To whom much is given…

Several days ago I received an e-mail that included some pertinent and relevant questions and comments that I would like to plug into today’s devotional meditation.  Perhaps you will find that you have recently been considering some of these same concepts yourself.

Here is part of the letter (slightly edited):

“Are there different degrees of "sin" (according to God)?  When I see sin outlined in the New Testament there are verses that contain numerous offences that are listed together.  However I also have come across verses that seem to segregate sins, such as the verse that talks about how sexual sin is a violation against the human body not just against God (if I remember correctly), or the Old Testament statements that homosexuality is an abomination, or the strong terse judgment levied on women caught in whoredom (i.e. stoning).”

“The Bible also identifies sin as an aberration [deviation] from the Ten Commandments, where the most gruesome offense is failing to know the Lord.  However, doesn't all sin stem from disobeying the very first commandment?  So in the end when judgment is levied by God to the unconverted world (because in my understanding Jesus' blood covered the sins of those who have been saved and thus we are not judged on our sins, but on how we used the time, resources and talents give to us while on earth) will each sin be tabulated or will it be just itemized under the "did not love the Lord their God with all their hearts, minds, body and souls"?”

“One of the reasons I ask is related to the strong stand that the church takes against homosexuality and the rather light stand it takes against divorce, extramarital heterosexual sins, lying under oath, not tithing, swearing, pride, covetousness, slander and gossip, gluttony, etc… which are all identified as sins as well.  Is it fair for Christians to point a finger and condemn one "sin" among the primarily unconverted and uphold it as the greatest violation of God's law when so many others are cited as well?  I'm reading a book on the way non-Christians view Christians and this question surfaced so I wanted to pose it and see what your take is on it.”

This wonderful Christian inquisitor is not the first individual to inquire recently about these matters, she may be more eloquent and specific than some, but the gist of the quandary is the same.  In fact, of late I have had to wrestle with some of this myself.

Of course, we all know that there is no such thing as “acceptable” sin; “good” sin… evil is evil, iniquity is iniquity, wickedness is wickedness, trespasses are trespasses, sin is sin, bad is bad – period.  However, no Bible student can deny that there are varying degrees of intensity in sin, diverse levels of bondage to sin, a multiplicity of expressions of depravity, and even degrees of punishment relative to the nature of the transgression and the opportunity to have avoided it.  On the other hand – the ultimate product of any, every, and all sin is the same… death – physical, spiritual and eternal separation for Him who is Life.  But, I assume that this dilemma that we are considering together stems from our tendency to follow our habit of speaking in terms of human perspective and daily practice.

In addition to that observation – I see that we also have to deal with the issue of whether a given sin is public or private, internal or external, known or suspected, admitted or denied, committed by a child or an adult, committed by a believer or an unbeliever, committed (or omitted) by a leader or a follower in the church, a first offense or a repeated offence, an intermittent fall or a constant lifestyle… and most importantly, whether it is followed by repentance and confession or stubbornness and defense.  Obviously, it would be a mistake to try to cram all situations into one tiny mold.

Now, before I drift off into a never-never land of endless meanderings – I want to address what I consider to be the core question at hand: “Is it fair for Christians to point a finger and condemn one "sin" among the primarily unconverted and uphold it as the greatest violation of God's law when so many others [i.e., other faces of sin] are cited as well?” 

Now – speculation and theories have little purpose and no profit in cases such as this, so let us go directly to the absolute truth as revealed in the Bible. 

Romans 1:18-32, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.  For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.  Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.   And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

The backdrop of this powerful passage is the gospel of Jesus Christ referenced in verse 16 & 17.  It seems clear enough that Paul is contrasting “the just man” who is living by faith in juxtaposition to “the condemned man” who is living in the flesh.  He clearly describes a progressive decent into the depths of depravity.  And, in his description he indicates that the vice of homosexuality is a last stage expression of debauchery.  Not only that, he also states that it stems from God’s rejection of an individual, a group or even the race as a whole.  It’s a punishment as much as it is a transgression.  While sin comes naturally – Paul goes so far as to point out that homosexuality is contrary even to the natural lusts of mankind and is a product of the continual twisting and perverting of the will.  God removes the inhibitions that would normally make such a vice repulsive to ones sensibilities and so something that I would call masochistic nihilism overpowers and perverts any sense of moral conscience that remained.  There is no limit to the depths to which an amoral secular society will allow its weakest members to plunge.  Murder, hating God, not loving one’s own children: such sins as these are the products of an unchecked sin nature.  They are of the same substance as a “little white lie” or a moment of laziness – but they are the fruit of a mature harvest of iniquity, not the same as a handful of sin seeds.    

