Tag: sin

We Cannot be Sinning Christians

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

Imagine a convicted felon who has received a pardon, and the court has expunged his record. That person is no longer identified by his or her past crimes. If someone asks if they have ever been arrested, they can say “No.” And they can say this without being a liar because the record of their arrest and conviction has been expunged. What they CANNOT DO is choose to continue to engage in criminal activity. If they refuse to accept their new found position in society as a law abiding, free citizen, and instead choose to commit criminal acts, their continuing crimes will cause them to be arrested and convicted. And although their past crimes have previously been expunged, the prosecutor can use those past crimes to show a pattern of continuing behavior, and to ask the judge to enhance their sentence after conviction. That’s exactly what Satan wants to do to us.

1) Introduction

We live in a world where even those who claim to follow Christ have forgotten God’s command to “Be holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) Many churches have allowed the culture around us to dictate what is acceptable, instead of allowing God’s word and the Holy Spirit to guide.

To be honest, God’s people have always struggled with this in some way. Jesus recognized it among the Jewish religious leaders. Paul had to deal with it in his day, particularly in the Corinthian church. It has been this way throughout Christian history, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Church needs to address it today.

2) Following Jesus is more than saying a prayer

Not all who claim to follow Jesus are Christians. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus gives a very somber warning; that on judgement day there will be many who call out, “Lord! Lord! Look at all that we did in YOUR name!” Jesus’s response will simply be “Go away. I have no idea who you are.” Good works, even when supposedly done in the name of Jesus, are not a guarantee that we are following Him, especially when we have refused to obey his commands.

Matthew 13:24-30 warns that even among the righteous there will be those who claim to belong to Christ, yet in the end they will be uprooted, separated from the righteous, bound and thrown into the fire. Why?

3) Do you want to be defined by your sin, or by Jesus

What do you choose to define you? Your desires or Jesus? It’s pretty simple, those who do wrong will NOT inherit God’s kingdom. (1 Corinthians 6:9)

If we allow our sin to continue to define us, then have we truly repented? Too many people who claim to be Christians have accepted the lies of Satan under the fallacy that, “God created me this way, therefore I can’t (or don’t need to) change.” If I’m honest, I have to admit that I have tried to hide behind this lie. We mostly hear this argument from those in the LGBT lifestyle. However, before we condemn them, let’s take a look at 1 Corinthians 6:8-10.

“Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers. Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.” (NLT)

Paul mentions several sinful behaviors here. Paul also mentions those who worship idols, thieves, the greedy, drunkards (we’d probably also include the drug users), abusers, and those who cheat people. Let’s make one thing clear, sexual sin is sexual sin. Too often I have witnessed Christians condemn LGBT, then in the very next breath they’re lusting after a member of the opposite sex. Many times these people are married. It’s still SIN.

How many times have we gotten angry and attempted to justify our lashing out at someone? Or maybe we’ve attempted to justify cheating others, or the government. Many attempt to justify greed by saying things like “God wants to bless us.” Thieves often claim they deserve what they’re stealing, because it’s owed to them. In Romans, Paul includes gossip in a similar list. How often have we participated in gossip, claiming that we’re “just sharing a prayer request”, or “passing on information.”

For every sin, we can create a multitude of excuses. While we all may have a tendency toward certain behaviors that God calls sin, we always have a choice. We can choose to lean into those tendencies, or we can lean into Christ.

Accepting the excuse that “I was born this way” to justify sin denies the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Let me say that again, justifying any sin with the excuse that “this is just who I am,” or “God made me this way,” denies the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us.

4) God has called us to be HOLY

After going through this list of sinful behaviors, Paul continues in verse 11 reminding the Corinthians that some of them were once guilty of one of more of these sins. But now they are clean. Their records have been expunged. They have been made HOLY. They have been made right with God.

If we go down to verse 20, Paul reminds them that we were bought with a high price. That price was Christ’s death on a cross. So we must honor God with our bodies.

