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Pastor's PageFebruary 22, 2012
But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
~1 Timothy 4:7-9
Yesterday was “Fat Tuesday.” Are you familiar with the concept? Let me explain it to you as I understand it. “Fat Tuesday” is the day before Ash Wednesday in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of prayer & fasting known as Lent. It is during this time that many abstain from the eating of meats. It is a time, commemorating Jesus’ own 40 day temptation in the wilderness, which prepares the hearts of men for the Passion Week, culminating with Easter Sunday. People will often draw the image of the cross on their foreheads with the ashes of burned palm branches to symbolize their mourning and repentance from sins. The entire 46 day period of Lent is to be characterized by self-denial, repentance, abstinence, drawing closer to God…all of which can be good things. So how does “Fat Tuesday” relate to the season of Lent?
“Fat Tuesday” (that's what Mardi Gras literally means) is the day celebrated as a time to get everything out of your system. Now, it’s not a church holiday, but it is practiced by many Christians around the world in unbiblical ways. Let’s just talk focus on New Orleans for the purposes of this discussion. How do people prepare themselves for the Lenten season? Sexual immorality, drug use, drunkenness, gluttony…you name it; it’s probably being done. At the most basic level, “Fat Tuesday” becomes a tongue-in-cheek joke against spiritual living. “Well, if I’m giving up chocolate tomorrow, I’m gonna eat all I can today.” People exercise themselves unto ungodliness to get it out of their systems, to prepare themselves for a time of spiritual renewal and rejuvenation. What sense does it make? Have we deluded ourselves into thinking that God is pleased with such activities? The truth is that the practice has a religious catalyst. People are exercising their sinful desires to get ready for the spiritual work that God wants to do in them. There are often CHRISTIANS participating in such activities. What a shame! What a terrible testimony for our Lord Jesus Christ when His children look just like the world! What an improper way to ready the heart for the work of God!
What does Paul tell us to do? “Exercise yourselves towards godliness.” Use your energies & efforts to promote things of God in your life. Live each day in the spirit of the season of Lent, being willing to deny yourself that God might be glorified in your hearts. There is no spiritual benefit in “sowing your wild oats.” It does not please God that people live in the depths of sin on Tuesday so that they might draw close to God on Wednesday. I’m reminded of another Pauline passage from the book of Romans: “Should we continue to sin that grace may abound?? May it never be!” (Rom. 6:1-2). For how can we as those who have been crucified with Christ seek to live in a manner that is inconsistent with the life He died to give us? It doesn’t make sense. We cannot draw closer to God through doing the things that He has expressly commanded us not to do! Don’t heed those profane fables. It’s not the way of God.
The way of God is to draw near to Him with a clean conscience and pure hands. Sin will only disrupt your relationship with the Lord. Godliness is profitable in every way. It helps us in this world. It helps us develop long lasting, trusting relationships. Godliness helps us to avoid unnecessary pain and spiritual scars. Most importantly, godliness helps us truly draw near to God. Once Christ has been called upon, godliness is the way of the chosen. Beware of those who tell you otherwise.
~Bro. Benjamin
Previous Postings This Week's Sermons February 22, 2012 If you need a copy of any sermon from the past, email Bro. Benjamin with the date and title of the message listed below. January 29, 2012 (AM) That God May Have a Dwelling Place in Me--Psalm 132:1-5 December 4, 2011 (AM) What Can't You Do When Christ Prays for You?--Luke 22:31-34 October 30, 2011 (AM) Put Off the Old Man--Ephesians 4:17-24 September 25, 2011 (AM) The Bush that Wouldn't Burn--Exodus 3:1-14 August 28, 2011 (AM) God Loves You This Much--John 3:16-17
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