Pastor Baker's Blog

Entry for November 6, 2006

Daily Reading: Genesis chapters 38 thru 41

Key Verses: Genesis 38:24-26

Once again Christianity has made the headlines. However, whenever Christianity makes the news in a big way it is usually associated with some sort of scandal. This time one of the top evangelical leaders is the subject of the controversy. Ted Haggard, not only led one of the nations largest churches (14,000 members), but he was also the President of the National Association of Evangelicals which boasted a membership of 30 million. Haggard was a big opponent to gay marriages. He spoke publicly about his "beliefs." He rallied the troops around this cause. However, it was this same cause that led to his national disgrace. Sometimes we fight the hardest or are most tenacious against the sins we are most vulnerable to.

Judah demonstrated this by declaring that Tamar should be burned for her actions when in fact he was just as guilty. It is important that before we embark on a crusade against a particular sin that we know our reasons. If it is to clear our conscience, then we are passing through some dangerous territory. We should never be so prideful that we attack someone because of their weaknesses. We all have sinned. Aggressive confession and asking for forgiveness will help us to see the truth of who we are. Realizing our sinfulness and understanding God's forgiveness will allow us to have a heart of compassion towards others. There are no big sinners and little sinners - there are just humans who are trying to make it in a hostile world.

2006-11-06 15:03:29 GMT

Comments (2 total)

Author:Anonymous

I think sometimes in parenting there is a tendency to be most stringent around issues where the parent has fallen in their past. In working in youth ministry, we often found that single mothers were extremely aggressive about keeping their teenage daughters from getting pregnant. Other things like their attitudes, their grades, their futures and their character would be of less importance as long as we could help them make sure that they did not get pregnant. We realized that if the girls did develop godly character and present themselves with ladylike attitudes then a lot of the other issues such as grades and sex would be under control. This made me realize that I have to deal with my past in order to raise my daughter to be the person God created her to be and not raise her out of fear.
--Aundrea Baker
<mailto:abaker@thewaybiblefellowship.org>

2006-11-06 15:10:54 GMT

Author:Anonymous

I totally agree that there are no big or little sinners but, unfortunately, the "world" doesn't view it that way out of ignorance, of course. So when something like this (Haggard's confession) happens it just gives the world another reason to criticize and further diminish the church in their minds, which is no doubt a ploy of the enemy. I still contend that more people are apt to turn away from the church because Christians aren’t acting like Christians. We are not being “transformed by the renewing of our minds” and, as a result, we fall prey to the things of this world. I pray that God would create in me a clean heart and renew the right spirit within me very often, but still not as often as I should and that’s going to change. How can I expect someone to want to get to know Christ if I continue displaying characteristics that are unlike Him? So I just pray that Christians everywhere would begin to have a change of heart and an intense desire to walk in the will of God.
--Stephanie

2006-11-07 03:37:38 GMT

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		Pastor Baker's Daily Devotional

		Entry for November 6, 2006 Daily Reading: Genesis chapters 38 thru 41 Key Verses: Genesis 38:24-26 Once again Christianity has made the headlines. However, whenever Christianity makes the news in a big way it is usually associated with some sort of scandal. This time one of the top evangelical leaders is the subject of the controversy. Ted Haggard, not only led one of the nations largest churches (14,000 members), but he was also the President of the National Association of Evangelicals which boasted a membership of 30 million. Haggard was a big opponent to gay marriages. He spoke publicly about his "beliefs." He rallied the troops around this cause. However, it was this same cause that led to his national disgrace. Sometimes we fight the hardest or are most tenacious against the sins we are most vulnerable to. Judah demonstrated this by declaring that Tamar should be burned for her actions when in fact he was just as guilty. It is important that before we embark on a crusade against a particular sin that we know our reasons. If it is to clear our conscience, then we are passing through some dangerous territory. We should never be so prideful that we attack someone because of their weaknesses. We all have sinned. Aggressive confession and asking for forgiveness will help us to see the truth of who we are. Realizing our sinfulness and understanding God's forgiveness will allow us to have a heart of compassion towards others. There are no big sinners and little sinners - there are just humans who are trying to make it in a hostile world. 2006-11-06 15:03:29 GMT Comments (2 total) Author:Anonymous I think sometimes in parenting there is a tendency to be most stringent around issues where the parent has fallen in their past. In working in youth ministry, we often found that single mothers were extremely aggressive about keeping their teenage daughters from getting pregnant. Other things like their attitudes, their grades, their futures and their character would be of less importance as long as we could help them make sure that they did not get pregnant. We realized that if the girls did develop godly character and present themselves with ladylike attitudes then a lot of the other issues such as grades and sex would be under control. This made me realize that I have to deal with my past in order to raise my daughter to be the person God created her to be and not raise her out of fear. --Aundrea Baker <mailto:abaker@thewaybiblefellowship.org> 2006-11-06 15:10:54 GMT Author:Anonymous I totally agree that there are no big or little sinners but, unfortunately, the "world" doesn't view it that way out of ignorance, of course. So when something like this (Haggard's confession) happens it just gives the world another reason to criticize and further diminish the church in their minds, which is no doubt a ploy of the enemy. I still contend that more people are apt to turn away from the church because Christians aren’t acting like Christians. We are not being “transformed by the renewing of our minds” and, as a result, we fall prey to the things of this world. I pray that God would create in me a clean heart and renew the right spirit within me very often, but still not as often as I should and that’s going to change. How can I expect someone to want to get to know Christ if I continue displaying characteristics that are unlike Him? So I just pray that Christians everywhere would begin to have a change of heart and an intense desire to walk in the will of God. --Stephanie 2006-11-07 03:37:38 GMT Site Home