I go back to the example of the convicted felon who has been pardoned. He has a choice. And you and I have a choice. So I ask again, what defines you? Your sin? Or Jesus

5) Invitation

By His grace we can choose to ask for and accept His forgiveness, and receive the pardon that He is so eager to give us. We can choose to be identified as a child of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can reject our tendencies toward sin and allow Him to guide us into a new identify in Christ Jesus.

YOU are invited to accept Jesus, and begin your relationship with Him. And you don’t have to wait for a church service. You can do it right now, wherever you are.

There are no magic words, or special prayer required. It’s simply acknowledging to God that we have sinned, asking for, and accepting, His forgiveness. Accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, and to change you.

Am I Really Dead to Sin?

/ CD Hamman

Romans 5:20-6:18
Something has been running over and over in my mind that I have found disturbing. Even more disturbing was that, upon reflection, I found myself somewhat in agreement with this particular thinking. It is often used to make someone feel less guilty about sin, almost like a way to excuse the sin, and it goes something like this: Well, God knows how I am, and that I can’t help it. Besides, He’ll forgive me. He always does.
Let that sink in a minute… We just flippantly expect God to accept our excuses for sin, even when we intentionally sin.
I have applied to have my felony record expunged. In speaking with my attorney a few weeks ago, I found out that specific signatures must be obtained in order for the judge to consider expunging my record, including the DA, and the local police department who arrested me. Even if all required signatures are received, the Judge can refuse to expunge the record if he feels it best serves the interest of justice, or public safety.
Bottom Line: Am I dead to sin?
1) The Law EXPOSES our sin (5:20a)
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. (NLT)
If there is no law written down, then there is no crime. For something to be considered illegal, the specific act must be written down, and the elements of the crime must be described. For a drug to be illegal, its chemical composition must be specified in the law as being illegal. Rapidly changing technology has made things very difficult in some cases, as those who seek to do harm seek out new ways to avoid detection.
Before God gave a law, there was no sin. However, once He told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from a specific tree, there was a law. Once they violated that, sin entered the world, and it rapidly became anything goes, so long as my wants and needs are met.
God’s law allows us to see just how sinful we are. If you haven’t dealt with the criminal justice system, when you hear the word “conviction,” you may think of it in terms of what you might have heard in church. “She’s under conviction,” meaning that the Holy Spirit is dealing with her, and calling her to repentance. But it is so much more than that. In legal terms, a person under conviction refers to someone who has been convicted of violating the law. It’s the same with the person in church who is under conviction. God has found them guilty of violating His law.
2) Grace COVERS our sin (5:20b-21)
But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful kindness became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (NLT)
Now that our sin has been exposed, what are we to do? Even while we were still sinning, God the Son, Jesus, came, and fulfilled the law, paid the penalty for sin with His own life, and breaking the hold that sin had on us. Through His resurrection, He broke the hold that death had over us.
Back to this word, “conviction:” in an earthly court, upon a person being convicted, the court imposes punishment. However, when we are convicted before God, in His undeserved grace, He calls us to repent, and accept His grace and forgiveness, because He does not want us to be separated from Him. He wants us to spend eternity in fellowship with Him. If we accept His grace, because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have a right standing, and a right relationship with God.
Before I was eligible to request a pardon from the governor, I had to complete the punishment that had been imposed on me by the court. Then, I had to also prove, through my behavior, and obedience to the law, that I might deserve forgiveness. And even then, the Pardon and Parole Board could have denied me. Even after they recommended me to the governor, the governor could have rejected my plea, and denied my request. Then I have to request the court to expunge my record.
Compare that to God. Even while we are still sinning, God reaches out to us, and offers to forgive us, and to expunge the record.
3) Holiness REPLACES our sin (chapter 6)
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin how can we continue to live in it? (vv 1-2, NLT)
So since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? (15-16) Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. (18)
I received my pardon last March. And this past Friday, my attorney called me to let me know that the judge had signed the order to expunge my record. Two acts of grace from the state that I am so very thankful for. And I know without a doubt that God was at work, and made it happen.
Now, imagine that I commit another crime, even after the grace and forgiveness that the state has granted. As I am standing before the court, I look at the judge, and I say, “Your Honor, I couldn’t help it. It is just the way I am wired. You know how it is. I just wasn’t able to resist my desires. But I know you’ll forgive me again.” How do you think the judge is going to respond to that? Then after being convicted, I apply for another pardon. How do you think the members of the Pardon and Parole Board will respond? Likely, the request wouldn’t even make it to the governor.
And yet, so often, we act in ways that are flagrant violations of God’s law, and we make those same excuses. “Well, God, I just couldn’t help it.” “I know I shouldn’t have cussed that person out, but you know how my temper is.” I know I shouldn’t be gossiping, but, well God, it started out as a just a prayer request for someone, and I just had to get all the details.”
Remember, God forgives us even while we are in sin. In the Bible, Jesus always met people right where they were. He met their need, healed them, and then told them to stop sinning. Today, the Holy Spirit still meets us right where we are. God calls us from our sin, and He still tells us to sin no more. We are called to holiness. He doesn‘t tell us to try to be holy. He tells us to be holy, because He is holy. But he doesn’t leave us alone to figure it out. The Holy Spirit is always with us, always calling, always guiding us; IF we listen. Too many times we pray “lead us not into temptation,” as we continue to walk right into it, knowing full well what is going to happen. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are dead to sin. The old lifestyle no longer fits us.
We need to ask ourselves, “Am I just playing at being a child of God? Or am I truly dead to sin, and alive in Christ?
Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, but that God’s free gift is eternal life through Christ Jesus.

