— Critical issues concerning the Church —

Dear Christian,

Be reminded that the Tempter is always out to rob, kill and destroy and a historically successful tactic has been to create division in the Church.  We can therefore never take our position in Christ for granted because our enemy sleeps not.  He prowls about as a roaring lion ... always looking for those he can pry away from God’s flock by doubt, strife, pride and through offenses to the flesh.

I mention this because I sense the Spirit would have us target an issue, of which its mere discussion can be used by the enemy to offend.  Please, dear one, know that, as brother and sister, we purpose only to help, not harm ... to encourage, warn and exhort; to edify and satisfy; to lift and love.  Always for your good, even at the risk of inciting flesh’s ire.

Of Mice and Sin

Sin can be refined under the cloak of religion.

"Woe to you ... you hypocrites!  You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee!  First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.  Woe to you ... on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." — Mt 23:25-28 NIV

Our text is plucked from twenty-three verses of Jesus’ withering fusillade of sweeping condemnation of the dominant religious crowd of His day, the Pharisees.  He specifically targets hypocrisy, the sin of pretending to be what one is not, especially when feigning virtue. Jesus showcases this sin as a warning to us today.

There’s ample reason to believe that, should the Lord mount today’s average pulpit, He’d preach that same sermon ... for the likes of me and you fill the pews.

Refining our sins.  Figuratively, we’re preaching this sermon in front of the mirror because not one of us is immune.  Bottom-lining the matter is the fact that many of we Christians do NOT, by the enabling of the Holy Spirit, drive a proverbial stake into the heart of our sins.  Instead, we disguise, hide and then refine them.  Though clearly informed by scripture that the ONLY hope for corruption is death and resurrection, we resist it.

As a cat proudly drags its prized dead mouse to our doorstep, we so often cloak our living sins with religious trappings and drag them into the Church.  As an example; the born-again who had previously been a gossip, simply renames that sin “counselor” (as one might a computer file) then continues in it ... unwittingly legitimized by the Church.  Another refuge for that “mouse” is in the prayer ministry.  However, a sanctified ear can pick up its sinful squeakings and a seeing eye reveals a sinuous tail.  When its sensitive whiskers sniff Truth, it scoots to safety in the sanctuary’s baseboard.

With our backs turned to the world’s accolades, awards and acclaim, and then squarely facing scripture, God’s Word clearly reveals our personal poverty.  The Apostle Paul realized it: "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing" — Ro 7:18a.  Those things that spring from the world are not of God, and the things of the Spirit have and always will offend the world.  Yet, as a body of believers, how do we typically view the worldly and unsanctified talents, abilities and skills of Christian new-borns?  As often as not, we elevate accountants, lawyers, architects, developers, contractors, entertainers, etc., to positions of authority.  Isn’t that true?  Hear me friend: I have no categoric charge against any of the foregoing, nor do I against the gifted vocalist, musician, teacher, speaker, dancer and so forth.  Nor am I simply braying at Christ’s beloved Church.  God surely knows, I love it too, albeit imperfectly.

But, I MUST ask: “Why?”  Not the obvious “why?” i.e., “Why does the local church pattern itself so closely after the world?” THIS burning why? is far more personal.  It concerns me and it concerns you.  This surgical why slices through the fleshly facade of hypocrisy, self deception and penetrates to the very marrow of motivations.  After boarding up all the mouse holes, this “why?” corners and DEMANDS an answer:

“Why do I really do the things I do, especially
those done in the name of the Lord?”

We must honestly and insistently inquire of ourselves: is the purpose of my Sunday morning vocal, purely an expression of worship? As a well-positioned contractor on the building committee, is my vote motivated solely by the Spirit?  Do I address a Sunday School class, only to impart biblical truth?  Do I mount the pulpit with any agenda other than God’s?  Do I substitute my giving for holiness?  Now, turning the blade of this same “why?” to me personally: do I teach and write for ulterior motives?

