My Convenient God

I have seen a number of times in the last few weeks something that has both concerned me and given me quite a bit to think about. Granted, those who know me well know that I am often thinking about something so this is nothing new. But as I have given this thought, I have realized that it very well could be something that will dampen my witness for Christ.

Let me explain. As I listened to debate on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature, I noticed a number of more Liberal senators referencing their “faith”, “religion”, or even quoting the Christian Bible (I know, “Separation of Church and State” right?). True, they were not the ONLY ones, but they brought it up more predominantly than the Conservative senators did. They were debating the legitimacy of the State’s right to use the death penalty as a punishment for murder. Some of the verses thrown around included, “Vengeance is Mine” (Deut. 32:35), “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (Matt. 7:1) among others. Convenient?

How about President Obama as he spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 2nd of this year? He used James 2:8 “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” and Luke 12:48 “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required” to support his own purposes. Convenient?

It was the same with “faith”. It’s popular to be a “person of faith” if it advances one’s own beliefs. Everyone is religious, God is cool, and even the Bible can be quoted occasionally. Convenient?

I think so.

Needless to say, I was a little upset when I saw the ways Scriptures were being twisted so far out of context by the very ones who don’t want it taught or even referenced in schools, especially when someone who is not of their particular ideology is called out, humiliated, and labeled as a “religious fanatic” and classified as unreliable thereafter for using Scripture to support their own position.

Then I got to thinking, do I do the same thing? Are there times or situations that I use God, prayer, or my Biblical knowledge to advance my own priorities? I came to the realization that yes, if I am honest with myself, there are many times when I find throwing a Bible verse out there or touting my knowledge of the Bible can be advantageous to my own agenda. Or how many times have I used prayer in an off-handed way, tossing a prayer over my shoulder asking God for help as I charge headlong into something I know I shouldn’t be doing? Can I actually be doing the very thing I have been so disgusted with in others? Yes.
Convenient?

I think so.

Do I honestly think I can continue doing this without others (non-believers) noticing? No, I do not.

God give me the resolve to hold myself to a higher standard than that which I hold others, as well as the strength to sustain that resolve. Not so I can then have reason to look down on them, but so I draw nearer to You in holiness. Nothing more I desire.