Authenticity

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Our legalistic rules and standards define those in good standing within so many of our fellowships. This means that any imperfection must be covered up, hidden, or ignored for fear of losing fellowship. Tie in salaries and positions of power... and the need to deceive others to profess our alleged moral righteousness while hiding any sin and imperfection is raised to an all time high.

This is why spiritual immaturity abounds. No one can be real.

I remember a sermon by Jeff Arnold. In the sermon he told a story about his daughter. If memory serves me correctly, she cheated on a test in school and was caught. The teacher called her mother and told her all about it. Then her mother called Bro. Arnold and told him. He left the office and came home so he could be present when his daughter walked in the door. When she entered the house, she didn't bounce into his lap, shower him with kisses and tell him about her day as she often did... she dashed upstairs without even looking at him. He could hear her burst into tears and sobbing in her room. He walked upstairs and entered her room and asked her what was wrong. She was silent and refused to tell him at first. But then he said, "Is it about you cheating on your test?" She began sobbing all the more. Now she knew he knew about her failure to do right. Then he said, "Why didn't you come to me and tell me all about it when you came in the door?" Through her tears and sobbing she said, "Because I was afraid that you wouldn't love me any more..."

And this is why we hide our imperfections. Deep down inside... we're afraid that if anyone knew how screwed up and carnal we truly can be... the people we love... the pastors we love... the family we love... the God we love... will not love us any more.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

Psalms 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Amo_4:2 The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.

There is a difference between speaking of something or someone's holiness... and claiming that they are "holiness" itself. To say that someone "is" something, is to make an ontological declaration of substance and essence.

The Bible says... "God IS love".