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Romans, Part 32

More on Righteousness as a Gift, Rather than an Achievement

All religious trappings and rituals, forms and institutions of theological activity are a waste of time unless they point man to a rejection of his own will, in favor of the will of God. Adam denied his responsibility to his Creator, and desired instead to be his own authority, and to follow his own purposes. This was the first, and is still the ultimate sin.

Men have always sought to find a source, other than God, for their life. They still spend billions, and stretch the powers of their science to the limits, attempting to find the origins of the universe. Atheistic groups seek to expunge all references to God from our institutions, and powerful agnostic forces continually seek to turn the laws of our country so that all recognition of God is eliminated from our government. Even religious leaders have become traitors to the cause they have pledged to uphold, and have denied the source of all truth, the will of God revealed in the Bible. Why? Because men, like Adam, do not want to be governed and disciplined by any source which denies their hedonistic and animal desires. Men want to be independent...to set their own rules and standards. But if God is there, they can't do that. It is not enough for them to reinterpret the Bible so that it allows their immoral behavior, they must remove the image of a righteous God completely. Hence the origin of man and the universe must be explained some other way.

But, sadly, it is not only the atheist who wants to be the most important one, the standard setter, and ultimate power. Many years ago, when I was still a young preacher, I had the misfortune to be in the audience when a very prominent preacher was in the pulpit. I say misfortune because the negative impression which was left has stayed with me for 50 years, and still repulses me when I think about it. The preacher came to a place where everyone assumed the sermon was over, and some quietly reached for the song book for the final song. This upset the preacher, and he said, "Don't reach for those books, I am not through. If you wanted a sermonette you should have got a preacherette. I am a full-fledged preacher and I have much more sermon to preach." He then went on for another 30 minutes. This display of arrogance and self-centered egotism was so blatant that I found it very difficult to ever have any use for that man again. It was obvious that he cared more about proving his importance than reaching the hearts of those who were listening. 

I mention this because there are many who consider their "soundness" and correct religious activities to be more important than displaying the spirit of Christ. The Bible says, "Christ humbled Himself". The first principle He taught in the Sermon on the Mount was "poor in spirit". He also said that one who would be His disciple would have to "deny himself, and follow Him." This facet of the Christian personality seems to have been lost in this world of
"look at me", and proud independence. However, it is not only an element of the Christian life, it is the heart of it...the very essence of what is necessary if we are to reverse the sin of Adam, and regain our place with the Father in His Garden of Eden.

I view my work as a preacher not only to preach the truth, but to preach it in such a way that the hearer will want to open his heart to the message and receive it with gladness. If I "hew a straight line and let the chips fall where they may", I place my self-righteousness and superior knowledge in the forefront, and take no responsibility for making my hearers see the love of God and be convicted by it. 

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In this 12th chapter of Romans, Paul makes this point quite clear. He speaks of the "measure of faith God has given you." This does not mean, as some teach, that one cannot have faith without some miracle giving it to you. What it does mean is that God, having made all of us different, has endowed each of us with abilities to respond to Him, and to carry out His will in various ways. One who can preach should never be so proud of his ability that he actually abuses others with it. Instead, he should be so grateful for God's mercy in allowing him the exalted privilege of proclaiming the love of God, that he adopts Paul's attitude of "beseeching" his hearers, rather than brow-beating them. One who has been given the sensitivity to be kind and charitable should never piously feel superior because of his good deeds, but thank God for the wonderful privilege of doing a part of the Father's work in helping the unfortunate. 

Leaders, who have been given the grace to lead, should never consider it their privilege to make the rules whether the members of the church like it or not. Rather should they be grateful that God has blessed them with the responsibility of creating a loving fellowship, unified by the spirit of Christ, and rejoicing together in His grace.

If I sound redundant in this paper it is because I consider this concept to be the premier concept of the Christian life. Without this, we are nothing. Unless we worship Him as the source of everything we have, instead of glorying in our achievements, we will simply join those who substitute their own righteousness for the righteousness of God. We are not talking about actions, we are talking about attitudes. Attitudes are what reflect the spirit, and it is the spirit which is related to God. Rigidly correct behavior, and super pious attitudes can never substitute for the humble and contrite heart, whose spiritual worship is penitent gratitude for the Father's gift of any righteous thing He allows me to do. He is the Creator...I am the creature, whose glory, and meaning of life rest in God's gracious gift of allowing me to be His, and to do His will.


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