Monday, March 31, 2008

A Hypocritical Cup of Coffee

This morning I stopped by a convenience store and grabbed a quick cup of coffee, at least that is what they called it. It is far from the quality of bean and brew my taste buds desire. I guess that with age I have come to desire the finer better quality blend.

This hypocritical cup of coffee and an email from a “deacon” this morning, took my mind to Romans 8 – the focus of my time with God this morning. Many Christians are like convenient store coffee, low quality of a worldly blend, called by the name and having just enough resemblance to the quality God desires for us. God says, “the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

This morning’s cup of coffee looks about the same as high quality coffee; the cup is bright and festive, and the design is certainly marketable (even containing a “Satisfaction Pledge). Worldly Christians usually have the appearance of the real deal, are usually personable and well liked, and usually contain their own form of a “satisfaction pledge.” However, the one essential difference is that they do not have the mind of Christ. As a worldly or carnal Christian (I prefer the term church member), these people do not have the best interest of the Church at heart. Carnal Christians are more concerned about their own personal desires, then about caring for the body of Christ. These people do more harm to the body of Christ the unsaved people (Romans uses the term natural man) of the world. A carnal Christian will work against his or her pastor and church staff, are concerned about title and position, and thinks only of “self.”

Because the worldly Christians appearance is so much like the real deal, it is sometimes difficult to know the carnal from the spiritual Christian; however, at the time of the harvest, the wheat and tares will be separated. For God teaches us in Romans 8:14 that “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Take inventory of your life and ask Jesus to reveal to you if you are the real deal? Read Romans 8:1-18. If Jesus reveals that you are a carnal Christian, then yield self fully to Christ and allow Christ to crucify self. Tell Jesus you want Him to be primarily in your life and that you want to die to every worldly desire. If God reveals that you are a spiritual Christian, thank Him and humbly ask Him to keep you near the cross.

Let me hear what God says to you from Romans 8:1-18. Well, that’s this cup of coffee!

1 comment:

MZG said...

This is very true. If I enjoyed playing games I would still attend church. Please spare the "my church is not like that". They all are. Committee members are the worst, I have been on both sides of "heavenly road". I would prefer the company of those in a bar to those in a business meeting at a church. I truly believe this is why Jesus spent so much time with the outcasts of the religious society. It was a better group of people.