The Relevant Church’s “30 day sex challenge” for singles is to abstain from fornication for 30 days. WHAT?! That’s right. Just 30 days.
I have tried to find the word “repent” in their 30 day study guides, on their website, in their news bytes and on their blog, but to no avail. From what I’ve read, their highest goal seems to be that a temporary abstinence would teach people how to develop healthier relationships.
Isn’t this the essence of humanism? That empty philosophy teaches that our highest goal is to better ourselves in order to have a more meaningful life on this earth. This is a morality based on results, not on the demands of a holy God.
It is easy to point the finger at this blatant disregard for God’s Word, and yet we often buy into the same subtle message on a smaller scale. We are results-oriented, too!
Just last night one of my boys was selfishly manipulating his little brother. I told him that he needed to change his behavior or it would damage their relationship. And while this is true, it illustrates how easy it is for me to fall into the humanist mindset myself. I want my children to repent of their sin because it is wrong and it grieves the Lord. It is not enough for them to feel mere worldly sorrow because sin interferes with their long-term happiness.
Am I encouraging my children to better themselves through keeping a moral code so that they can have a good and meaningful life? Or am I reminding them daily that we all fall short of God’s glory, and we can only be made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ?
We must repent of our sin and live according to God’s standards, by God’s grace…not so that we can have a “good life”, but because this is what it means to be a Christian.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4: 22-24
This is SO good, Molly! Thank you for sharing this wise perspective. I’m asking the Lord to help me do just that w/ my young children…teach them that we need to live up to a standard, but it can only be done by God’s grace, and it is for His glory! It’s just a bonus that He brings us good out of it in the process.
I really appreciate your insights, as I just found your blog after seeing a message on the SWR loop. Many blessings to you, and I’m sure I’ll be “visiting” from time to time!
In His grace,
Jodie
That is a great post!! How true and relevant for today. Your so right, that’s exactly what “life” is about these day, a better you and life.
Repentance has been lost and I’m guilty as you are with my kids although I never noticed it before.
Thanks for a great post!!
Hey I had to leave another comment. I just read that you were missionaries in Hungary. We go to Hungary often, our friends live in the 17th district and have a church there.
We love going to Budapest and seeing the sites, I love looking down and the Danube from the Citadel, you can see so much.
Anyhow, I feel like we have something in common. °Ü°
Did you ever make it down to Croatia? Probably not since the war had torn up the place then.
Anyhow, had to let you know all that stuff, don’t know why! °Ü°
Hi Tori,
My husband did a summer project in Croatia before we were married. He was in Split. I’ve never been, though OM had a church planting team there when we were in Hungary.
Budapest certainly is beautiful!! How is it that you get there often? Are you living in Europe?
A big cyber HIGH 5! You are saying so eloquently what I have thought but could not have expressed so well.
I don’t know how I stumbled on your blog, but thank you for it. I rarely post, but God has used you to greatly enrich my life and I so look forward to your postings (and podcasts). I pray you continue this good work for a long time to come.
God bless you…Tonni