Christmas thoughts

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

I was watching a rerun of Night Court yesterday. At the end of the episode judge Harry Stone is standing in his courtroom looking at a cross. He was talking to the Lord, and asking questions. Finally, he asked the toughest, yet easiest, question: Does man have the capacity to rid himself of his own evil?

It’s a tough question because to even ask it requires that we first recognize that we even are capable of evil. And, frankly, in spite of all the evidence, none of us wants to admit that. It’s also the easiest question to answer, because the answer is, sadly a resounding NO, we do not.

But, all is not lost. You see, that is exactly why Christ was born. He was born to show us the way, and to pay the price. He was born to die, so that we might be reconciled to the Father, who created us. So, although we do not have the capacity within ourselves to rid ourselves from evil, we have a loving God, who gave His son who paid the price for our sin. He also defeated death, and gives us His Holy Spirit, who works within us to remove that evil that infects us.

In other words, Jesus Christ is the greatest gift the world has ever received.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 3:16-17 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Thoughts on restoring religious freedom

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

If you are reading this, I ask that you please read the entire post. You are free to disagree, but I will delete any reply that I determine to be disrespectful, or in poor taste.

I’m going to try to put this as simple as I can. Laws attempting to restore religious freedoms became necessary when activist judges and courts started declaring that certain businesses must accommodate everyone’s lifestyle.

Now typically the business that have been targeted have been Christian owned. Many are simple mom and pop type places like bakeries and florists shops, and wedding photographers. The activists that tend to target these businesses want to force everyone to celebrate their new found legal right to get married.

I’m sorry to have to say this, but no one, individual or business should be forced to support or provide services against their conscience. We are not talking about things that a person can’t change, like skin color, gender, or ancestry. We are talking about chosen lifestyles. We discriminate against people every day for behaviors. Yes, many try to claim their behavior is because they were born that way. Sorry, there still has not been any evidence of a gay gene, a hate gene, an anger gene, a drunk or stoned gene, or any other gene that determines how one must choose to behave or live. So far, the only evidence has shown that a person may be born with a propensity to behave or respond in certain ways. And yet, even then, there is evidence that nurture can chance nature. Once we accept the fallacy that “I behave like this because I’m born this way,” then personal responsibility simply has to also go out the window.

