there would be no reason to argue over our opposing directions. (1 Corinthians 5:12)

But, should I have a discussion with my Christian homosexual (and that is not an oxymoron) brother or sister, I pray that I would not "boast" and present myself as any more of a Christian than they.  I know that many Christian gays and lesbians do not perceive their lifestyles as sinful.  I hope that I could very humbly ask them to read the passages in the Bible that list homosexuality as a sin, right along with many other sins that I have been guilty of throughout my life, (Romans 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10, Jude 1:7), and then to prayerfully repeat the words of David, simply stating, "See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:24.

If there is an inability for someone to humble themselves in this way, to lay themselves before God and ask Him of His opinion, of His view of their life, to sense if He is nodding His approval over their life, then therein may be the bigger issue --- the issue of submission.  This is not an issue limited to our sexual activities....I know I have struggled with it in multiple areas, and still do.  Battling the innate desire to rule my life without God's authority.

So, I guess my bottom line is...please Lord God, restrict me from any tendency to boast over a "superior" life...but, please Lord God, bring all of us who profess to be believers in the grace bestowed to us by the blood of Jesus over our lives to a place of absolute submission, asking for Your hand of authority to direct our lives. To do everything we can to show our love for You through our love for others in a real way...but in a way that not only shows acceptance for them, but directs them to You so that we may not only share the enjoyment of this life You have given to us now, but also the eternal life that we will share with them in Your presence.

I pray that my words have not been offensive, that they have in no way been boastful, and that they express my absolute belief in God's wonderful, comprehensive grace...a grace that is available to all who come to Him in faith; a grace that covers all our sin when we bring it to Him in humility and submission.  I also ask you to please let me know if you feel I have stated anything in conflict with Biblical teaching.  I am very open to correction.

Thank You, my Father, for your wonderful plan of grace, mercy and forgiveness. 

To YOU be the glory!