Since the whole point of this blog is to pursue holiness, I thought a quick summary of how to achieve holiness would be useful. Living a holy life is not complicated or difficult, it just requires a new vision for your life and the way you want to progress spiritually. All you need to reduce sin, increase repentance, and live out a better Christian witness for your non-Christian friends and neighbors is encompassed in Five Easy Steps to a More Holy Life.

Had you going there for a minute, didn’t I? In last week’s sermon at my church, it was established that possibly the greatest danger to the church is our ignorance or lack of belief in the centrality and application of the Gospel.

This week we learned (among other things) that the prophecy in 2 Timothy is fulfilled.

For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths. But you watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fully carry out your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:3-5)

The only Christianity the world is willing to freely accept is a watered-down pop-psychology false version. Watchman Nee said, “Show the world the fruits of Christianity and it will applaud; show it Christianity and it will oppose it vigorously.” The largest church in the country that professes Christianity is led by Joel Osteen, who said these things:
KING: But don’t you think if people don’t believe as you believe, they’re somehow condemned?

OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I’m for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it’s not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that’s God’s for you. You can live a good life no matter what’s happened to you. And so I don’t know. I know there is condemnation but I don’t feel that’s my place.
…
OSTEEN: We do have rules. But the main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To life a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that’s really the essence of the Christian faith. [No. The essence of the Christian faith is not our works, but that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and belief in His atoning death on the cross saves us from eternal damnation.] [Read more...]

I started this blog two years ago with Cats are to humans what humans are to God? Wish I were a dog… in large part to chart my spiritual growth. I have noticed patterns in the last two years, waves of enthusiasm followed by a tapering off which leads to a dry time. During those dry times I used to just “give up” and wait for the next emotional experience. In the last year, I have been better about being consistent with church and bible study, even if I don’t feel it’s as productive during those times.

The main thing I’ve learned to put in practice in the last two years is that my feelings are irrelevant. The most important factor in my growth as a Christian has been obedience. If I waited until I “felt” like doing a bible study, that time rarely if ever happened. Waiting for the next “spiritual high” meant stunting my spiritual growth. Continuing with it even when I felt it was unproductive led to new knowledge and growth, sometimes slow and steady. Other times, during those “mountaintop” experiences I enjoyed great leaps forward. Being able to perceive this pattern and others has probably been the best part of having this blog – although the Man of the House might say that he’s enjoyed the break from my political rants, too. So in my pursuit of holiness I haven’t completely eradicated the “cattitude” but it’s much improved and still getting better. If you’re a Christian and you don’t have some form of spiritual journal, I highly recommend it. As for me, I’m continuing to try to live out my favorite verse:

Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you be weary and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:1-4 MKJV)

I woke up very early yesterday morning and spent most of the day violently ill and with a high fever. When I’m working, I tend to alternate between Fox, CNN, and CSPAN. Yesterday I surfed and by evening had the Comedy channel on. The remote was out of reach so I watched The Daily Show (which was funny) and The Colbert Report (which was pathetic.) Steven Colbert interviewed Madeleine Albright, who’s pushing her new book, The Mighty and The Almighty. The interview revealed, in spite of Mrs. Albright having been raised Catholic and married to an Episcopalian, a profound misunderstanding of Christianity. She suffers from the misapprehension that you can be a true Christian and yet not have a faith that permeates your life and impacts every action and decision you make. She seems to think that you can compartmentalize Christianity and yet be a true Christian.

The reason that non-Christians think that is true is Christians. They see the fish emblem on our cars while we disobey traffic laws, honk at and flip off other drivers. They see – especially here in New Orleans lately – people who profess Christianity breaking federal law by hiring illegal aliens. They see millions of people professing Christianity whose lives are not noticeably different from people who don’t profess Christianity. Small wonder they think the way they do.

We know that the existence of counterfeit money doesn’t invalidate genuine money. But Christians are – and should be – held to a higher standard. Our only protection, and our greatest form of evangelism, is to live lives that are above reproach. When we sin as we inevitably will, repentance should be immediate and as visible as the sin was. To whom much is given, much is expected.