The Moral Majority

The Bible says that we are ‘made in God’s image,’ that we are to reflect His nature in our thoughts, words, and actions. There is just one big problem:  sin!  Though we don’t like to talk about it, sin is  a universal reality.  The image of God in us is marred beyond recognition by a condition we inherit from Adam.  Each of us in our own way knows how we fail, often in spite of our best intentions.  That is why we need a Savior, Jesus, who forgives, rescues, and restores us.  It is a miraculous (literally!) transformation, not a moral reformation.  It is an infusion of grace that produces change from the inside out, not an imposition of rules that forces an external conformity to religious rules.

The Biblical argument for this Spirit-empowered change is sound and compelling.  Yet, many who claim to be Christian do not show any real evidence of being a ‘new creation in Christ.’ They are working very hard at incremental character improvement, and as a result of all their efforts, are usually marginally better people than the irreligious ones around them. On good days, they manage to be kind and gentle.  There are flashes of altruism, glimpses of love; but push them hard and the instinct of self-preservation quickly shows up. Why?  Because Christ is not the center, grace is not the hope, the Spirit is not the power.

Our most basic sin is pride.  When the Spirit is not in charge even our best acts are corrupted by it. Jesus pointed that out when He urged us to do our giving and praying in secret.  He knew what we need to know – we will quickly turn both into a performance designed to impress others rather than an act of worship that exalts God.  Not so long ago, the Spirit showed me this ugly side of myself. As I wrote a check, a rather substantial one, for a ministry, I caught myself thinking about what a good, generous man I was being; about how this check would enhance my reputation as a godly person. Doesn’t that just reek of pride? Yes, it does; and my heart was chastened.  I repented, thanking God for showing me the shallowness of my devotion and praying that He would break that need for approval, replacing it with the joy that can be found in loving Him.

We might ask, where then is hope for us?  Can our love of self ever be broken? The Scripture reveals that it can, but only because of the amazing grace of our Father. "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:1-8, NIV)  We are set right with God, not because we are morally good, but because He declares us ‘just as if we never sinned’ through Christ! Indeed, while we were in the depths of our sinfulness, ignorant of God and His goodness, Christ died on our behalf.  We have no grounds for boasting, none!

There is a tragic misunderstanding of God’s gift. Some reason thus; if God loves me as I am, then what imperative is there to change? Why does morality matter if Christ has forgiven all our sins?  It matters because we are saved to reveal His glory, to become like Christ.  "For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms—all because we are one with Christ Jesus. And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6-7, NLT)  "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York, outlines the process of renewal that should inform our minds as we move from mere morality to true spiritual transformation.

The Plot winds up: WHAT YOU MUST DO.
“This is what you have to do! Here is what the text/narrative tells us that we must do or what we must be.”
The Plot thickens: WHY YOU CAN’T DO IT.
“But you can’t do it! Here are all the reasons that you will never become like this just by trying very hard.”
The Plot resolves: HOW HE DID IT.
“But there’s One who did. Perfectly. Wholly. Jesus the—. He has done this for us, in our place.”
The Plot winds down: HOW, THROUGH HIM, YOU CAN DO IT.
“Our failure to do it is due to our functional rejection of what he did. Remembering him frees our heart so we can change like this…”

The question that begs an answer is this: are you attempting to live the Christian life as a member of the great Moral Majority, those who are moralists?  Or are you experiencing the life of the Spirit, a gift that comes through Christ, that changes the very heart?   

Here’s a word from the Word.  Do not allow familiarity to steal the impact of these magnificent truths. "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses (rule based religion) could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God." (Romans 8:1-8, NLT)

Lord Jesus, this Advent Season renew my hope in You.

Forgive me for trading the glory of grace for the fool’s gold of mere religion.

I trust in You, look to You, hold tightly to Your promise.

"May the words of my mouth and
the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, NIV)

Amen