Woe to any of us, should our mousy talent, skill, gift or ambition be employed before death does its purifying work; before its resurrection by the power of God alone.  Woe to any of us, should we sing a solitary note, write a singular word or utter even a simple “a-men,” if what precedes has not been gored by the death-dealing shaft of the cross.  There IS no other acceptable God-sacrifice than that which has first been slain.  Only then can it be resurrected to righteousness.  Only THEN, can God gain glory from or through it.  Friend, this is not a personal word-of-knowledge.  It’s the clear Word of God!  "In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD ... but on ... his offering (God) did not look with favour" — Gen 4:3, 5a. 

His fare has NEVER been mice, dead or alive ... and there’s no place in the Church for either.  Neither is there sanctuary in Christ’s own for refined sin advertised as godliness.  That is blatant hypocrisy!  As surely as God is on His throne, Christ’s ringing indictment of the Pharisees reverberates as a warning: "Woe unto you ... hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." (Mt 23:25)

Attempting to discharge the pupit’s sacred responsibility with (for example) Church-growth in mind; to lay a hand on another’s shoulder to parade prayer piosity; singing to advertise our talents; even adorning our lapel with an attendance pin, proclaiming oneself to be a “Spirit-filled believer,” “prayer warrior,” or to dare say, “God told me” ... ad infinitum, are all things needful of careful inspection for mouse tails.  No matter how polished and refined sin becomes, it remains the enemy of God.  It is repugnant to Him and an offense to His holiness.  Woe to any who would attempt to so deceive.  For certain, we’ll never fool the One before Whom we each must ultimately and personally give account.  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" — 2Cor 5:10.  We might well slip under a loosely guarded church door for refuge to refine our sin, but we’ll never get by God.  Instead of killing and leaving those sins (as dead mice) at the Church’s door, we cloak them in religious garb and take them (underground) into the sanctuary.  The epitome of idol worship!  An abomination to God!  This carries a heavy penalty if hid until we appear before Christ’s judgement seat.

In old Vampire movies the only sure weapon was a wooden stake driven through the heart.  Gruesome, but an apt picture of what each of us Blood-bought saints are enjoined by Jesus to do.  We must put our sins to death by the Cross.  That’s its sole purpose! It was never intended as a pendant.  The cross is an instrument of death.  Can you even imagine the likeness of an electric chair worn as jewelry?  What makes the Cross so fearful is that it is demonically designed to make death excruciatingly painful.  This is understandable and ample reason for reluctance to use it on our life-long and beloved idols; our sin.  But, temporal pain must be weighed against the eternal horror of being the Lord’s target of a future “woe” sermon.  It makes mouse-killing easier.

Christians have been equipped to courageously triumph over sin.  In addition to His Word and Comforter, we have the Cross; sin’s great enemy.  Motivated by love for God (not fear) we must truly commit to follow after Jesus.  As you well know, that path ends at the foot of the Cross; at the feet of our crucified Savior; at the place of hard choice where either love or self-will triumphs.  There, we will choose to either obey God ... or persist in our sin.  Though the Cross presents but two options, the father of lies would have us believe there’s a third: disguise, hide and refine our sin.  Christianize it!  Make it appear as a virtue.  Instead of gossip, we “counsel.”  Instead of a pornography addiction, we “research” it to warn the Church.  Instead of sharp business practices, we testify to them as “miracles,” and so on.  Hypocrisy!

Just reading Christ’s “woe” sermon to the Pharisees is enough to make this saint shudder.  Not for all the world’s treasure would I ever want to be the future subject of such a righteous tongue-lashing.  If in the end I’m found guilty of elevating anything above love for God, or harboring refined sin, that very thought is eons beyond horror.  I cry out with David: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin ... Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" — Ps 51:1,2; 139:23,24.  Beloved, we need to examine our hearts; sin is so stealthy (Rom 13:14).

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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