Frog in the Kettle

Capable of naming sin?

Christians deal with the proverbial ‘frog in the kettle’ syndrome. Allegedly, if you put a frog in room temperature water and slowly heat it, it will stay there and cook to death, unable to sense the change in its environment. We who claim the name of Christ live and move in a culture that pulls and pushes us to choices that are inconsistent with the life of a Christian. Various media sources pour a philosophy of sensuality, self-centeredness, and materialism into our heads, but we convinced ourselves we are ‘mature’ and that we’re above being influenced. Friends with whom we rub shoulders make choices that we don’t agree with, but over time we confuse accept the person and accepting his sin. Gradually, we can (and many do) become indistinguishable from Joe Pagan who lives next door.

Many Christians are incapable of naming sin because they have lived with it and in it for so long. All sensitivity to unholy ways is lost. There is a long history of this happening to God’s people. The prophets of the Old Testament preached, cajoled, wept, and thundered as the people gradually slid into the ways of the nations around them. Eventually, God’s patience wore thin and He let them drink the dregs of the cup they poured for themselves. The results were death and destruction. Despite the soothing assurances of modern preachers who major on ‘grace,’ God can and does still let people reap the harvest of their ways.

Why does this insensitivity to sin happen? Because the Spirit’s life ‘leaks away’ and there is no expectation of renewal. Instead of pursuing God, Christians try to limit sin’s influence as they continue to dabble in it. Dallas Willard describes their spiritual experience as the ‘gospel of sin management.’  Because the Spirit is not alive and active, because Christ is not Lord, they work hard at being marginally better than the people they live around who make no claim of religion, at all. It does not work. Sin cannot be contained by self-help, resolutions, and regret. Our spiritual enemy is actively seeking our destruction. Peter descriptively says, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, NLT)

Disciple, pursue God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength!  Begin each day with a time of prayer in which you invite the Holy Spirit to take charge. Some say it’s a silly exercise, but as you enter a place, turn on a movie, or tune in a radio station, ask yourself if you would do the same if the Lord Jesus were there with you. (He is!) Name sin and pray that the Spirit will kill it. Compromise will always end with a win for sin. The way of the saint, and we who are in Christ are saints of God, is a beautiful way, a way of life, peace, light, and love.

Here’s the word from the Word. It’s a high and holy calling. Embrace it for God’s sake.

"Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original." (Galatians 5:24-26, The Message)