Track 4: Holier Than Thou →
Holier than thou? How about worst of the worst.
Better to clear this up sooner rather than later, and now seems as good a time as any. Before we get in too deep, we have to self-reflectively look at what we’re doing here.
Nothing we write - absolutely nothing - is coming from the perspective of us superiorly pointing our finger at you, your mom, your neighbor’s boss, the Harlem Globetrotters or anyone ever, with the intention of elevating ourselves, or us commanding, "You must do this!" Our only desire is to make God known. By proclaiming His beautiful gospel and reflecting His truth into everything we do. It's not us, it's God. We as the Church need to be telling the World that God is Holy. We will not apply anything in His Word to anyone, that we haven't applied to ourselves.
Our favorite preacher and thinker says it this way: "When I point my finger at you, I have three pointed back at me." And that's where we're at. Three fingers pointed back at us, holding us accountable to every word we write. Everything we say, we apply three times to us.
We look at ourselves in sober judgment (Romans 12:3) and our official stance is that of the apostle Paul's: That we are the sinners of sinners (1 Tim 1:15); monsters of iniquity; that no good thing is in us except for Jesus (Romans 7:18, Eph 3:17).
Living in the humility that can only come from Christ in us, we take the stance as the least of least (1 Cor 15:9). Not falsely. Never falsely (Phil 2:3). God knows the heart; He knows the motives (Heb 4:12). I would rather forever be remembered as the mess I am that's been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, beating my chest not even able to raise my head, than the most outstanding "good" church member of my generation. We never want to exhibit falseness in any aspect of our faith; nothing "for show" (Luke 18:9-14).
Amazing Grace is only amazing if you've seen the other side. If you've seen your amazing selfishness, amazing hate, amazing bitterness, jealousy, lust, wickedness, idolatry...righteously contrasted with God's holiness. Paris Reidhead spoke of the gift of conviction as "taking sides with God against yourself." He shared his story of when he encountered God’s holiness, and we can echo his experience when he said, "I knew I was lost. I knew that if God did not have a hell He would have to make one when I die, because if I went to heaven the way I was I’d ruin the place."
That moment of revelation that reversed it all - that Jesus is salvation, that no flesh will boast in his presence (1 Cor 1:29)... If I could make myself right before God, then Christ died for nothing (Gal 2:21). Only by His covering, His righteousness and His blood can we approach the throne of God with confidence (Heb 10:19).
We cannot forget who we were. We cannot get wrapped up in us and begin to pat ourselves on the back for being good people. We have to remember what we were saved from. BUT we cannot stay there! For salvation continues on like a conquering army. It restores us to right standing with God and it continues to be our salvation from our old self. That we never forget that our old self with its sinful desires has been put to death and now we are new creations in Christ (Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 5:17).
Sinner? Absolutely!
Hater of sin? Absolutely!
Redeemed? Without question!
Holier than thou? Never!
The term "soap box" came from the days when a public speaker would literally stand on a soapbox, or a crate, to elevate themselves while giving a speech. We don't want that. We don't want to be seen as being on a soapbox. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified. Not from a soapbox. We have no need to be elevated, but when Christ is lifted high, all men will be drawn to Him.
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Anything that comes out of our mouths or pens is not from us looking down at anyone. Any truth that we testify about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not shouted from the rooftops, but is whispered from the ground...as we remain prostrate, with faces covered out of Holy awful fear of the Holy God of all eternity, saying to anyone who will listen: "Get down! Get down! Do you know who you're dealing with?"
“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.”
Photo by Lou Valla in Toadstool Geologic Park in the Oglala National Grassland.