Before I continue, I must clarify, that certain professions must never be permitted to refuse service, those being primarily public safety and health professionals. And a true Christian in these professions, I do not believe, would refuse to do his or her job. I also would not support a business in general, refusing to serve anyone. However, they can and should be allowed to determine acceptable behavior for their establishment. We all need flowers, groceries, pictures, and baked goods. But when you try to force someone to help you celebrate a lifestyle that they do not agree with, for whatever reason, you have crossed a line. Many of the businesses that have been the targets of these activist lawsuits have gladly done business with members of the gay and lesbian community; except when they were asked to help those individuals celebrate a gay marriage. Now my first response to this is that it just is not reasonable to want someone, no matter how good they are, to provide services for something they don’t feel they can support in good conscience. That’s like walking into a Jewish or Muslim owned meat market and demanding that they sell you pork. Or expecting a divorce attorney to represent you in a criminal case. That’s just not smart.

Bottom line, if you want to celebrate a marriage, or any event that your baker, caterer, wedding planner or photographer may be opposed to, then be civilized enough to accept that they can’t provide you with their best for that occasion, and find someone who does.

Now, to the Christians…Folks, we blew it a long time ago. It’s time we start cleaning up our own acts, and hitting our knees, instead of simply blaming the gays or politicians, or whoever else we want to blame. We have let the devil into too many of our churches. Granted, that’s been going on since the days of the early church. And we still haven’t learned. We preach against homosexuality, yet find every possible excuse to justify our own sin, divorces, extramarital affairs, lust, anger, hateful attitudes, gossip, or even stealing. It’s not even uncommon for these things to take place at the church. And we too make excuses for our own failures and sin, using the age old excuse, “I can’t help it. God made me this way.”

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m under conviction myself here too, so if I’m stepping on your toes, then good, because I’m also stepping on mine. I certainly have no room to simply point my finger at anyone. I too have been guilty of divorce and gossip, and even hateful attitudes. But, I’ve been forgiven for my sins, and that is not the way God expects His children to live. Daily I still have to approach God’s throne and ask for a fresh filling of his Holy Spirit. Frequently, I say or do something that the Holy Spirit convicts me of, and I repent. I may be the only Jesus someone sees today. And I do not want to be the reason that someone rejects Christ.

We also need to be very much aware of how we treat others. First, we can’t love those outside the church if we don’t love our brothers and sisters inside the church. The world will know we are Christians by our love; for each other, and for others. I certainly do not agree with the lifestyles chosen by those in the GLBT community. But I also do not believe that we have any right to be hateful toward them, any more than we have a right to be hateful to the drug addict, the drunk, the unwed mother, the prostitute, our brothers, our sisters, or anyone else. We will not win people to Christ by being hateful. If you provide a service, and yet you feel you cannot in good conscience provide it for anyone in any lifestyle or circumstance, you can still be loving in your refusal to provide the service. We all work with many different people, from many different backgrounds. Regardless how we feel about them, we still, as representatives of Christ must treat them with human dignity and respect. Hating the sin does not mean hating the sinner. Loving the sinner does not mean loving or accepting the sin. Be a friend. Be Jesus. I’m not saying it’s easy, but make the effort. And let the Holy Spirit do his job. I have been blessed to know some wonderful people whose lifestyles and behaviors I do not necessarily agree with. I am pleased to call them my family, and my friends. And I pray for them to know the transforming power of Jesus Christ. I trust that one day they will. In the meantime, I love them, and try to let Jesus shine through me. I want to see through His eyes.

Confession of an adulterous, murdering king

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

Hi. I have been known by many titles: shepherd, warrior, king, man after God’s own heart. Truth be told, though, the labels adulterer, thief and murderer also described me. I definitely wasn’t always good at seeking after God’s heart. In fact, as much as I wanted to please God, I often lived to please myself.

In fact, I have to confess what may be my biggest indiscretion. One evening I was up on the roof of my palace and I glanced next door and saw the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen, bathing. Well, instead of being a gentleman and thinking with my brain, and my heart, I allowed myself to become a walking hormone. Once she caught my eye, I was hooked. I mean, in my defense, she was H-O-T, HOT. I knew I should have looked away and not looked back, but I couldn’t help myself. Honestly, if I had been out on the battlefield with my army, as I should have, I would not have found myself in this predicament, but my advisors assured me that my presence wasn’t needed. So I stayed behind. And at that moment, I was very happy that I had stayed at the palace.

