God's Grace

One of the points in Bruce Roeder's sermon yesterday really struck me and I have been thinking about it since then. How do we portray ourselves to the non-Christians in our lives?
For those of us in the workplace, do our co-workers know that every good quality we claim is because of Christ's work in us? Or do they see us as hypocrites who tell them that they are sinners and need salvation even as they watch us sin ourselves? Remember ladies, these people see us every day - they know that we are not perfect! It is so important to speak of the grace of God in our own lives.
For those of you at home with children, do you speak this way to your kids? Do they think that there is a certain way they are to act so as not to embarrass you? Are they turning into little legalists who think its okay to act one way at home so long as they never act that way at church? Is their only initiative to obey to please you? Children know that their parents are sinners. This is one of the awesome opportunities that parents have to preach the gospel to their children - by being willing to admit when they have sinned and seek their child's forgiveness and then speak of the forgiveness that God has given them even though they don't deserve it.
All of us who have received God's gift of salvation did not do anything to deserve it. We were dead in our sins and God chose to show His mercy and make us alive in Himself. It is important that we not only say that this is true, but believe that it is true, remind ourselves that it is true, and make it known to others that this is true.

Hypocrisy and Parenting

Today I read an article on Pulpit Magazine that was very helpful and convicting to me. It was how to avoid raising a Pharisee. I highly recommend reading it even if you are not a parent. The author looked at some manifestations to look for in younger children and he also gave a separate list for teenagers. Though we are dealing with the heart it does manifest itself differently as a child gets older. I see some of the things on the lists in myself and will be referring to, not only as a parent but as an individual that needs to guard myself against this deadly sin; and in faith do what I can to not instill pharisaical-ism in my children. As the author says, "Hypocrisy is an imminent and evident threat to the church of Jesus Christ."

The author gives excellent advice in his article that I want to consider more deeply. There is too much temptation to think because you took the parenting class and have well-taught, doctrinally- invested, well-behaved, gospel-saturated children, your job is well done and your kids will be fine. The bottom line is my children are in danger of being raised to be good little self deceived, legalistic hypocrites. It is deep in my heart and it's frankly easy as a Christian to raise my children steeped in it.

As I read the article and was moved to prayer for myself, my children and families that are dear to me, I remembered a quote from the puritan Richard Baxter that I copied in a journal long ago: Wicked parents are the most notable servants of the devil in all the world and the bloodiest enemies to their children's souls. More souls are damned by ungodly parents, and next to them, ungodly ministers and magistrates, than any instruments in the world besides.

Too often we (meaning me) think of the parents who destroy their children as the crack head, drunk, lazy bum, atheist, femi-nazi, God haters, but what about the nice church-going deacon, elder, ministry wife, usher, Sunday School teacher, wouldn't-miss-a-church-event-to-save-their-life parent... if that parent should be satisfied with a well taught, well mannered, movie avoiding, tongue clucking goody two shoes? We are just as dangerous as the crack head mom if we are one thing on Sunday and another at home. Someone once said, what a man is at home is what the man is, and our kids know it. We know it! If our joy in the Lord isn't genuine, the only things worth imitating and loving are the things that get praise. Kids pick up on this quick. Be and do what it takes to be thought well of, nothing else matters.

I pray that in God's grace I can battle it in my own heart and put my kids in a place for God in His mercy to put genuine faith and humility in their hearts.

Please read the article , it's worth it!