All sin is not the same just like all cancer is not the same.  Though all cancer is cancer – the survival rate is much better for some forms than it is for others.  I see that the same is true spiritually in our scenario be considered here.  My three year old son is a little sinner, but he does not have an appetite for every possible kind of transgression.  There are certain vices that he would have to be exposed to or grow (sink) into over a period of time in order to crave the momentary pleasure that comes from participation in them.  Being conditioned to unique and strange lusts can certainly bring out the more despicable and unclean styles of iniquity which reside potentially in the wretched heart of all of us who are fallen men. 

Sin is like fire – fire is fire, plain and simple.  But, all fires are not the same temperature and not all fires are the same size.  The fire from a match may cause discomfort, but the flames of a raging forest fire can utterly destroy unimaginable amounts of life and property.  When preachers preach against the “GREAT SINS” like homosexuality or adultery – what is really being stated is – “this fire is hot, it is huge, it is out of control, it is impossible to deny, it is impossible to hide, it is impossible to justify, it is ridiculous to try to redefine it or excuse it – it is what it is and it must be dealt with.”  I am absolutely convinced that when a person’s sin is manifest openly, it is the result of that individual’s resistance toward God’s promptings in His attempts to get the person to deal with the issue privately before Him alone; before their Creator – thus, He allows it to become known in order to add to the pressure that should move them toward repentance and reconciliation (or, sadly toward rebuke and retribution).

Currently the Holy Spirit and the church of the living God have a salting effect on the depraved condition of the greater human population.  What if that blessed restraining influence was removed (and, it will be at the rapture)?  There would be no end in the rapid downward slide of the idolatrous self-worship of the culture belonging to Homo sapiens. 

One might ask about the other nasty habits listed after homosexuality in Romans chapter one.  After all, pride and disobedience to parental authority are indeed listed in this passage as well as gay and lesbian perversion.  However, the key word to remember in this context is the word – “filled” (or, “full”).  According to this section of Scripture the group referenced here is consumed not only with their perverted homosexuality – but also with these other wicked devices. 

What I do not want to identify myself with is some kind of pharisaical hypocrisy that paints my neighbor’s sin black (or red) and my own white.  No, indeed God hates sin.  God hates mine and He hates yours.  God hates homosexuality and He hates pride.  He hates adultery and He hates selfishness.  He hates murder and He hates laziness.  He hates drunkenness and He hates materialism.  He hates child abuse and he hates greed.  Every sin will be judged – whether they will be or will not be judged is not in question as far as I am concerned.  According to Ecclesiastes 12:14, “God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”  In fact, even believers must answer for our deeds and attitudes according to Second Corinthians 5:10, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”  Not enough – consider Matthew 12:36, “I say unto you, ‘Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.’”

The question then is this: “What role do we play in exposing and ‘judging’ the behavior of other people?”  When do we speak up and when do we mind out own business? 

Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”  Now, how can we help anyone with their faults if we are not even allowed to identify what a fault is?  Obviously judgment is automatically in our hands.  When we see that someone, anyone, is undeniably and openly involved in sin then we are to speak out against it.  Who do we speak to first?  Not them – no we begin in the mirror with ourselves.   We look for the beams in our own eyes and deal with them immediately (whether they be similar in nature to our neighbor’s sin or not) so that we might see clearly to help our neighbor.  We are to always remain humble, never haughty.  Just remember though that we must not try to replace humility with hesitancy. 

Admittedly, we are not to attempt to replace the Holy Spirit.  I have no interest in or responsibility to be a spiritual investigator inspecting everyone’s life and searching for grime.  But, when the transgressions and men are open and evident then it is time for God’s people to allow themselves to be the mouthpiece of God in reminding one another and the world of exactly what God’s position is in relation to that vice. 