Well, anyway, I’m just staring, watching this gorgeous babe. Even if it had been available, she did not need any type of plastic surgery. Like far too many guys, I quit thinking with my brain. I think all the blood rushed away from my brain, honestly. I just had have her. I saw her and I knew what I wanted. I just had to be with her. So I asked some of the palace staff about her. To be honest, I really don’t think I paid attention to anything other than her name, Bathsheba. Beautiful, gorgeous, lovely Bathsheba. I think someone might have said something about her being married, but I really wasn’t paying attention to that part. Nor did I really care. I sent for her immediately.

Well, she came to the palace and I wined her and dined her. And yep, you guessed it, we spent the night together. What a night. Well in the morning, she went back to her place, and I was just on cloud nine, and all was well. And, I was pretty sure I had gotten away with it. That is, until she sent word several days later that she was pregnant.

Pregnant?! How in the world did that happen? Oh no! And there was definitely no way I could pull a Bill Clinton, and claim “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” My deed was about to be exposed. Man I couldn’t let that happen. After all I’m the king. I can’t even just marry her, because she’s already married; to one of my most loyal warriors?! Yep, she was the wife of one of my most trusted and faithful warriors, Uriah, the Hittite. I had to think, and fast.

So, I did what any smart leader in my position would do. I decided a plan that was fool proof. I figured all I needed was for Uriah to spend some quality time with his wife and, no more problem. In fact, I would be able to congratulate Uriah on the birth of his baby. So, I sent for Uriah, under the pretense of wanting him to bring me word from the battlefield. When he arrived I listened carefully to his report. The very next thing I did was to send him home. Whew, problem solved, right? Well, I thought so, until the next morning. Remember how I said he was one of my most loyal warriors? Yeah, he was too loyal. He slept in the palace courtyard by the gate. I was like, you’ve got to be kidding me. So I ordered him to go home and sleep with his wife, and enjoy her company. I even tried getting him drunk. Even drunk he was loyal to me. Man, what is wrong with him? If I had been away from my wife that long a team of wild horses couldn’t have kept me away from her. But not Uriah. He insisted that as long as the ark and the armies of Israel and Judah were sleeping in tents in the field, that he would never go to his own home and sleep with his wife. This guy was just too loyal.

Well, I had to think quick, again. So I relented, and sent him back to the front. But I included a note to my commander, Joab. I told Joab to put Uriah at the front, where the fighting would be the most fierce, and to suddenly pull back so that Uriah would be killed.

Joab did as I commanded. Unfortunately, Uriah wasn’t the only one killed. I actually lost several good men that day. But most importantly, my secret was now safe. As soon as she was done mourning, I married Bathsheba. Shortly after we were married, she gave birth to our son. Wow, now I was lucky enough to be married to the most gorgeous woman in the world, and she gave me a son. And best of all, no one would ever know what had really happened.

Not. So. Fast. You see, not long after our son was born, the prophet, Nathan, showed up. He told me about a rich farmer who had plenty of land, crops, flocks and herds. This rich farmer had a neighbor who was really poor. The poor man had one lamb, that was really more like a pet. Actually, it was more like a beloved member of the poor man’s family. Some of you can relate, I’m sure. I’ve seen how some people treat their pets like a member of the family. I mean this man even let the lamb eat from his own plate.

Well, it seems that one day this rich farmer wanted to throw a banquet for a guest, but he didn’t want to use an animal from his own flock or herd. So he took the poor man’s lamb, killed it and prepared and served it to his guest. I was so furious when I heard this that I immediately declared that the rich man deserved to die. Then Nathan looked me in the eyes and he proclaimed “You are that man!”

What?! Nathan proceeded to remind me of all the Lord had given me. And I stole another man’s wife, to satisfy my own lust. Then, to hide my sin I murdered him.  When I confessed, Nathan told me the Lord had forgiven me, and that I would not die. But my son whom Bathsheba had given birth to would die.

