Even More Evidence of our Faith
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1 So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up,
2 and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne.
14 Pursue the goal of peace along with everyone—and holiness as well, because no one will see the Lord without it.
For the last six weeks we have been looking at who we are and what we do or don’t do. I’ve made the point several times that Christianity is not about a list of do’s or don’ts, it is about living a life that please God.
I know it would be easy to say that I have been talking about do’s and don’ts in a round about way. I’ll give you that. I’ve been using our Manual as a starting point.
Even the word “Manual” implies doing or not doing stuff. If we look at a manual we are expecting to learn how to operate something.
Darlene handed me an instruction sheet for a gadget she had purchased. She wanted the abridged version of how to operate it without reading the entire thing.
As Christians we can be that way. We want the short list of things we are supposed to do and the things we are not supposed to do. The problem is that we become a checklist type of people. We don’t want to read the entire book. We don’t want to spend time learning all that God has to say. We just want the short version.
Our Christian faith is much more than just following a list of do’s and don’t’s. James who wrote about showing our faith by how we live our life had a great reminder for us.
Last week we began looking at 8 things that the Covenant of Christian Character says that we should avoid as Christians.
Like the Ten Commandments that form the foundation of that list, these sins impact both our relationship with God or our relationship with others.
The writer to the Hebrews says in our text
Hebrews 12:1 (CEB)
1 Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up,
There are two things he is saying there. The first is the extra baggage. It may not be sin, but it is extra stuff that we try to carry along with us.
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 12
A woman dreamed the Rapture was taking place. But much to her consternation, while everyone else was zooming up, it was a struggle for her to get even twenty feet off the ground. Looking down, she saw the problem. Around her ankle was a rope, the end of which was tied to all her furniture. When she awoke, she realized the Lord was telling her she was tied down by all her possessions
The writer is saying that we are to get rid of the things which may not be sinful but they slow us down. If we are consumed by activities or things then we will have little time for God.
He goes on and says to “get rid of the sin that trips us up.”
The first part of that verse is about the extra baggage and here he is writing about that sin. That sin that trips us up.
That sin could be most anything. The sin that might trip me up would not be a hindrance to you.
Let’s take a look at the last 5 sins or evils from the Manual that we are especially called to avoid. These 5 impact our relationship with others as well as our relationship with God.
So if you were keeping track, #4 is
4 - Habits or practices known to be destructive of physical and mental well-being. Christians are to regard themselves as temples of the Holy Spirit.
When I look at that one I see three issues raised.
Destructive of physical well-being
Destructive of mental well-being
Temples of the Holy Spirit
Destructive of our physical well-being are things that we do or don’t do that impact our physical health. These could be things like using tobacco or nicotine products. We all are well aware of the physical impact of tobacco. Alcohol can impact our physical well-being. I have several long time alcoholics who’s livers are just barely working.
Destructive of our mental well-being are those things that impact our mental health.
Those things might be the use of alcohol or drugs.
Now before you hope that I’ll quickly move on, I’m not saying that tobacco is sinful, I’m not saying that alcohol is sinful.
Our Manual says
In light of the Holy Scriptures and human experience concerning the ruinous consequences of the use of alcohol as a beverage, and in light of the findings of medical science regarding the detrimental effect of both alcohol and tobacco to the body and mind, as a community of faith committed to the pursuit of a holy life, our position and practice is abstinence rather than moderation. Holy Scripture teaches that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. With loving regard for ourselves and others, we call our people to total abstinence from all intoxicants. [1]
Let me also point out that it is not just alcohol or tobacco. A person can become addicted to caffeine just as much as being addicted to nicotine. I’ve got lots of statistics that I could quote to you, but they are unhelpful.
I know a number of Christians who are addicted to prescription medications. They could be prescription pain medications or prescription mental health medications. They continue to take them without regard to the harm that they are doing to themselves.
