My pastor reached out and asked if I would be willing to give a word to the church. Topic? “Anything the Lord puts on your heart”. Sometimes I argue with God. I become a lot like Jonah. “Hurl me into the sea because I don’t want to stand and deliver this message!” I often tell my friends that I wish God would give me fluffy messages to speak but it is often strong warnings and calls to repentance….
This time it is blurred lines.
Where are our blurred lines in the church and within ourselves?
I saw my friend go through a situation, through no fault of her own, that put her friendships, family, business and ministry on the front lines of a fiery attack thru the blurred lines of another in the ministry. At the same time, I, personally, had an instance where I was questioning my stance within the church as I saw someone in leadership, possibly blurring lines by following mosaic law. As I pray and seek the Lord, I’m at work and a complete stranger calls and as she is ordering she starts sharing how frustrated she is because her church leaders are blurring financial lines at her church! At the time of the phone call, I can say I felt alone, trapped, nowhere or no one to run to in order to get godly counsel or wisdom. Where do we go when the one place we are called to seek refuge, THE CHURCH, blurs the lines and becomes like the world?
James 2:8-11 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as violators. 10 For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do murder, you have become a violator of the Law.
James reminds us that we cannot justify our motives by mosaic law because then we will have to adhere to ALL 613 laws of the Old Testament. If we break ONE then We have broken ALL! And then what? Are we to sacrifice the perfect lamb again? Are we to nail Jesus Christ of Nazareth on the cross again??
If you are anything like me then sometimes these hard lessons are more a call to self-examination instead of elbowing your church pew neighbor like “this message is for you!”
My blurred lines may not be infidelity or thievery but what if they are turning a blind eye to what my teen is doing? That old adage of “well as long as I know they are safe..” And then add-on the justification of the toxic behavior. If we continue to allow blurred lines within our homes or churches then the enemy has a legal right to wreak havoc and chaos in our lives.
I drew my lines in the sand earlier this year when it came to home. Inside my home, is a safe place. A place where my family can come to escape the dramas of the world. Our home is peaceful and a refuge. Do not bring chaos or destructive behaviors within the property lines. This is a line drawn in the sand. The Lord spoke clearly, and I want to be obedient to His will and His Word.
We cannot blur the lines of His Word and the ways of the world.
As Christians we are called set apart. We are called to a higher standard of living so blurring lines are not options.
Choose this day whom you will serve and no longer give the devil a foot hold.
If you are ready for the turn then reach out to your pastor, or a trusted godly friend or counselor and let them walk this out with you!
Another day to change is another day for Grace.