Soon after Nathan left our son fell deathly ill. I prayed, and fasted, and begged God to spare our son. I knew how much his mother loved him, and my heart ached for her too. In spite of all of my begging and pleading, God carried out His judgement. My sin and my attempts to cover it up had caused several deaths, and much grieving. Oh, how I suddenly wished I could undo my sin. And the problems my family suffered because of my own sin. My family was in turmoil the rest of my days. It is not a pleasant story at all. One of my sons raped his sister, and another tried to steal my throne. It’s pretty difficult, if not downright impossible to tell your children how to behave and serve the Lord when you, their father, don’t live and act as you know you’re suppose to.

There have been attempts by many to try lessen my guilt of my sin of lust. In fact one Jewish tradition has it that what really happened that day on the roof was that Satan took the form of a bird and in my attempt to kill the bird, I missed and knocked over the privacy screen that had been set up. Others have tried to say that Bathsheba should have refused. But folks, I am here to tell you that I alone am responsible for my sin. I didn’t have to take that second look. I didn’t have to continue to stare and lust and scheme. I alone sent for her. I alone am responsible. Not to mention, would you have had the courage to tell the king “No”? And I alone plotted the murder of a most trusted servant, which also took the lives of several other good men.

I was an adulterer, a thief, and a murderer. But the most amazing thing is that there was still hope. When I repented, God forgave me. And in spite of my sin, and because of my repentance, God still used my relationship with Bathsheba for his glory. She later gave birth to my son, Solomon. He was the one the Lord had chosen to succeed me, and to build His temple.

It’s amazing how the Lord works. Even the most wicked can be redeemed, if only we repent and commit to following His way. If God could forgive my sin, then he will forgive any sin. All you have to do is repent and commit to following His commands.

To be sure, our actions do have natural consequences, and God seldom, if ever, relieves us of those consequences. But He does, when we repent, and follow Him, relieve us of the ultimate consequence of sin…an eternity in hell. Instead, because His Son, Jesus, paid the price of our sin by His death on the cross our sins are forgiven. Of course, His resurrection also gives us the assurance and hope of eternal life. We are now joint heirs with Christ. We are adopted as sons and daughters of the King. The Creator of the universe is our father. So please, leave your sin behind. Turn and follow after Christ. There is new life in Him. He has promised to forgive us, of only we confess sins to Him. And He’ll give us His Holy Spirit to guide us, and to help lead us away from temptation. Temptation will always find us as some point. But God gives us His Holy Spirit to show us a way out. And to show us the way back when we do sin.

The price of infidelity

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

Have you ever wondered how God feels when we reject Him? Or maybe even worse, when we who profess to be his people turn away from Him? One day I realized I have probably felt, as close as humanly possible, the pain that He feels when we are unfaithful to Him.

Being rejected by people is painful enough. Being rejected by people you love is even worse. But what about the rejection a spouse? Can you imagine the pain of that type of rejection and insult. Sadly, there are many of us who have experienced that pain. Now, please understand, I am not sharing this to elicit pity for myself or any other person who has experienced the pain of marital unfaithfulness. I simply believe that God has allowed me to use my experience to understand how much He truly loves us and desires a relationship with us.

It has been several years since I divorced my ex-wife. But I still remember clearly the pain that I felt when I first suspected she was cheating, as well as that when I found out for certain. It was actually the same feeling for me, but the difference was the intensity of the physical and emotionoal response.

Sadly, there are others who have experienced this pain, and their experiences are no doubt different. But I think we would all agree that there is almost nothing as painful as infidelity.

I’ll try to describe own pain. First there was this feeling in the pit of my stomach that something wasn’t quite right. Most of us have heard the term “butterflies in the stomach,” I’m sure. Well in the case of infidelity, for me, it felt like blenders, or electric mixers had been turned on inside my stomach and were turning it inside out. Then there’s the rush of adrenaline, due, no doubt, to the human bodies built in “fight or flight” response. Of course that rush of adrenaline leads to many other physical responses. Then there is the sudden stabbing pain I felt in my heart and in my spirit. Finally a type of physical and emotional fatigue set in. The woman to whom I had pledged my love, and had given my heart had betrayed me. It crushed my spirit. It truly hurt me to the core.