Hear what I’m saying. There is nothing wrong with taking a prescription pain pill or a prescription mental health medication. The problem is when we take them to avoid having to deal with life. Jesus came to set us free. There is healing for physical and mental health conditions.
James Merritt wrote:
I heard about a man that was trying to lose weight, and he went to a drug store and was weighing himself. He turned to a buddy of his and said, "I'm so discouraged. I started this diet the other day, but the scale says I am heavier than when I started." He said, "Here, John, hold my jacket." He weighed again and said, "I don't understand it. It still says I'm heavier." He said, "Here, John, hold my shoes." He weighed again and said, "i can't believe it, I'm still heavier than when I got started." Finally, he reached in his pocket and said, "Here, John, hold my twinkies."
Well, if you are going to win you have got to lay aside every weight. Now a weight is anything that keeps you from becoming everything that God would have you to be. A weight can be something that, in and of itself, is harmless and a good thing. But it can become a bad thing if it keeps you from the best thing. [2]
The important point being that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. What we do to our body impacts God. What we do with our body impacts those around us.
So, let’s move on from that one.
5 - Quarreling, returning evil for evil, gossiping, slandering, spreading surmises injurious to the good names of others
Some of the best gossipers, the ones that would be on the honor roll if a grade were given for gossiping are people in the church.
I’ve mentioned in the past about a lady in a prior church who was actually proud that she gossiped. She seemed pleased with herself. I think that gossip will do more damage in the church than any other sin.
When Sam first came to live with us we were the subject of lots and lots of gossip. Many relationships were irreparably damaged because of the gossip.
Gossip can lead to slander or spreading surmises that injure a person’s good name.
Number 5 here harms the person who is doing the gossiping, the person being gossiped about and the Church.
I’ve said it many times that the person who made up the rhyme “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” was a lier. Words do hurt. Being on the receiving end of gossip hurts.
Listen to what Paul had to say about words.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Paul is saying that words impact our relationship with God because he says “do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” When we tear others within the church down by what we say, we are grieving the Holy Spirit.
He is also saying that our words impact our relationship with others. We can tear other people down with our words way more damage is done than if we beat them up physically.
I’ve heard situations on our District where board members threatened their pastor or the district superintendent with bodily harm. That is rage and anger.
Is a person born angry? Nope, it is a learned behavior. A kid who grows up angry is someone who learned it from a parent or a significant person in their lives.
I had a number of patients who were very angry people. When we got to exploring where their anger came from, it was generally because they had that person in their life that was angry and they learned from them that to be angry is the way to get their own way. When and person does that in church, it damages them and it damages the church.
We might not always agree with each other. Paul says Ephesians 4:32 “32 Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.”
Can I say something real quick about the use of social media? Ok, thanks!
It is easy to sit behind a computer, cell-phone or tablet and write things that are harmful to others. We will be held accountable for what we say. As I grew up hearing, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.” Great advice and one that we need reminded of.
Ok, so there are three more to go.
6 - Dishonesty, taking advantage in buying and selling, bearing false witness, and like works of darkness
Have you ever known a dishonesty christian. I know that is an oxymoron. You can’t be dishonest and be a christian. You can be one but not the other.
Have you ever known a christian who lied to your face? Ever known a pastor who lied to you? The Manual calls them “works of darkness.”
When we act dishonestly or take advantage of someone with what we buy or sell we are harming the name of Christ. That dishonesty damages our reputation. It damages our relationship with that person that we took advantage of.
Paul addressed this in his first letter to the Corinthians. This church had lots of problems going on. He wrote:
7 The fact that you have lawsuits against each other means that you’ve already lost your case. Why not be wronged instead? Why not be cheated?
8 But instead, you are doing wrong and cheating—and you’re doing it to your own brothers and sisters.
9 Don’t you know that people who are unjust won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Those who are sexually immoral, those who worship false gods, adulterers, both participants in same-sex intercourse,
10 thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom.
We can’t call ourselves a Christian and cheat others. We are called to be salt and light, not liers and cheaters.
Ok, ready for number 7?
