If You Don't Know It's Wrong Is It Still A Sin?

Sorry about the long absence.  I babysit one of my grandsons on Mondays and this week we went and spent the day at Lake Michigan.  Then yesterday I wasn't feeling well.  Not sure if it was a cold or allergies but I just couldn't function.  Doing much better today. 

Now on to God's word.  I ran across this verse today.  The way it is worded raises an interesting question. 

James 4:17(NKJV)

17Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

According to this Scripture, to not do something that you know you should do is a sin.

So does it follow that to do something wrong if you don't know it is wrong, isn't a sin?  In other words, is the sin not so much in the deed but in the knowing that the deed is wrong? 

Interesting.  I'm going by memory here and I don't have Scripture to back it up but it seems to me that I read somewhere that a similar situation applies to those who have never heard of Jesus.  Something to the effect that if someone has never heard the good news of Jesus and has never been given a chance to accept Him, they will not be held accountable for not accepting Jesus. 
 

I can see the similarity in the two policies.  Interesting.  Something for further study. 

Why is faith such a big deal?

Hebrews 11:6(NKJV)

6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Why is faith such a big deal to God?  At first I thought that would be an easy question to answer.  Because we can't be saved without it.  Duh!

But then I thought a little deeper about the question and found that I don't really have an answer.

I mean think about it.  Scripture tells us that God wants to see all saved who choose to be saved.  But only those who have faith in something that can't really be "proven", God and Jesus, can be saved according to Scripture. 

If it is so important to God that all be saved, then why didn't He make it easier by providing proof that can't be denied?  I think that is a fair question.  Come on, He's God, He could surely provide some sort of sign that the whole world could see and not refute.  But He chose not to do that.  Why?

Why was it more important that those who are saved be saved by faith rather than having higher numbers of people who are saved by seeing "proof"?

That is something that I am going to ponder.  In the mean time let's take a look at the verses above.  First it tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith.  The other thing that I found interesting here is one of the things that we are told to have faith in.

We are told to have faith in the belief that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  In other words, good things await those who seek God!

Stereotypes and Justice

Man did this set me off this morning.  Talk about stereotyping and being judgmental and showing partiality!  I'm going to take this a section at a time. 

James 2:1-10(NKJV)

1My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 

2For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 

3and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 

4have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

So we have James here condemning this.  Now I'm not saying we should be judgmental against the poor but what I am saying is that there is a reason that there is a saying about first impressions and why they are so important.  The author thinks that this is indicative of evil intent.  I see it more as normal human behavior.  

But didn't Jesus himself use a similar example about the wedding feast?  About sitting in places of honor etc.?    And when Jesus had the opportunity, He didn't condemn the practice.  He seemed to think it was quite normal.  Jesus' warning was to sit in an unpretentious place and let the host elevate you to  a place of honor vs assuming that honor for yourself.

In addition, Jesus has told us that there is clearly partiality shown in Heaven.  There will be places of honor and places of not as much honor.  I think it was the mother of James and John who asked Jesus if her sons could sit at the left hand of God and Jesus clearly told her that was an honor that he couldn't give. 

Now let's look at a different issue.  In the Old Testament we are warned not to show partiality in certain situations.  Situations that involve justice.  From a fairness or justice standpoint we are told that there should be no partiality shown to the rich or poor.  And yet here in James, the author is clearly showing partiality to the poor at the expense of the rich.  The way he views the rich and the poor is so stereotypical.

5Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 

6But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 

7Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

Talk about stereotypes.  Let's look at the first question.  "Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" 

Does that mean all poor people are automatically saved regardless of whether they believe in God or not, just because they are poor?  Lets face it, we can go to any city in America and probably anywhere in the world for that matter and find poor people who have no belief in God and are not living Godly lives.  Is God really going to give them treatment that is equal with what He gives "those who love Him"?  We serve a just God.  Does that seem just to you?

So while portraying all poor as virtuous he goes on to paint all rich as evil.  Does that seem like real life to you?  There are many examples in the Bible where God rewards or promises to reward with wealth and prosperity.  Would it be James contention that God is rewarding those who please Him with evil gifts?

8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” £ you do well; 

9but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 

10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 

And isn't that what James does in these verses?  He shows extreme partiality and I believe the real sin here is that it give some people verses from the Bible to paint all poor people as virtuous and all rich people as evil, promoting the very partiality that the Bible says perverts justice. 

Why Is Attitude So Important To God?

Many of you know that Romans 5:3-5 is one of my favorite Scriptures.

Romans 5:3-5(NKJV)

3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 

4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 Today I found another one along the same lines.

James 1:2-3(NKJV)

2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 

3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 

Notice the similarities.  Notice the focus on the attitude with which we bear adversity.

Why do you think that is so important to God?

I don't mean to speak for God so here is my guess as to why that is.  I think it is a manifestation or sign of our true faith.  And we know how important faith is to God.

I believe that by taking adversity in stride with a joyous attitude simply demonstrates in a real and concrete way, our faith that God has our back and it will all work out in the end. 

So next time something goes amiss, instead of getting stressed about it, smile and thank God for another chance to demonstrate your faith in Him!

The Prisoners

Here's something that I bet few of us do, myself included. 

Hebrews 13:3(NKJV)

3Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

It's awfully easy to be a Christian in America.  We may get laughed at and mocked occasionally but we are seldom in any real physical danger because of our beliefs.  The same can't be said for the rest of the world.

Right now around the world, Christians are being persecuted and killed for their beliefs.  The link below documents some of what is going on.

 http://www.persecution.org/

The Scripture above tells us to remember those people as if we were being persecuted right along side of them.  I am going to try and do a better job of that in the coming days.  Please join me in praying for those of the body of Christ who are suffering persecution. 

A Core Verse In My Life

Hebrews 12:1-2(NKJV)

1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Run the race with endurance while looking to Jesus.  Pretty simple.  What does it mean to me?  To quote Winston Churchill.

"Never, never, never give up!!!" (on seeing God's plan for your life fulfilled)

Jesus set the example.  He went through way more than we will ever be asked to go through.  Why did He do it?  Because the goal was worth it.  What was the ultimate goal?  Pleasing God.

God has a plan for each one of our lives.  None of us knows what we will be asked to go through.  But does it matter?  If that is what it takes to please God then so be it?  Why?  Because we know the goal is worth it!

As long as you keep your eyes on the goal and look to Jesus for your endurance, you are assured of victory if you just "Never, never, never give up!"

Now This Is Interesting

This leads to some interesting questions. 

Psalms 72:18(NKJV)

18    Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,      Who only does wondrous things!

Take a good look at that statement.  God only does wondrous things.

Really?

So like wiping out most of humanity during the flood of Noah's time was a wondrous thing?  So instructing Saul to kill every man, woman, child, and beast during his war was a wondrous thing? 

You have to answer yes to the above questions or you invalidate and make untrue Psalms 72:18!

While I have no trouble with the question, it is hard for some to understand, especially those who think God is all about love.

To me it makes sense from the standpoint that you are either part of the family of God or you aren't.  For those that have chosen of their own free will not to be part of the family of God, Scripture warns them that they are then declaring themselves enemies of God.  And one of the biggest enemies of God is sin.

Why wouldn't it be wondrous for God to win and win big over His enemies?