Now I am not naive enough to think that any of the pain we experience comes anywhere close to the pain that God feels when we reject or walk away from Him. I can only imagine that the pain our sin causes Him is a million times worse.

Remember when I said above that there is almost nothing as painful as infidelity? Well there is a pain that is indescribably worse; there is the pain of having your child ripped away. I have experienced the pain of having my children ripped away from me. I cannot begin to describe that pain. As painful as having my children ripped from the safety of my home and arms was, the only thing I imagine can be more painful is losing my child to death.

Now I have not experienced that pain caused by the death of one of my children. And my heart goes out to those who have. But I also know that our Heavenly Father has experienced both of the pains I have experienced, as well as the pain of a Son’s death.

There is a reason that at times He refers to Israel as a wayward wife who has left her first love. There is a reason that our relationship to Christ is described in terms of marriage. God desires an intimate relationship with us, his people. We were created for that relationship and fellowship with Him. But too often we reject Him. Even worse, we often, even after we turn to Him, return to satisfying our selfish desires instead of fulfilling our vow to God. We caused Him to experience the pain of having an unfaithful spouse. Our sin caused Him to experience the pain of losing His only Son, even to the point of death. The death of a mere human could never satisfy the debt of our sin. So the Son, Jesus Christ, stepped forward.

I can only imagine that the conversation went something like this:
The Son said, “I’ll go. I will give up my own glory, and live among them. I will show them the way to live. I will be their example. Finally, I will pay the penalty for their sin. I will even suffer the indignity and humiliation of death on a cross.”
And the Father replied, “my Son, go. Stay in constant communion with me, so that my power will remain in you that you may bring me glory. Your death will satisfy the penalty for their sin. As you take their sin upon yourself on that cross I will have to look away, because I cannot look at sin. But after three days I will raise you back to life, and you will again be glorified. Your resurrection will defeat death once and for all. After you return to my side I will send my Holy Spirit to comfort and guide them. They will again be capable of enjoying eternal fellowship with us.”

So I have just two questions:
If you have not yet accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, will you now turn from your sin and accept the free gift He has given, or will you continue to reject Him.

If you have previously accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, but have since turned away, will you return to One who loves you to the point He gave up His own life for you; or will you continue in your infidelity?

Are you part of the infection, or the cure?

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self- control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT)

I came across this passage by accident while looking for another one. I honestly don’t think I had really seen, or paid attention to this passage before. But when I came upon this, in light of some recent events it seemed to become really clear to me. I’m not sure what concerns me more. How true this passage really is, or how infected the church has become with the behaviors described. Make no mistake, the church is infected at all levels, from the highest ranks of leadership, clergy and lay people alike, down to the lay person occupying the pew.

It’s time we begin to ask some hard questions in the church:
Is the pastor burying his head and overlooking obvious sin in the lives of his board members? Is the church board overlooking obvious sin in the life of their pastor? Is the congregation holding the board and the pastor accountable? Is the pastor really preaching the word, or is he picking and choosing who he wants to preach to according to who he is angry with that week? Or is he preaching a sermon that just makes the people feel good because he doesn’t want to offend anyone with the truth? Is the pastor a bully? Are there members who bully the pastor? Are we parents ensuring that our children are truly being grounded in the word of God, and ensuring that the people we encourage them to follow and listen to are proper Christian examples? Are we as parents setting the examples ourselves that our children need to see?

Sadly, it’s not limited to any one church or denomination; it has infected all of our churches to some degree. The real difference is how a church, including everyone, from the layperson in the pew, to board member, and right up to the pastor deals with the infection. Too often, I think we overlook these very serious problems because we’re afraid of offending someone. Or it’s just easier to go along so we can get along. And in the home as well as the church, we don’t want to fight with our children, or risk making them uncomfortable, so we let their happiness dictate our choices.