7 - The indulging of pride in dress or behavior. Our people are to dress with the Christian simplicity and modesty that become holiness
This is not saying we should look nice when we come to church. I still wear a suit because for me I want to look my best when I come to church, that is the way that I was raised. Now if I criticized all of the men in the church for not wearing a suit like me, then I am trying to say that I am better than them.
The indulging of pride in dress or behavior is about gratifying ourselves or surrendering ourselves to our desires. When we do that, we are making our wants and desires are more important than our relationship with God and others.
If you can afford those 500 dollar jeans or that thousand dollar handbag, that is great, but what is that saying to that person sitting next to you that can only afford those 4 dollar jeans from the Salvation Army thrift store?
John wrote in his first letter
15 Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.
16 Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.
When those things become more important than our neighbor we have missed out. That is sinful behavior.
Ok, so are you ready for the last one?
8 - Music, literature, and entertainments that dishonor God.
I know that I could spend a lot of time taking about this one. This is one that I struggle with controlling as a parent. The internet has opened the door to all sorts of evil that can come into our homes.
I am not saying the internet is evil. What I’m saying is that we to be wise in how we use it.
I looked at some of the top recommendations on Netflix.
1 - Wednesday - this is a modern take on the Adaam’s Family. Smart, sarcastic and a little dead inside, Wednesday Addams investigates a murder spree while making new friends — and foes — at Nevermore Academy.
2 - Breaking Bad - A high school chemistry teacher dying of cancer teams with a former student to secure his family's future by manufacturing and selling crystal meth.
3 - Stranger Things - When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.
4 - The Walking Dead - In the wake of a zombie apocalypse, survivors hold on to the hope of humanity by banding together to wage a fight for their own survival.
5 - Ozark - A financial adviser drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder $500 million in five years to appease a drug boss.
I don’t think I need to say much about them. We watch a lot of Netflix in our home. I am amazed at the number of shows or movies that dabble with the occult. Those should have no place in our lives.
There are three principles that can help us with entertainment
1 - Christian stewardship of leisure time.
If we spend more time being entertained than we are serving God and serving those around us then we have our priorities wrong.
2 - Christian obligation to apply the highest moral standards of Christian living.
I’ve heard it all. It’s just a movie, it is just a show, it’s just a song, I don’t really listen to the lyrics. All sorts of excuses. If we are celebrating sin and evil by the things we watch we are damaging our relationship with God.
3 - Christian obligation to witness against whatever trivializes or blasphemes God, as well as such social evils as violence, sensuality, pornography, profanity, and the occult.
If we really believe in holiness, then we should take the high road and stay away from those things.
14 Pursue the goal of peace along with everyone—and holiness as well, because no one will see the Lord without it.
Pursue holiness. Run that race that has been laid out before. Follow close after Jesus. If you do, you won’t be worried about any do’s and don’ts.
Hebrews 12:2 “fix your eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.
Paul wrote
21 Once you were alienated from God and you were enemies with him in your minds, which was shown by your evil actions.
22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death, to present you before God as a people who are holy, faultless, and without blame.
God has reconciled us to himself through Jesus. Jesus did that by dying on the cross and taking all sin with him. When we awaken to that good news and accept him as savior and Lord we are declared holy, faultless, and without blame.
Sin no longer has a place in our life.
Repent and say these things.
1 - Even though I continued to reject God, His grace was at work in me.
2 - I have found my sanctification in Christ Jesus.
3 - Now that he has died, I may stand before God without guilt.
4 - God has pardoned me for all my sin.
Have you done that? Have you truly repented? Are you pursuing holiness?
[1] The Covenant of Christian Conduct – Page 2 – MANUAL 2017–2021. (n.d.). Nazarene.Org. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://2017.manual.nazarene.org/section/covenant-of-christian-conduct/page/2/
[2] Merritt, J. (n.d.). Focus on the Finish. Sermons.Com. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://sermons.com/sermon/focus-on-the-finish/1372803