When perverted unbelievers march in a parade for gay pride – there is no interpretation necessary, only a passionate reminder of what God has to say about such deviant behavior.  The same can be said about divorce, fornication, lying, gossip or gluttony – but the problem is this: these other vices are not always so evident (though they too can indeed be obvious and specifically condemnable).  In addition, when one begins to look at sins like pride, failure to tithe, lust or covetousness – knowing that it is present is even harder still to objectively recognize.  We have no right to subjectively accuse or examine one another, so we satisfy the demand for holiness by preaching generally about the despicable nature of these “more covert” evils while at the same time we speak very precisely about the wickedness of Ellen “Degenerate” or Rosy O.     

Truly, I have opened a massive can of worms and have likely gendered more questions than answers, so, let me close with one powerful and pointed passage of scripture.  Please read this slowly and carefully…

First Corinthians 5:9-13, “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioner, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not you judge them that are within?  But them that are without God judges.  Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”

Footnote: Please pardon my tardiness in posting this entry – the circumstances were unavoidable.  I don’t know if I will write again until after the New Year . . . We will have to just wait and see.  If I don’t - Merry Christmas to you and have a Happy and Holy New Year!

Accentuate the Spectacular!

In a conversation with some of my newer acquaintances recently, we began to discuss the record of some of the more unusual events in Holy Writ.  Have you ever stopped to consider what some of our true theology must sound like to the skeptical unbeliever, or even to a carnal saint?  Now, personally I can mention Baalam’s talking donkey with the same assuming air as if I were speaking about yesterday’s sunset.  See, speaking of the surreally supernatural events of the past as they are recorded in the Bible, I am just as sure that each event happened “that way” as I am that water is wet and that fire is hot.  But, surely the “enlightened” mind of today’s self-declared sophisticated, logical and secular society must view my beliefs as bizarre science fiction.  Just yesterday I stated (to several men) that the next major event on God’s eschatological calendar is the rapture.  When asked what the “rapture” was – I proceeded to describe the midair return of the historical Jesus of Nazareth, the miraculous resurrection of dead saints, the metamorphosis of the bodies of all saints, the vertical escape of the church into a literal heaven and the chaos that will ensue here upon this planet.  What must that scenario sound like to people who have never seen one recognizable, undeniable supernatural occurrence in their entire lifetime?  Even to me, the one trying to convince others of these realities, when I slow down to consider exactly what I am saying, the scenes do seem rather sensational.

God made a woman out of Adam’s rib?

Methuselah lived 969 years?

Noah and his family were the sole survivors of a worldwide flood?

Moses turned the Nile into blood?

Joshua prayed for and thereby occasioned the cessation of earth’s rotation?

Elijah called down fire from heaven?      

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego survived the fires of Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace unharmed?

Jesus raised himself (and others) from the dead by “spiritual” power?

In today’s philosophical climate, the postulation that these events literally took place (in supposed contradiction to the observable principles of modern science) appears to be very bold indeed.  No wonder Paul spoke about preaching as “foolishness” to those who do not have faith (First Corinthians 1:18, “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” [one could read all the way to verse 31 to get the whole picture]).  The preaching of the cross is connected to all of the background material and prophetic fabric of the rest of the Bible – they can not be legitimately separated.  What is it about the truth that offends people?  Well, indeed there are many justifiable answers to that question, but one of the answers in today's cultural setting is this: some people feel like their intelligence is being insulted when we talk about “superstitions fairy-tale-like” events as if they were as real as the local mall.  Yet we must not hide the more glaringly faith-demanding aspects of the one and only true religion; the Way of Christ.  We must not gloss over the reality of angels and demons, heaven and hell, miracles and witchcraft in our effort to help people in dealing with life, death, prayer, absolute truth, the necessity of conversion and the insufficiency of human morality.  Is the acceptance of supernatural and spiritual phenomena necessary for the salvation of a soul?  Well, consider the totality of the gospel as presented by the apostle Paul: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (First Corinthians 15:1-4).  The answer must unequivocally be – Yes!