Sadly, I must confess that I have been guilty of overlooking serious problems in the church and in my own home. Not addressing issues immediately in my home, because I was afraid of the risk of divorce, cost me my family, and I still ended divorced. Even worse is that it has cost my children in ways I can’t begin to describe, or even imagine. Fortunately, my God has overcome my own stupidity and fear and through His power, and my loving parents and family, my children are safe and, my family is intact.

Not addressing the issues in my church has also had some very detrimental effects. Now, before I go on I have to say, I have been blessed to have been a part of some great churches with some wonderful pastors throughout my life. Sadly I have also been a part of a couple churches, at different times, where sin was allowed to come in and undermine God’s Word; Where selfishness ruled and egos ran high. In both cases I kept my mouth shut, because I didn’t want to rock the boat or upset my pastor, and because I was afraid. In both cases I was not only a church member, I was also a board member. In both situations, the pastor was actually the root of the problem, but wanted to blame the problems on the board, or previous boards, or the congregation, or previous pastors. They were too proud to admit their own weaknesses, let alone admit that they might actually be capable of committing sin. In one case, the church doors were shut and the church officially closed not long after I left. In the second church, I continue to pray for the pastor and the church, because it really will take God getting a hold of people and them getting a hold of God in order to for anything to change for the better. It’s a sad day whenever a church closes its doors. It’s even sadder when it is caused by sin that had infected the church and fear that infected the people.

Please understand, I am not saying it is always the pastor’s fault. I have also known of congregations who bully the pastor, and refuse to confront sin.  I have heard horror stories, where congregations and church boards were so full of pride and egos, and hate that if Christ himself were to physically walk through the doors they still would not listen.

I have a few suggestions to help fight these infections:
First make sure you yourself are immunized. Make sure you are truly listening to God and keep yourself close to Him. Ask Him to examine your heart, and to point out anything on you that is of a wicked, sinful nature. Make sure you rely on Him to guide your life so that you are living a life pleasing to him.
Second, laypeople, pray for your pastor, and your board members, and pastors and board members pay for those in your congregation. In other words, people, pray for each other.
Third, be willing to pray with your pastor. Regardless of how sanctified he or she may be, your pastor is only human and needs your prayers to uplift him or her.
Fourth, when God is telling you that something is not right, pay attention. And begin to pray about it.
Finally, where there is sin, regardless of who, it must be confronted. It must be done lovingly with a goal of redemption. But it must be dealt with. If you simply overlook it, like any infection it will spread. Just as an infection left untreated in the human body, can kill the body, sin infection in the church will kill the church, as well as an untold number of souls.

A final thought: I wonder, when we refuse to confront sin, if we aren’t just holding the gates of hell open for others and inviting them to make that their eternal destination.

Immoral government or immoral church?

/ CD Hamman / 1 Comment

Today’s Supreme Court ruling is definitely morally wrong. No real surprise there. But I must be clear on this, as much as I am against gay marriage, and as much as I believe that homosexuality is wrong and is a sin, it is just as sinful to commit adultery, yet many so called Christians are currently doing this, some openly. It is just as sinful to be a liar, and yet there are many so called Christians, including some ordained ministers, who are practicing liars. It is just as sinful to to hate another person, yet many so called Christians openly hate even those in their own church, as well as hating those who they disagree with outside the church. Yet 1 John 3:13 equates hating a brother with murder. In other words, all sin is an abomination. Yet many in the church, even those who are ordained ministers pick and choose which sins are wrong and which they will go ahead and practice.

In short, is it any wonder that our government is corrupt and immoral when the church is corrupt and immoral. Have I offended anyone yet? If so, GOOD. Our sin should offend us, just as it offends God.

Finally, having said all that, to my friends, family and even those I do not know, who have chosen lifestyles that I believe are sinful: I choose to try to be more like Christ; to love you as people who Christ loves and to continue to pray for you and be your friend and brother. My prayer is that everyone should see Christ in me, in spite of my own shortcomings and failings. And that hopefully, prayerfully, I can be a faithful representative of Christ.