Anger at Sin

It may sound arrogant to claim to understand something of God because of human experience (especially when my motives are uniformly ungodly and un-other-person-centred). But I was really struck as I watched someone walk in foolish ways.

Sin makes you mad.

It makes you angry because of the sheer audacity of it. The defiance against God! They are walking towards darkness and have turned their back on truth. The fool closes their eyes and renounces God's ways - because they have full knowledge the act makes them all the more foolish. They justify perversion in the name of good things. The abandonment of goodness, counsel and fellowship of friends fires the temper. Embracing evil is revolting. They exchange wisdom for folly, friends for deceivers, safety for peril, wholesomeness for twistedness and the fear of the Lord for disregard. How dare you slap God in the face, who gave you wonderful blessings, opportunities and the Spirit to help you discern and choose? What have you thrown away?

All the while, pretending to be grown-up and claiming Christian virtues. It's sickening, saddening and maddening.

Isn't the Lord returning soon?

I wanted to take the foolish person across my knee and have very stern words with them, because that's an effective way of dealing with a naughty child. But since they wouldn't listen, I am giving them up to their folly.


... It's embarrassing to think that I often don't take my own sin all that seriously. Think of all the times that I've defied him and infuriated him! God takes my sin very personally. And he's got good reasons to be seriously and very angry whenever I've shoved things back in his face. I've treated God with contempt. So I'm thankful that Jesus died for me. I could never drink the cup filled with God's burning anger. Jesus, thank you for drinking my portion.

Perfect Match

It's common for people to choose people of similar attractiveness to them. There's a natural justice when the gorgeous marry the gorgeous, then have uber-gorgeous children. The gorgeous marrying the average, on the other hand, may evoke inferiority complexes, insecurity or perennial public scrutiny. Until the time when age levels out their attractiveness, they will catch comments in the wind, along the lines of, "How did a 5 like him hook up with an 8 like her?"

Some may have other criteria and seek their educational, social or ambitional match.

Likewise, Christians tend to go out with people of a matched spiritual maturity. Mature Christians tend to look for another. So if a girl goes out with a non-Christian or an immature, ungodly Christian, it can indicate their own Christian maturity.

It's a pretty good gauge that their faith may be pretty on par with their mate's.

A Kingdom Wedding

Photography by Esther T.

Carol married Pete this morning!

There were moments of gold. Like when Pete looked at nothing but the face of his bride. And how Carol smiled excitedly the whole time, looking back at the church to take it all in and commenting to Pete. Like when the pray-er said that it's a special wedding because "it's a kingdom wedding" and "in their oneness, may they serve Christ". Like when the minister started to say the vows, "Do you take Carol..." and Pete, in eagerness, came in too early with "with God's strength I will" which made Carol burst out laughing, slapping her thigh. Everyone laughed, too. They were clearly enjoying themselves. As soon as they walked up the aisle, I broke out into a little dance. A friend said later that they felt like they ought to be dancing (perhaps everyone finds the Beatley beats of "the Ancients" irresistible).

Two impressions were made:

Death

The non-Christians' ears must clang as the word "Death" enters a wedding service. But all through the service the Christians kept talking about how their marriage was only possible because of the death of Jesus. Oh, so true. What a wonderful death, which makes people alive and able to love.

Something else deathly ~ How do you get to The Ultimate Wedding? (Read the synopsis here.) Well, first you die. And after that, you walk down as a bejewelled bride towards the eternal King, to live together in paradise. But that's only if you want to commit your life to Jesus that way. I do... If you are going to be my obituarist, please don't say, "Honoria has gone to a better place", but "Honoria is at her wedding. So don't be sad for her sake."

(I'm trying to panel beat this thought into good shape:)
Jesus dies to have a glorious marriage to his bride, the church. We follow Jesus in death so we can take part in that glorious marriage. Jesus proposes, "come die with me and come live with me".


(It's quite natural if you don't get it because you're not a Christian. I'd be happy to tell you about the joy.)


Best

How lovely and special to give your best to another human being*! Or to be honored as a recipient of someone else's best. Your best isn't to be spent on your work or your friends, but given to the one with whom you share a "oneness". The best of your affections and time, the best of your gifts and personality, of your sexuality and intimacy... Wow.


Congratulations and blessings to you, Pete & Carol!




*of course, there's no one higher than Christ. So he deserves your all and your best. I'm just talking about the first human after your devotion to Christ... y'know what I mean.