I think sometimes we treat the salvation of a soul as a purely human and intellectual proposition – as if we can hoodwink someone into becoming a Christian if we can present them with a simplified (read “diluted”) form of the gospel; one that will be palatable to intellectual materialistic sensibilities.  No!  We must not make this mistake.  All we can produce in people by such a faithless strategy is a false hope; a mistaken sense of security that can avail nothing less than the eternal damnation of a soul.  Salvation is a spiritual work that must be performed by the Holy Spirit.  For the Spirit to do His work, it is conducive for spiritual information to be present – including truth about the immaterial nature of man and the sure power of The God of heaven who is (of course) an invisible, immortal, omnipotent, omniscient, transcendent spirit.  How can we expect God to “give the increase” or redeem a soul if we do not (in obedience) present the whole story as it is given to us, without watering down the “difficult” parts?  Do we doubt that God is capable of persuading men to come to a place of submission to the recognition of the “impossible” things that God has utilized to demonstrate His sovereign authority, strength and position?  If God convinced me – what’s the difference?  I don’t doubt that “sun stood still” for Joshua – is God’s Spirit inadequate in pursuing and persuading other lost men in the same way that He sought after me?  Can He not convince them that the Almighty Creator has complete power over the existence and function of all things large or small?

We play into the hands of The Deceiver when we attempt to sterilize the gospel by leaving out the hard parts.  I say, “Let God be true and every man a liar!”  What happens when a church fills up with people who have their own ideas about things like the crossing of the Red Sea or the utter destruction of the lost in the coming Battle of Armageddon?  The claims of the Bible can only be shrouded for so long without the outright discrediting of portions of the Bible and eventually the destruction of the whole of our faith.  Jesus did not try to make it easy for people to believe (he made it simple, yes – but easy, no).  Sure, by doing the work for us and then offering eternal life as a free gift He made salvation “easy” from an abstract and philosophical standpoint, yet He intentionally demands faith and submission to the truth from those who would be His disciples.   

We must remember that even though God is “NOT willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance” - - - He has never once sacrificed His desire for genuine faith (from us) on the altar of greater acceptance (a more numerous following).  God is not trying to be popular.  He is trying to repossess the race that He loves (the human race).  Yet, we can’t redefine God (or the ways of God) and still expect that such a humanistic “faith” will benefit anyone.  Will the placing of a pride filled individual's "trust" in this “red herring” Messiah be sufficient to allow God to do a supernatural transforming new birth work within their soul?  We are not at liberty to conveniently trim holiness, sovereignty and power from the perceived image of God’s nature in order to sell “the package” to people who (we think) would never “buy” our story if we were to divulge the whole narrative; an unadulterated account; an unaltered, unapologetic, authoritative, totalitarian deal; that is . . . the gospel as it was delivered to us in the Word.  I’m not saying that people have to know it all and understand it all in order to “get in” – but, if we intentionally (or unconsciously) leave out vital aspects of revelation, aspects that are needed in particular cases in order for individuals to come to grips with exactly what the nature of the transactions is that God wants to make with them – well, then we stand as a roadblock rather than a bridge. 

There is indeed continuity in revelation.  We must trust God to connect the dots for people.  God has made the effort to reveal His existence and character to mankind in many ways through various mediums.  He speaks to us of Himself in the beauties and complexities of nature, through His written words, in the attitudes and actions of His church, in the moral conscience within each of us, by means of rational thought, by His incarnation and even by placing the concept of His presence in every person in their intuition.  He has done an excellent job preparing the way for the development of the realization of, conviction about and submission to His personage.  Yet, in every case there was a gap that was left open, a loophole escape for those who insist on rebellion.  Only FAITH can fill those holes and cause a person to see the grand portrait of God’s being, His interest and His involvement as a harmonious whole.  If we fail to accentuate the spectacular reality of the infinite glory of our God, then we will effectively be making faith “unnecessary” in the proselytizing of the lost who we are supposedly trying to help.  But, without faith it is impossible to please God.  We are not doing people a service by hiding the greatest claims of Scripture from them – on the contrary, we are withholding the most significant and vital information of all.  Jesus was not just a good moral man who died tragically as an example of humility and holiness – He was the one and only virgin born, sinless, eternal Son of God.  He created the world by the power of His command.  He holds every last molecule in its place.  He lives in the body of every believer.  He is returning someday to remove His disciples prior to worldwide destruction.  After that, He will come yet again to rule and to reign over the earth – personally, visibly, bodily, perfectly.  He will remove the curse from this planet and will bless it magnanimously for 1000 years!  I am not ashamed of these truths.  I care not how absurd and ludicrous the prospect of these events sounds to doubters – it is the power of these truths that God can use to change the sinner’s mind and heart and make him a saint.  Sure – sin, death, hell, the cross, the resurrection, heaven, God: all of these issues are vital, but don’t forget that they are inextricably connected to the rest of the truth that is in the Bible.  Don’t be shy about any of it.  Sure, some information is milk and other information is meat.  We don’t cram steaks down the gullet of an infant.  But, never overlook the fact that some of the most impressive tidbits of theology can frequently be found in the sensational Sunday School lessons of small children. 

Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes…”  Do we sometimes behave like we are ashamed of the truth?  The gospel does not need to be dumbed down or stripped of its supernatural connections.  It just needs to be presented humbly, honestly and in faith.  Believe that God is both willing and able to support your outward witnessing with His own inward persuasion. 

Will some folk mock our “child like” acceptance of the reality Divine activity?  Of course!  But we know Who will have the proverbial “last laugh.”

"A Holy Executioner of Judgment . . . . and Mercy”

In the middle of the glorious book of Hebrew songs, poems and prayers (Psalms) I find an amazing passage of Scripture.  Psalm 106:28-31: “They [Israel during the days of Moses] joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.   Thus they provoked God to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.   Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.   And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.”  If one is not familiar with the life of this priest named Phinehas, then this section of the 106^th Psalm might pass under the nose unnoticed, but if the story is familiar – my, what a shocking statement about him.  “It was accounted unto him for righteousness” was a mighty phrase that was used to describe the beautiful faith of Abraham; the father of the faithful.  But, how could such an expression fit appropriately with this gruesome X rated incident (more on that in a moment)?  Yet, it does indeed.

Like Benaiah (of whom I wrote two weeks ago), Phinehas is not one of the more well known characters in the Bible.  Yet, we must not let his unfortunate obscurity eclipse the importance of his ministry or the illustrative value of his faith.  Here I offer you a brief biographical outline of his life according to the Bible:

1.       He was not the same man as the priest Phinehas (son of Eli) who is later killed by God because of his wicked lascivious lifestyle (First Samuel).

2.       He was Aaron’s grandson by Eleazar.  So, Moses was his great uncle.

3.       He became the third high priest in Israel. (Exodus 6:25; First Chronicles 6:4, 50).

4.       He was sent to sound the trumpets in the battle with the Midianites (Numbers 31:6).

5.       He was sent east of the Jordan River to inquire about the purpose of a monument that had been erected there by the eastern shore tribes (hmmm. . . “eastern shore-men”?!?!) (Joshua 22:13-32).

6.       He was given a hill for an inheritance in Canaan in Mount Ephraim (Joshua 24:33).

7.       He was a mediator on behalf of the people during the Civil War between Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel (Judges 20:28).

8.       Most important and most relevant to our current conversation was his religious zeal in killing Mr. Zimri and Miss Cozbi when they had committed bold and public sexual sin before God and within the sight the nation of Israel (Numbers 25:7-15; Psalm 106:30).

 

Perhaps you should read this graphic and gory story for yourself. 

 

Numbers 25:1-18

Israel began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor [by marriages and in idolatry]: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.   And the LORD said unto Moses, “Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.”   And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, “Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.”

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly.  So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.   And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. 

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, “Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for My sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in My jealousy.   Wherefore say, ‘Behold, I give unto him My covenant of peace:   And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.’” 

Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.   And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian. 

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, “Vex the Midianites, and smite them:  For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.”

 

There were three different killings that occurred on this day.

1.       The execution of the idolatrous whoremongers among the Israelites… this deed was carried out by their own pious brethren who were judges in Israel.

2.       The execution of many other Israelites by a plague that was sent out supernaturally from the hand of the Lord when Zimri and Cozbi came into the camp to do their abominable deeds. 

3.       The execution of this wicked couple, evidently while in their copulatory embrace, by the furious man of God using a javelin to pin them to the bed of their blasphemy.

