Gluttony

So I was thinking about gluttony the other day. I had read a blog post a while back about how it's the one "Deadly Sin" that isn't all that deadly. I mean, is it really a sin? I mean everyone overeats from time to time. Granted, some people overindulge more than others, but still, it's not a big deal, right?

I have never once had someone correct me or rebuke me for the amount of food I've eaten. Sometimes I find myself saying things like, "I am so full, but I just can't stop eating - this is so good!" Or, "I am stuffed. Someone needs to roll me out the door." Or, "I'm so full I have to unbutton my pants. Hope that doesn't bother anyone."

If I told a Christian, "I went to Old Country Buffet yesterday, and boy did I eat! I totally stuffed myself, and not on healthy food." They would probably tell me that we all do it or that it happens to the best of us. 

Now, imagine I said this: "I went to (Blank) Bar last night and I had a few drinks with some friends. We had a great time talking and laughing and reminiscing..." They would probably say, "Wait, what? I didn't hear anything after 'bar.' How many drinks did you say you had? You could be a stumbling block, you know."

See the discrepancy? Drinking alcohol, even responsibly, is frowned upon by many Christians. But the sin of gluttony is accepted and practically celebrated. Don't get me wrong, I know that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10), but is drunkenness a worse sin than gluttony?

But we can discuss this more after my omelet, hash browns, sausage and french toast.

Compassion 101

The other night my girlfriends and I were together for our weekly Bible study, and we got on the topic (which had absolutely nothing to do with the topic in the book we're currently reading) of compassion. It was a good discussion, and I came away from it wanting to learn more about what God says about compassion.

Colossians 3:12 - Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I like that phrase clothe yourselves. It's as if to say, "don't just keep it in your house, but wear these attributes." When I wake up in the morning, I need to remember to put on my compassion - and keep it on all day! I think a key to being compassionate is empathy. If I can't understand what another person is going through, how can I feel compassion for them? I think the hardest thing is feeling compassion for people who've made big mistakes. I can't help but think, "It's your own fault you're in that position. If you hadn't (blank) then you wouldn't be (blank)."

Matthew 25:34-40 - "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
Then the King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

I realized something. Jesus doesn't say how the person got in their predicament. Obviously they - or people around them - made some bad choices to become needy:  People who are hungry and thirsty, needing clothing and a place to stay, ill or in prison. We are supposed to show compassion to the least of these (ie, those in need) whether they've done anything to deserve our compassion or not. It doesn't matter if they made big mistakes in the process. It's not easy to admit that my lack of compassion is directly linked to my pride. (Romans 12:3 - Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.)

John doesn't make it any easier in 1 John 3:16-18 - This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Yikes. I can't tell you how many times I did not feel pity for someone who probably could have used it. Now, I'm pretty sure that John isn't saying that we should just feel sorry for people in need. Rather, he's saying if we can help, we should.

James 1:27 says - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself being polluted by the world.

And James 2:15-17 - Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it not accompanied by action, is dead.

I guess what I'm getting at, is that it's not enough just to feel compassion towards people. We have to
SHOW compassion to them. It's not enough to wish them well and pray for them. If we can do something to help, we should. Compassion looks different depending on the circumstance, but I believe that it is always accompanied by humility. When I humble myself, I can see that if it weren't for the compassion of other people, I probably wouldn't be where I am today. Moreover, when I think about how gracious and compassionate God has been with me, I am humbled even more.

Imagine what this world would look like if we all showed one another the compassion that God has shown us.

Rend Your Heart

Joel 2:13a NIV

Rend your heart 

and not your garments.

Return to the LORD your God...

It was a common ritual in Judaism to rend, or tear, one's clothing as an outward sign of grief. Like many traditions and rituals, it became religious and meaningless. God wanted true repentance, which only comes as a result of Godly sorrow and a broken heart.

 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation 

and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Psalm 51:17 NIV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise.

Anyone can put on a show, and pretend that they are grieved by their sin. God wants more than our lip service and tears. He wants more than a visit to the altar, which the whole congregation can see. God looks through the fluff and the emotions and He sees the state of our hearts. It is not enough to simply say, "Lord, I'm sorry and I don't want to sin anymore!" That is a mental apology. When our hearts are truly broken before the Lord, that's when true repentance occurs, because it's that brokenness that makes us want to change. Repentance is not just about apologizing; it's turning away from our sin and deciding to do thing's God's way.

Therefore, in light of your sin: rend, rip apart, tear open, shred your heart. Be broken before the Lord. Repent and return to the Lord. His arms are open wide, and He desires to bless you.

Moving Mountains and Mulberry Trees

Matthew 17:20 - "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Mark 11:22-24 - "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 17:6 - He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

I'm pretty sure that if I could talk to Jesus face to face, he would say to me, "You of little faith!" To that I'd say, "Increase my faith and help me overcome my unbelief!" I want to read the above verses without a hint of doubt in my heart. I want to believe that what Jesus said is possible. I want to believe that mountains and mulberry trees really can be commanded into the sea.

And then, I think about the couple on the brink of divorce, that finally cries out to the Lord, believing that He can restore their marriage. They have faith that God will do the impossible, and fix a relationship that was once beyond fixing.

I think about the family drowning in debt, that faithfully decides to submit their finances to the Lord. They believe that by trusting and obeying God, they will one day be free of the burdens of debt.

I think about the man who never thought it was possible to forgive his abusive parents. He harbored bitterness, until the day he truly has faith in God's word, saying, "I forgive them and I love them."

I think about the parents who cannot imagine experiencing happiness after the death of their child. But instead of wallowing in self pity, they call out to the Lord, begging Him to mend their broken hearts, believing that He will.

I think about the woman who, after years of self-doubt, self-hatred and self-abuse, can finally look in the mirror and see someone beautiful. She believes that God created her and loves her.

I think about the sick person who believes in the healing power of Jesus Christ.

I think about the parents who believe that God will bring their prodigal children home.

I think about the unemployed man who believes that the Lord will provide all of his needs.

You see, mountains and mulberry trees are commanded into the sea everyday. In the same way that it is impossible to tell a mountain or a tree to be cast into the sea, there are situations that loom over our lives that seem impossible to overcome. Yet, when someone has a little faith that God can and will restore, deliver, heal, provide and fix, He comes through.

"Hey mountain and mulberry tree, it's time to go swimming."