 

Doubtless there were many other men of God there that day.  Surely those men were distraught with anguish when they saw Zimri and Cozbi parade through the crowd toward Zimri’s tent in the Simeonite neighborhood.  Personally I would commend the congregation as a whole for weeping before the Tabernacle of the Lord.  There were other options that this mass of Jews could have chosen.  They could have joined in the rebellion in brazen defiance of God’s command and His judgment.  They could have deserted Moses and the camp.  They could have griped and complained.  They could have rioted.  They could have done many things – but, instead, they were weeping before the Lord.  Yet, they received no covenant as a result of their sorrow and repentance.    Phinehas did obtain a covenant from God as result of his attitude and actions that day.  Maybe other men shook their heads in disbelief at the brash attitude of Zimri.  Perhaps some of them wondered carnally about the sensuous scene within the tent.  But thank God there was one man that did not stand idly by and watch the horrid scene unfold.  As the people fell like flies before the plague of the Lord, Phinehas snatched a javelin and followed the guilty rebel and his heathen whore into their pit.  He executed God’s judgment effectively without hesitation.  Evidently they had no chance to flee.  No conversation of diplomacy ensued – the line had been crossed and only wrath remained.  This holy priest of God made a human sacrifice before Jehovah that day and appeased (propitiated) His just and jealous anger.

 

Some will say, “This was an Old Testament scenario.  We are not to resort to these kinds of measure today.”  May I be the first to agree that the church corporately, nor individuals for that matter within the churches, have the right, authority or jurisdiction to physically punish sinners.  True, parents have some limited duties in disciplining their children physically.  Governments have certainly been granted the authority by the God of heaven to take the lives of evil men: eye for eye, tooth for tooth and life for life – but (thankfully) I do not personally have that responsibility.  Yet through the prayers of imprecation we have the duty as Christians in 1007 to be like Phinehas in dealing with open rebellion among our own church family.  Think back to the book of Acts when Ananias and Sapphira were slain by the Holy Spirit at the word of Peter because they attempted to be deceptive in the giving of their offering to the church.  We do indeed have the same responsibility today.  Consider First Corinthians 5:1-5 “It is reported commonly that there is fornication [sexual sins] among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.   And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.   For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”  Paul did not exercise this judgment as an apostle; he told the body to do it as the ministers of God.  They were not to use any physical, material weapon but were to pick up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  They were to openly and boldly condemn such wickedness upon the authority of revealed truth.  They were to call for God to allow Satan to destroy that rebellious man so that the congregation might return to a condition of public purity and holiness and so that this man (who was evidently a believer) might be ushered early from this life into that ultimate and inevitable conformity with the sinless image of Christ.

 

The only problem with trying to emulate Phinehas’ zealous example of “execution” today is that we must first be holy ourselves before we start meddling with the lives of others within the body of Christ.  If we want to do so, we can excuse our lethargy in judgment by saying that we are “praying for repentance, reconciliation and restoration” (which, of course, are indeed “strategies” that have their time and place), yet when the time to deal with a runaway rebel has arrived, do we balk at action because we find so much of an appetite for similar sins within our own heart.  Shame on us!  Let us repent and pick up the weapons of our warfare that are not carnal, (Second Corinthians 10:4) “…they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”  In verse 6 the thought continues, “Have in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

 

Judgment begins at God’s house, at home – within, in my own heart.  But, it must not end there.  We must be instruments of righteousness among the brethren and in the world.  Not hypocrites!  Not Pharisees!  Servants of the living God; soldiers of the cross!  Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”  If there is no rebuke, no “reward for iniquity – then how will anyone learn to respect God’s standards of propriety?  In dealing with leaders specifically, Paul wrote in First Timothy 5:20, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

 

I will be preaching this same “message” this Sunday night.  May God help me to thrust the spiritual javelin first through my own flesh and to crucify myself so that I might be used by God to execute judgment and mercy from the office that God has placed me in.  “Mercy?” you say.  Yes, mercy.  When Phinehas punctured the polluted body of Zimri he effectively halted the judgment of God that had claimed the lives of 24,000 bystanders in only a few fleeting moments.  If we deal with sin in the lives of the guilty, then that protects the sanctuary of the body from unnecessary collateral destruction.  Yes, sin in one believer’s life – if not dealt with – can cause grave injury to others who are immediately innocent.  (Note: Achan at Ai; David and is first son by Bathsheba; Saul and Jonathan; etc).

 

After dealing with such a difficult and depressing topic, it does my soul good to recite Lamentations 3:21-26, “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.  ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul; ‘therefore will I hope in Him.’  The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him.  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”